| MedPlast Inc.
Press Release |  |
MedPlast Inc. Continues Investment as Tempe Facility Gears for Higher Volume Medical Device Production
MedPlast Inc. continues its push into higher volume medical device production with the addition of advanced quality methods, manufacturing and inspection capabilities. The ATP Tempe, Arizona facility injection molds and assembles a full range of plastics; including high temperature and high strength glass-filled and mineral-filled engineered resins. The company's molding processes also include overmolding and insert molding.
On the manufacturing side, ATP Tempe has a total of 22 molding machines, ranging in size from 40 to 750 tons. Twenty-five percent of this capacity has been converted to white room status. This includes six molding machines ranging in size from 200 to 750 tons. These machines have robotic loading and can operate fully automated. To facilitate high volume medical device production, ATP Tempe has added automated visual inspection (AVI). On a real-time basis AVI 100% inspects production, isolating all non-conformities.
The company has recently initiated gas assisted molding. This process injects nitrogen gas into the mold cavity after it has filled with molten plastic. The compressed nitrogen displaces a portion of the plastic in a controlled pattern. The result is hollow parts without expensive tooling and coring. The gas-assist technique is ideal for adding thick, hollowed-out sections to otherwise solid parts; reducing weight and cycle times.
To support its molding capabilities, ATP Tempe has invested in extensive assembly capabilities, including a dedicated class 100,000 clean room for molding and assembly. The company performs automated and manual assembly and employs a variety of assembly methods; including ultrasonic welding, hot plate welding and heat staking. The company acquired two more ultrasonic welders this past year, for a total of nine.
Another capital investment recently added is a programmable coordinate measure machine (CMM). This piece of equipment performs complex measuring of intricate components, reducing to minutes what would take hours to do manually. ATP Tempe backs its inspection equipment with a Six Sigma philosophy. The company employs three Six Sigma Black Belts and will have seven Green Belts by the end of the third quarter, 2007.
What makes MedPlast Inc., and the Tempe facility unique according to Tom Cummings, Vice President and General Manager, is its completeness as a supplier partner. "We offer our medical device customers a full range of support. From product and package design, to production, assembly and finishing, and box-built capabilities," explains Cummings. "ATP has invested in equipment and people. We can even provide global logistics management. We give our customers a 'total solution'," summarizes Cummings.
ATP facilities are ISO 9001:2000 certified and boast a robust Six Sigma Enterprise. In addition, facilities focusing on medical device manufacturing, such as Tempe, have achieved FDA product registration and will have ISO 13485 certification in place by year end.
