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How A
US Contract Manufacturer Produces
Silicon Components For In-Vitro Fertilisation In China
To manufacture a medical device specialising in
in-vitro fertilisation, a European OEM required a special injection moulding
component made of silicon. Not only did this need to be high quality but should
also have very precise dimensions, and special surface characteristics. As the
component also had to be manufactured within a short timeframe and on a low
budget - a volume of 400,000 units - the supplier Polyfluor Plastics decided to
appoint the Chinese branch of the US contract manufacturer Flexan due to its
expertise and ability to reduce the time to market. The project with Flexan
Suzhou progressed swiftly – the plant produced the injection moulding tools
within five weeks and provided the first samples just five days later.
“We were appointed by an OEM, to manufacture
components for a product for in-vitro fertilisation,” explained Eric Wetzels,
managing director of Polyfluor Plastics, a Dutch supplier of polymer products.
This also includes a special silicon injection moulded part, which is not very
complex in itself, but whose manufacture in a cleanroom according to the strict
specifications of the customer, posed a challenge.
“On the one hand, there were very small tolerances
for the dimensions, but on the other hand it is required that its surface feels
pleasant and smooth. This requires extensive knowledge, as for example the
original material must be injected into the tools and cooled correctly.”
The quote from Flexan for production in Suzhou
offered the best conditions, for example in terms of tool costs and delivery
time,” continued Wetzels.
The advantage of the Chinese branch with regards to
time to market can be attributed to an industry-wide development. Western
production sites are currently so stretched, that there are long waiting times
for tools and products.
“With other manufacturers, it would have taken four
to six months until the injection moulding tool had been built,” confirmed
Wetzels.
In contrast, Flexan was able to agree a time of two
months. “In Europe and the USA, for example in our factory in Chicago, express
tool manufacture is of course still possible – but with additional costs,”
explained Werner Karau, European commercial leader at Flexan, who is responsible
for the project with Polyfluor.
“Here, the client has to think carefully,
particularly if the same quality can be provided in China.”
Injection moulds finished in five weeks
However, the particularly short delivery time in
Suzhou can also be attributed to the fact that the factory has many different
injection moulding tools, and therefore has fixed capacity commitments with a
large number of qualified tool manufacturers.
“These reserves generally allow us quick tool
manufacture,” said Karau. At the same time, the Chinese branch can also rely on
the knowledge of high precision medical silicon components, which has been
accumulated since 1946. Due to these various factors, the injection moulding
tools were able to be completed within five weeks, and the first samples were
sent to Polyfluor around five days later.
“Due to our collaboration with Flexan Suzhou, we
received our components very quickly, in the correct quality, in a high volume
and at a competitive price,” said Wetzels.
“The only difference between the American sites and
China is that Suzhou is more set up to manufacture many different tools and
parts in high quantities, while the US factories specialise in the manufacture
of even more complex parts, and services for the end product such as assembly
and secondary operations,” added Karau.
https://www.med-technews.com/features/how-a-us-contractmanufacturer-produces-high-precision-compo/
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