Injection molder Phillips-Medisize LLC is doubling production capacity for a long-time customer that sells take-home diagnostic kits for cancer detection by establishing a new manufacturing operation in Little Rock, Ark.
The products currently are made in New Richmond, Wis., a state where the company has about a dozen facilities including its headquarters in Hudson. A second set of molding machines and automated equipment for packaging and device assembly will be installed in Little Rock.
Phillips-Medisize officials said in December that they were transforming the 380,000-square-foot site in Little Rock into an FDA-registered manufacturing center with new capabilities focused on connected health and drug-delivery devices. On Jan. 18, they announced the expansion was for a "significant" medical customer considered a leader in cancer detection.
The business will mold, assemble, package and label the patient-ready devices with existing staff in Little Rock. The product also will need reagent handling and unique device identification.
Phillips-Medisize was acquired in 2016 by Molex LLC, whose parent company is Koch Industries. The Little Rock investment will combine Molex's existing high-volume electronics production with Phillips-Medisize's platforms for drug-delivery and medical devices.
Construction of purpose-built clean rooms should be completed in the second quarter along the federal registration and industry standards certification. The facility will be able to handle large programs requiring extensive molding and assembly for mid- to high-volume diagnostics, medical device and drug delivery systems that integrate electronics and digital applications.
Phillips-Medisize CEO and President Matt Jennings said the company looks forward to growing with its customer and Little Rock team.
"The team provides decades of experience in molding and assembly operations, cutting edge automation and quality control technology, as well as instant access to a team of highly talented and knowledgeable employees," Jennings said in a news release. "We believe that Little Rock is the right location for our customer and will support both of our ambitious growth plans."