Plastics News Article, December 15, 2009

Injection molder PMC LLC continues to expand its medical business with the addition of a new 75-ton all-electric Nissei press.

“We are fortunate that in an otherwise flat economy, our medical device business is experiencing an accelerating growth trend,” said Lisa Jennings, president of the company’s medical unit, in a news release.

Cincinnati-based PMC jumped into medical molding about three years ago, and it built a Class 100,000 clean room at its plant in Shelbyville, Ind. With the new Nissei press, the company has now spent in excess of $3 million in the plant, equipment and resources.

Jennings said the company has added nine new customers in the past six months.

PMC, which was founded in 1929, molds and assembles devices for orthopedic, spine, cardiovascular, electrosurgical and other applications. The new Nissei vertical press will give the company the ability to insert mold delicate components for implantable and non-implantable medical devices, said Mike Scarpa, PMC’s vice president of operations and engineering.

PMC touts its SMART (Scientific Manufacturing Assures Reliable Throughput) method, which it says goes beyond conventional cavity-pressure monitoring to include all other aspects of injection molding and secondary operations. Jennings said the methodology helps meet growing demand for lower-cost disposable devices.

PMC also does manufacturing in San Jose Iturbide, Mexico, and Wiesau, Germany.