NPI/Medical has purchased and installed three presses and a measuring system in an effort to accelerate product development and market launches for customers in the medical device, health care and life science fields.
The Ansonia, Conn.-based injection molder and tool builder says it invested $1 million to update its 66,000-square-foot manufacturing facility with a 330-ton Milacron Roboshot, an 80 ton Milacron MV80 shuttle press, a 40 ton Arburg All-rounder 270A, and a Zeiss Contura Vast XT measuring system.
The company is following an equipment replacement plan to handle business growth for complex parts and assemblies during the last year, according to NPI/Medical CEO Randy Ahlm.
“Growth from our medical device and life sciences production segment was nearly 20 percent, while our quick-turn manufacturing (QTM) business grew over 30 percent in the last 12 months,” Ahlm said in a news release.
The QTM business turns CAD files into components for low-volume prototypes and short runs while production-level injection molding cells handle high-volume programs.
The equipment investment supports product engineering, development and launch services, Ahlm added. The all-electric Milacron Roboshot accommodates large-size shot medical device programs. The shuttle press enhances insert molding. The all-electric Arburg All-Rounder has an integrated servo driven sprue picker. And, the measuring system has multi-point sensors for accurate part inspections at the in-house quality inspection lab.
“Our unique prototype to production capability is creating huge dividends for our customers who wish to seamlessly launch new programs faster and without the disruption of changing suppliers during each phase of the new product launch process,” Ahlm said.
NPI/Medical services include prototype building, bridge tooling, closed loop machine capabilities, medical clean room molding, kitting, assemblies, packaging and validations as well as liquid silicone rubber capabilities.
NPI/Medical was spun off and retained by Spell Capital Partners LCC in 2013 when it sold Spectrum Plastics Group to Pexco LLC. Two years later, private investment group Tonka Bay Capital Partners LLC took an undisclosed stake in the medical molder with plans to evaluate and accelerate growth opportunities.