Doosan machine tool division targets almost doubling of output

This year it will produce 11,000 units and has targeted 15,000 by 2010. Doosan Infracore represents the combined machine tool making activities of Daewoo Heavy Industries & Machinery, acquired by Doosan in 2005, and Doosan’s machine tool activity, Doosan Mechatech, the latter having been assimilated into Infracore in January this year. Doosan Mechatech makes turning centres and machining centres. Doosan Infracore and Doosan Mechatech had operated separate machine tool businesses while using the same Doosan name. As part of this expansionist agenda, the two machine tool plants in South Korea will focus on particular types of machine. One will be concerned with what is called “ value-added” machines, while the second (the previous Mechatech plant) will make “vertical turning centres and die and mould machinery”. Low-end or general-purpose models “will be outsourced”, says Infracore, while overseas plants, such as in China, will produce models designed specifically for their respective regions. Doosan Infracore already has a Chinese plant and has previously stated that it intends to be producing 2,000 units there by 2010. Last year, Doosan Infracore saw sales of $800 million and expects to break through the $1 billion barrier this year, achieving $2 billion by 2010. The company opened its Operation Centre in Germany last year to play a key role in European machine tool operations. By 2010, Europe will represent sales of $500 million for Infracore, making it one of the top three players in Europe, it claims. Doosan Infracore is represented in the UK by Mills Manufacturing Technologies and Ward Hi-Tech.