Anaheim, Calif. — In the liquid silicone rubber game, conferences are where deals are struck and longstanding partnerships strengthened.
At least that was the case at IME West, Feb. 6-7, when Silcotech North America Inc. reached a deal to purchase two injection molding machines from German machine manufacturer Arburg GmbH.
Silcotech, which began about a quarter-century ago, started its custom molding operations with Arburg equipment.
"At that time [25 years ago], there were only two significant players offering LIM options for their molding machines, and Arburg was one of them," Michael Maloney, president of Silcotech, told Rubber News during the event in Anaheim. "Our decision to move forward with Arburg was clearly based on our history of success using their machines. Their machines feature a sound mechanical design coupled with a very progressive control system."
Maloney said tried-and-true partnerships are critical in the LSR and custom molding world. Arburg was chosen as the supplier of the new machines, Maloney said, because of its "long history of success providing machines for LSR applications."
"Twenty-five years ago, we set out to become a global leader of liquid silicone molded parts," Maloney said. "Having spent 17 years in a technical capacity with a world-renowned molding machine manufacturer, injection molding machines were part of my DNA."
The new machines, a 110-ton Allrounder LIM machine and a 220-ton Allrounder LIM machine, will be put to work in Silcotech's Bolton, Ontario, headquarters.
Both are all-electric and specified with LSR molding options as well as thermoplastic molding capabilities.
The two machines will be equipped with "Multilift Select 8" servo-electric robotics for parts removal and manipulation.
Delivery is scheduled for summer 2024, Maloney said.
"Silcotech's business has seen growth in the 15 percent to 20 percent per year range over the past two years, and the outlook is to keep that pace that in fiscal year 2024 and beyond," Dan Morris, business development manager at Silcotech, said. "[The machines] will be added to the existing fleet to handle growing business volume, and the new machines are sizes where increased capacity is needed."