A leader in plastics processing technologies in Poland
We invite you to an interview with Mrs. Ursula Steiner – CEO and owner of Dopak Sp. z o. o. about the company’s recent achievements , established partnerships , as well as key challenges facing the industry and ambitious development plans . The interview was published for BusinnessPL.com magazine . Could you present the history of Dopak and discuss the key stages of its development, with particular emphasis on recent years? I started my career as a salesperson of machines for the food industry. Over time, the idea of establishing my own brand emerged, which would respond to the growing needs of the market. This is how Dopak was created, which owes its name to its specialization in dosing and packaging. From humble beginnings in a small office, our company has come a long way in development. A key moment was cooperation with a renowned machine manufacturer, KraussMaffei , which made us a distributor of their technology on the Polish market. This partnership strengthened our position and opened the door to further strategic cooperation with European companies such as ONI, Digicolor or BBM . Thanks to this, we have expanded our offer with key peripheral solutions for plastics processing. In 2022, we took another milestone by moving to a new headquarters at ul. Kwiatkowskiego in Wrocław, which enabled the development of our training and research and development activities . The PIMM brand , specializing in the sale of used machines, has also become an important element of the offer, which has allowed us to adapt to changing market needs. Our history is a continuous development in the pursuit of providing the highest quality services and innovative solutions.
What exactly does Dopak do? Dopak’s offer is diverse, covering a wide range of products and services. We offer both new and used plastic injection molding machines and peripherals. For the convenience of our customers, we run an online store with spare parts and technical chemicals. Our Research and Development Center provides consulting services in the field of injection molding process technology, offers plastics laboratory research, 3D scanning and prototyping services, as well as serial and test production . We have 7 fully equipped production cells , where we carry out tests on various materials, e.g. PEEK , and MuCell technology . We also provide a wide range of training courses focused on practical skills. Our latest innovative solution, the ESS system, is a patented way to reduce electricity consumption for hydraulic injection molding machines , allowing customers to reduce energy consumption by up to 30% , which translates into greater production efficiency and significant savings. We also provide full service support to keep customers’ equipment in perfect condition. All these elements make up a comprehensive offer aimed at supporting customers in achieving their production goals and building a market advantage.
What features distinguish Dopak’s offer from the competition? Our offer stands out due to comprehensive solutions and high-quality service. At Dopak, we have a team of highly qualified specialists in the field of plastic injection molding, who carry out even the most demanding projects. A unique advantage is our ability to supply complete equipment for production lines, including injection molding machines and necessary peripheral devices and automation. We provide transport, machine start-up and support in the purchase of injection molds. Our offer is personalized, flexible and tailored to the individual needs of customers. Our support is not limited to the selection of technology, but also includes assistance in the event of machine failures, optimization of injection processes, removal of molding defects and improvement of their quality. 
Who is the company’s offer aimed at and in what industries are the machines you sell used? New KraussMaffei injection molding machines are mainly purchased by Polish manufacturers, while we export used machines to other European markets and to Asia and Africa . Our customers include both large international corporations producing plastic parts and smaller, start-up companies. Our offer includes a wide range of machines that are used in various industries, such as packaging, medicine, construction, automotive, electronics and the production of household appliances. Thanks to the wide range of available devices, we are able to meet the needs of every customer, regardless of the size of their company. What are the most interesting projects and implementations that Dopak has carried out in recent years? In recent years, we have significantly developed the sale of used machines under the PIMM brand, having the largest warehouse of used machines in Europe with over 200 injection molding machines of European brands. We have also expanded the training offer , increasing the company’s recognition as a supplier of high-quality educational services focused on practical skills. Our Research and Development Center has gained recognition thanks to the consulting services provided by our specialists. We have also created an online store eshop.dopak.pl , currently offering over 100 thousand spare parts and technical chemicals. When it comes to specific projects for clients, one of the most interesting projects was the comprehensive delivery of a pultrusion line producing composite elements worth PLN 23 million, including the delivery of machines and full automation of the production process. Another significant project was the comprehensive delivery of machines and automation to a company producing small household appliances, which significantly increased the efficiency and quality of their production. Another exceptional challenge was equipping a large international automotive corporation with our energy saving systems for injection molding machines, which contributed to the reduction of operating costs and supported activities for sustainable development.
What key qualifications do specialists employed at Dopak have? Specialists employed at Dopak are enthusiasts whose knowledge and commitment are the greatest value of our company. Thanks to their skills, we are able to provide customers with a high level of service, support in product development and optimization of production processes. I am very proud of our team and I believe that it is people who are the greatest value of Dopak, enabling the implementation of even the most demanding projects. What are the main topics covered during training courses organized by Dopak and what practical skills do participants gain? Training courses in our company aim to improve participants’ qualifications and eliminate errors that can lead to losses and downtime in production. The main topics of training courses include operation and maintenance of technological lines, setting and optimization of the injection process , methods of avoiding defects in molds and operation of injection molds . We also offer dedicated training courses that are individually tailored to the client’s needs. We also help in obtaining funding for training courses from European Union funds , preparing the required documents and supporting their settlement. Our training courses provide participants with knowledge and practical skills that translate into greater efficiency and quality of work.
What criteria must suppliers you decide to work with meet? Can you indicate key partners and describe their role in the company structure? Our customers’ satisfaction is our priority, which is why we need to be sure that the solutions we introduce to our offer are reliable and of high quality, and that the after-sales service is reliable. Our cooperation with European manufacturers of machines and devices is always based on trust, common values and the pursuit of the highest quality solutions. This allows us to remain competitive on the market and meet customer expectations. We cooperate with many proven partners. One of them is KraussMaffei , a manufacturer of the latest generation of advanced injection molding machines and automation systems. Another important partner is ONI , a manufacturer of energy-saving cooling systems . We also cooperate with Digicolor , a company specializing in material feeding and drying systems. It is impossible to list all our partners, because the list is very long.
Has Dopak recently entered into any new strategic partnerships? Recently, we have established two important strategic partnerships. The first is cooperation with the Spanish company Altero Recycling Machinery , which specializes in the design and production of lines for the regranulation of plastic waste. We have become the exclusive representative of Altero in Poland, offering advanced machines for the recycling of post-industrial and post-consumer waste, as well as service services and the sale of spare parts. Altero, thanks to its dynamic development and extensive portfolio, allows our customers to process plastic waste into high-quality regranulate, suitable for reprocessing. Their solutions perfectly complement our offer of machines for recycling plastics . The second partner is Roth Werkzeugbau – a German tool shop, specializing in the design and production of precise injection molds , mainly multi-component. This cooperation allows our customers in the plastics processing industry in Poland to access advanced tools of the highest quality and comprehensive technical support.
What are the biggest challenges currently facing your company and the entire plastics processing industry? The plastics industry is changing very dynamically, which is associated with many challenges. One of the key ones is the growing competition from Asia. In addition, the expectations of our customers are evolving; they are looking for comprehensive solutions that include not only injection molding machines, but also entire production cells with peripheral devices such as robots, dryers, cooling units, feeders and injection molds. Another challenge is the fast and efficient execution of orders, which requires a lot of flexibility and the ability to immediately respond to changing market needs.
What are Dopak’s development plans for the coming months and years? We are ambitious and constantly strive to develop in order to meet the growing demands of the market and provide our customers with the highest quality products and services. In the near future , we plan to build new halls for used machines at Kwiatkowskiego Street in Wrocław. This will be an investment that will increase our capabilities in the scope of major repairs and modernization of used injection molding machines. After the success we have achieved in Poland, we intend to introduce our ESS system for saving electricity for hydraulic injection molding machines also to other European markets. We have the appropriate technological capabilities and see great potential in this innovation. The ESS system brings significant energy savings and allows for a reduction of the carbon footprint, which is in line with our sustainable development strategy. See the original 👉 interview in BusinessPL.com magazine (August 2024)
