Compounding Solutions LLC plans to add two new co-rotating twin-screw extruders this year to raise its capacity and provide more flexibility.
“One line will be for research and development, and to help in process development, while the other is for production and for continued growth,” said Scott Neal, owner and general manager.
Neal said the Lewiston, Maine-based company already had an R&D line, but that there have been occasions when they used a production line for testing. The new extruders will have the latest features that allow for increased volume and efficiency. Neal did not want to disclose specific details.
Compounding Solutions supplies specialty compounds to medical device manufacturers. Its niche is materials selection and development.
Neal said the company has had strong growth, including 25 percent in the past year. He is optimistic about 2015.
The company was started in 1999 and has gone through two building expansions and now operates in a 60,000 square foot facility. It has 7,000 square feet of controlled environment white room space. Compounding Solutions employs 65.
Neal said that the first of the machines will be installed in March and the second in July. It will boost the company's number of compounding lines to 11. The extruders range in screw diameter from 18-50 millimeters.