Husky system tackles medical molding from start to finish

By Karen Hanna 

An all-in-one injection molding system for blood-collection tubes (BCTs) is the centerpiece of a new portfolio offered by Husky to help manufacturers find their footing in the medical industry. The technology packages — created with the needs of manufacturers in emerging markets in mind — offer advantages that might pique the interest of U.S. molders, too.  

Named for the fluid that flows like blood in the veins of the Greek gods, Husky's new Ichor brand leverages the company's expertise in tooling and molding to take aim at the markets for syringes, transfusion devices and laboratory paraphernalia, like pipette tips, reagent tubes and Petri dishes. 

The first system in the catalog — the Ichor-P for BCTs — came out late last year. “It’s called P … [because it can] process the PET material in the optimal and in the fastest way,” said Thomas Bontempi, Husky’s head of medical business development. 

With everything — including hot runner and mold, press, robot, auxiliaries and remote monitoring system — available from one supplier, Ichor offers easy entry to the medical market, Bontempi said, making it a good fit for molders in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and parts of Africa. But the Ichor-P’s speed and high-cavitation capabilities also could appeal to more-established U.S. manufacturers.  

“They need one place, and they need the security of that solution because risk is exactly what everyone that plays in the medical market wants to avoid; therefore, our first early adopters — our first installation — happened in emerging markets from a medical production standpoint,” Bontempi said.  

Designed for productivity and long mold life, the systems produce high-quality, precise parts, with minimal waste and variability. Husky can supply them with either 48 or 72 cavities. 

“It is much faster than any other solutions out there. I’m saying that we can be two or three seconds faster, in terms of cycle time, compared to best-in-class solutions. One of our 72-cavity systems can match the output of the 96-cavity system; therefore, we can have the same output on a reduced footprint,” Bontempi said. “And we also include the robot into it.” 

Automation minimizes the need for human interaction, as well as the risks of error. 

Husky works with all its customers to ensure they have what they need every step of the way.   

“Whether you are getting Ichor for a new or existing facility, you will have access to our factory planning service — our experts will ensure you have the best layout for your production site and that your Ichor system is well-positioned for optimal performance,” Bontempi said. “We will consider your energy distribution, HVAC, communications, cranes, cables and other installations.”  

In addition to all the system’s components, Ichor customers have access to Husky’s real-time remote monitoring service, called Advantage + Elite. With it, Husky can spot problems and alert users seamlessly. The service provides full traceability, too. 

“We can see what is happening on that equipment 24/7; we can monitor. And if something is going wrong, [if] the equipment is trending in the wrong direction, we can call the customer before the customer calls us,” Bontempi said. 

The service means hassle-free operations, for both novice and experienced medical molders, according to Bontempi. 

“This answers an important question in the market which today is pain for everybody: ‘How do I [handle] my skilled employees that are getting up in age to go out of my company and replace them with other people? How do I avoid or how do I manage the risk of that ability to find people and to find skilled people to run my equipment?’ One of the activities is to [counter] this with higher automation within the equipment with analysis or remote monitoring and proactive services.” 

Even for experienced manufacturers, that level of end-to-end control could provide dividends. 

“Players in the U.S. market are highly technical, highly expert, and they are used to putting together all the pieces within their organization themselves; nevertheless, there is change, and large organizations in the U.S. are under pressure to improve their output, to improve their cost of ownership. And this is where Husky has today a value proposition,” Bontempi said. 

 Karen Hanna, senior staff reporter

[email protected]

Contact: 

Husky Technologies, Bolton, Ontario, 905-951-5000, www.husky.co