The addition of silicone extrusion capabilities this summer to the Elkhorn, WI, plant of medical device manufacturer MedPlast Inc. will enable the Tempe-based company to turn products and projects around more quickly for its customers.
“It will streamline the time involved because we won’t have to source that work somewhere else,” says Dan Winter, director of development for elastomers for MedPlast in a recent phone interview. “We are bringing that capability in-house. It is being installed right now. It will be online early in the summer.”
Winter said the silicone extrusion capabilities will complement the existing elastomeric molding, rubber injection molding, silicone injection molding, thermoplastic and overmolding capabilities in that plant.
“It will allow [the Elkhorn plant] to stay nimble for customers,” Winters says. “It will be more cost-effective and reduce the amount of time needed to validate a product.”
“This will enable us to offer the multiple manufacturing processes needed to make medical products such as catheter systems, surgical drains, intravenous drug delivery vehicles, and pump systems in-house,” Winter said.
Winter said that ability to offer a wide range of production capabilities has become more critical as cost pressures mount and designs get more sophisticated in the medical device industry.
"This new capability here in our Elkhorn facility further enhances our role as an integrated, one-stop supplier for the healthcare product market," Winter said. “The addition of the ability to apply the silicone extrusion reinforces our commitment to listen to what our customers need. We are trying to partner with them and be ready for their next challenges.”
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