Product News

Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics has developed a proprietary micromoulding process to deliver high-precision components to the medical device manufacturing market. The manufacturing system allows for high shot-to-shot repeatability and the ability to meet tight part and mould tolerances. Using the process, the company can mould parts weighing as little as 0.001 g and can meet mould tolerances of 0.0001 in.

The company also offers insert- and two-shot silicone-thermoplastic micromoulding services. The company has done extensive research on self-bonding silicones, having compiled a matrix of data on which substrates can be bonded in the insert moulding process. The substrates include stainless steel, titanium and various thermoplastics. The firm also can provide a cost-saving strategy for high-volume applications in which a thermoplastic component and a silicone component can be moulded in a press in a single process. This technology eliminates the added costs of manufacturing the thermoplastic part first and using insert moulding as a secondary process.

In addition to these production processes, the firm offers a robust rapid prototyping program. In 10 days or less, the company will send customers functional silicone parts that are dimensionally correct. The company also offers engineering consulting services to help companies work through design changes and iterations before the part goes to full production. The company operates Class 10,000 and Class 100,000 cleanrooms and 13 manufacturing facilities worldwide.