Billion and Sepro announce partnership to accelerate export growth

Billion and Sepro have announced they will offer a “complete equipment package” combining injection moulding machines with robots as they look to achieve a common goal of expanding into new markets.

The two French companies have a long-standing partnership that has been formalised by the new business arrangement, which has reportedly grown out of a desire by Korbinian Kiesl and Jean-Michel Renaudeau (CEOs of Billion and Sepro, respectively) to “strengthen cooperation already active” in regions such as France, the United Kingdom, Germany and North Africa, and at plastics trade shows around the world.

“This partnership will allow us to respond to a group of processors who want to optimise their purchasing process,” explained Kiesl. “More and more, these moulders are interested in bundling so they can focus their negotiations on a reduced number of suppliers. It also allows us to provide a complete turnkey solution, not only where we are already active, but also in emerging markets and where there is growing interest in automation. This is particularly the case on the African continent.”

Together, the two companies are introducing what they describe as “a complete plastics equipment package”, including presses manufactured by Billion and robots made by Sepro, which will be sold under the Billion brand name.

Sepro’s proprietary Visual robot-control system will be integrated in Billion’s Dixit 3 injection-moulding machine control, providing simple, intuitive programming of all machine functions. All robot operations, both inside and outside of the mould space, may be set up and controlled from the Dixit user interface on the moulding machine.

Sepro’s Jean-Michel Renaudeau says the new cooperation is part of an overall strategy to provide customers with more choice. “We want to be in a position to equip any injection-moulding machine, new or existing, and no matter if the moulder wants to buy the robot separately or as part of a complete equipment solution.”