Mueller Shifts U.S. Strategy

Underscoring an emerging pattern among machine tool builders, Germany's Mueller Weingarten is changing gears, moving manufacturing out of the U.S. and concentrating on sales and service for its U.S. customers. Known for its US$45 million "jumbo" presses, the company has shut down its plant in Cincinnati and opened an engineering center near Detroit. Machines for the U.S. market will be built mainly in Weingarten, Germany. Mueller hopes to double its annual U.S. sales to US$179 million during the next few years.