Global injection molder Evco Plastics, which makes a range of medical products, is expanding two of its clean-room operations, including one in China, President Dale Evans said.
In the U.S., its state-of-the-art medical and electronic devices (MED) plant in DeForest, Wis., is growing from 34,000 square feet to 84,000 square feet. The ISO 8 clean room within the plant will triple from 10,000 square feet to 30,000 square feet.
A core focus is upgrading the air-handling system for the larger space. Evco has increased the number of pre-filters in the clean room, which assist the HEPA filter in particle filtration but are less expensive. Increasing the number of pre-filters extends the life of the costlier HEPA filter.
Currently, the clean room houses 15 horizontal injection molding presses with clamping forces ranging from 55 to 220 tons. With the expansion, which is expected to be operational by the end of February, a bay will accommodate presses from 150 to 300 tons, Evans said.
Each of the current 15 machines has its own high-capacity ventilation system to evacuate particulates so that they do not contaminate the rest of the clean room. All drying, electrical, air and water lines are outside of the clean room and travel to each molding cell through an underground connection. Several of the injection presses feature magnetic mold clamping to shorten automated mold changeover times to as little as 20 minutes.
The injection molding machines are fully electric, horizontal presses and digital hydraulic vertical presses, with some type of robot (3-axis Cartesian servo-driven robots, six-axis robot and/or SCARA robots) at each molding cell.
To minimize human interaction, Evco developed a special, 26-station pallet assembly cell that brings multiple assembly operations together to complete part construction and packaging.
It uses a closed-loop microprocessor that's tied into its plantwide monitoring system to provide continuous monitoring of the clean room.
Evco produces a range of medical products at the facility, including single-use disposable devices, fluid-delivery connectors and dental products.
Mikell Knights, senior staff reporter
Contact:
Evco Plastics,DeForest, Wis., 800-507-6000, www.evcoplastics.com
