Plastikos adds two micromolding machines

Erie, Pa. — Injection molder Plastikos Inc. has purchased two Arburg micromolding machines, which will allow the company to produce smaller medical devices.

Medical sales for the Erie-based molder increased by more than 10 percent in 2019 with a focus on smaller and miniature devices.

"Plastikos saw an opportunity as a result of an increasing trend within the medical industry through various micro fluidic and wearable devices," Rob Cooney, Plastikos' manufacturing manager said in a Jan. 13 release. "As components continue to be miniaturized and various hot runner technologies becoming available to go runner-less, it was therefore critical to provide smaller shot capabilities to ensure optimal barrel utilization and shot-to-shot consistency to maximize our quality and efficiency."

Plastikos Inc. is a prior Plastics News Processor of the Year and was ranked No. 193 on PN's list of North American injection molders list with $30.7 million in sales for fiscal year 2018.

Each of the new Arburg machines can deliver a shot size as small as 0.3 ounces of material, which will upgrade machinery housed in Plastikos Medical's ISO 7 clean room. The expected capacity of the original clean room is projected to increase by 25 percent.

"We're very excited to utilize these two brand new micromolding machines," Philip Katen, Plastikos' president and general manager, said in the release. "It will enable our customers to provide the innovative medical devices that make their customers' lives better every day."

Plastikos Medical opened a 25,000-square-foot clean room facility dedicated to medical injection molding. Plastikos and Plastikos Medical have 42 molding machines, half within a clean room.