Ali Shamloo told NIPNA that outdated production lines and prolonged
limits on bringing in new equipment have left manufacturers unable to meet
export standards, reduce costs or maintain consistent product quality. “A producer
operating with a 30-year-old machine simply cannot compete with a rival using
modern Chinese or European systems,” he said.
Shamloo said most domestic factories have been unable to renew their
machines because of currency volatility, administrative barriers and a near
halt in foreign equipment imports over the past two years. Even second-hand,
lower-cost machinery faces restrictions, he added.
“These constraints contradict all annual slogans about supporting
domestic production,” he said. “When the tools of production are stuck in
customs or in the country of origin, how can we expect industries to be
competitive?”
According to Shamloo, aging equipment has led to fluctuating quality,
higher energy use, more waste and increased downtime, all of which undermine
Iran’s exports in plastics, packaging, automotive components, household goods
and medical supplies. “Large parts of our export potential remain idle, while
competitors easily take over regional markets,” he said.
He added that domestic polymer machinery still lags behind Chinese
models in most technical indicators, and efforts at full reverse engineering
have proved unfeasible. In some cases, he said, local machines are delivered at
triple the price of foreign equivalents, with longer lead times and limited
after-sales support.
Shamloo cited examples of producers opting for Chinese imports after
facing inconsistent quality and prolonged delivery delays from domestic
suppliers. He also noted that top global manufacturers such as Volkswagen,
Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, Panasonic and Philips use Chinese machinery, not only
because of price advantages but due to stable performance and reliable
technical support.
Shamloo said modernisation would directly boost jobs and strengthen
exports, arguing that polymer, automotive, medical equipment, cosmetics,
packaging and household goods industries all have the potential to become major
foreign-exchange earners if supported by advanced machinery.
He also pointed to labour shortages in factories, saying younger
workers often prefer higher-paying service jobs, while the departure of Afghan
labour – previously a source of trained machine operators – has intensified
hiring difficulties.
Shamloo said the association operates in two main areas: supporting
domestic machinery production and ensuring access to foreign equipment where
needed. It represents leading brands in injection, extrusion, blow-moulding and
related polymer equipment, supplying more than 95% of machinery used in the
country’s polymer industries.
“Injection-moulding systems alone cover everything from toys and
disposable containers to automotive parts, electrical components and medical devices,”
he said, calling for a coordinated policy to modernise production lines and
secure the industry’s long-term competitiveness.