Bosch bullish on Western economic outlook, predicts huge Chinese growth

Bosch packaging chief Friedberg Klefenz said talk of another economic downturn has failed to dent the company’s buoyant order books as he also forecasts strong growth in its Chinese operations.

In an interview at Pack Expo 2011 in Las Vegas, the president of packaging technology for the firm told FoodProductionDaily.com that he believed consumer sentiment was holding up well despite the increasingly gloomy indications coming from global finance bodies.

In a wide ranging discussion Klefenz also discusses some of the main differences between the European and US food packaging markets. However, he is keen to stress that in a global economy that demands consistency of standards, their similarities are as pronounced as the things that set them apart.

In China, the company is likely to experience significant growth over the coming 5-10 years, predicts the packaging head.

With a second expansion to its site in Hangzhou just completed, a third is already scheduled for next year.

Klefenz also revealed that Bosch plans to build a second plant, this time in the west of the country, to meet demand that looks likely to reach 20 per cent per annum over the next decade.