Sumitomo (SHI) Demag CEO Gerd Liebig will retire Sept. 1 from the injection molding machine builder he passionately led through a time of company change to offer all-electric presses for every market and industry changes related to automation and sustainability.
Liebig, a 35-year veteran of the plastics industry, including the last nine years at Sumitomo, said he is ready to "pass the reins to the younger generation," particularly as technology developments accelerate at the Schwaig, Germany-based company, which is a subsidiary of Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ltd. (SHI) in Japan.
With Liebig at the helm, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag Plastics Machinery GmbH underwent a major transformation with new subsidiaries giving the company a global focus and old products phased out for all-electric machines and automation.
The company is poised for growth, the outgoing CEO said in an email.
"More and more injection molders will go for all-electric — even industries that have been hesitating until now, like consumer — and since we definitely have the right product, we will be able to grow even further," Liebig said.
To maintain momentum, the next management team will be formed from the company's ranks with a major emphasis to be placed on competence and strong loyalty, according to a news release.
"This will require a future leadership team with extensive experience, flexibility and the strongest commitment to our customers and the market," Liebig added.
His retirement is part of a planned generational transition for the company, which was founded in 1970 and produces all-electric and hybrid injection molding machines and production cells.
Under Liebig, Sumitomo (SHI) accelerated a strategic plan to roll out all-electric presses to every market, including packaging, medical, automotive, electronics and consumer goods.
Company officials have said climate neutrality plays a key role in how they do business and the most important way to achieve it is through use of all-electric machinery because it offers significant savings in carbon dioxide emissions.
As Liebig looks back at his career, he said: "These 35 years have been characterized by major changes in the market, applications, products and competition. It is to be expected that change will accelerate even more in the future. In addition to a great deal of experience, this also demands maximum flexibility and a strong commitment to the market and customers from the company management."
Liebig's successor and the new management team will be announced this summer. The other current managers are Chief Financial Officer Christian Maget and Chief Operations Officer Takaaki Kaneko.
Amid the pending changes, the outgoing CEO does expect to find a new role in the company.
"I will not retire completely from the plastics industry, which has played an important role for more than half of my life and which I was also able to help shape to some extent. Rather, I will remain a part of Sumitomo and will continue to contribute to the group to a limited extent and without operational responsibility," Liebig said in a LinkedIn post.
Liebig came up the corporate ranks through sales and marketing positions, including 16 years at Demag Ergotech GmbH and nine years at Engel in Schwertberg, Austria.
As Sumitomo (SHI) Demag CEO, Liebig recently helped hand over the 50th IntElect-brand machine built for Teamplast BV, a plastic packaging producer whose company officials had the CEO sign the press like a heavy-metal rock star.
Liebig said he is pleased that he developed strong relationships and even friendships during his career.
"It is deeply satisfying for me when my name is associated with competence, reliability and passion in our industry," Liebig said.
Sumitomo (SHI) will be at Booth W3344 at NPE2024.