Originally Published MPMN June 2006

INDUSTRY NEWS

Molder Introduces Medical Manufacturing Division

Shana Leonard

A custom molder and contract manufacturer has unveiled a division designed exclusively to serve the medical and life science industries. PGM Plastics Inc. (Fitchburg, MA; www.pgmplastics.com) has established PGM Medical Manufacturing to meet the demands of medical plastics injection molding.

Several factors contributed to the company’s expansion of medical manufacturing capabilities. Complying with federal regulations and obtaining ISO 9001:2000 certification for medical manufacturing prompted the firm to allocate resources and space to this venture, according to the division’s general manager, Kevin Durand. As an extension of its medical focus, the company is also pursuing compliance with ISO 13485, an international quality management standard for medical devices.

“Demand from existing customers and the continued growth of the medical and life sciences markets drove our decision to create a dedicated facility and business unit,” says company president and founder Paul G. Muzyka.

Debuting in February, the medical manufacturing division operates out of a new 7000-sq ft molding center. Equipped with 10 Roboshot electric molding machines ranging in size from 165 to 330 tn, the facility has the potential to add four more small-tonnage electrics, states Muzyka. The center functions as a Class 100,000 cleanroom for plastic component manufacturing and assembly.

Currently, an estimated 30% of the new facility is devoted to contract manufacturing and secondary operations such as the joining of two parts and ultrasonic welding, Durand says.

Potential product applications of the medical division’s services include sterilization trays and filtration devices.

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