Accumold talks micro-moulding and medical
Accumold is a business working in the micro-moulding sector. Aaron Johnson, talks to MPN about the company’s success, major achievements, the reasons behind its staying power and what it has in store for the future.
It sounds a cliché but the secret to our success is our people. Accumold was founded on an innovative spirit that still thrives today. Innovation is not something you can buy nor is it a switch you can turn on. Over the years our team has carried the internal drive to create, solve complex problems and surprise the world with the real power of micro. From our invention of the Micro-Molder 30 years ago to our latest breakthrough technology for micro-moulding, Accumold is on the path to satisfy our customer’s needs, even if that mean inventing something to make it work.
Accumold currently has over 270 employees. For a company to go from a rented garage and a handful of employees and make it through all of the obstacles small business face is quite the accomplishment. It speaks volumes about the need for the capabilities we have developed. We are blessed to have great leadership that continues to drive us forward.
The market has changed since we began due to the development of microelectronics. The acceleration of microelectronics has skyrocketed forward in the last few years. More recently that momentum has shifted in acouple of ways. One, microelectronics has not only helped make things smaller but it has also help make things bigger. Think of TVs. Remember how big a 29” television used to be? Look at what’s available now! Micro technology has enabled devices to grow in ways only imagined in the cinema.
One of the other major trends is where micro has gone outside consumer goods and in to markets like medical. Never before have we seen as much innovation in life sciences. Micro-moulding has played a major role in helping advance new medical innovations. Just about every aspect from surgeries to personal care devices have generated a demand for smaller, lighter, cheaper, less-invasive, etc.
Some of the more recent developments in micro-moulding include what I call converging technologies. Process like, 3D-MID, micro-structure enhancement, or new material developments have all opened up new possibilities with micro plastics. For example, Laser Direct Structuring (LDS), or often called 3D-MID, is a process for selectively plating plastic for electronic devices. This technology has been around for quite a while but is gaining in interest especially when combined with micro-moulding. The ability to design micro parts without metal overmouldings, and with geometries once not achievable by standard manufacturing processes is allowing new innovations where it once thought not possible.
Accumold specialises in micro-moulding. There is no textbook definition but we describe it as: plastic parts micro in size, micro in features, or micro in tolerances. Today there are many different moulding presses on the market for one to buy. What they don’t come with is 30 years of experiences on how to build tools and processes for micro parts. It’s not just large tooling made smaller. Anyone who has attempted true micro-moulding will tell you it’s a different world.
We know our customers want three things: Capability, Scalability and Sustainability. We know we need to innovate to help our customers push the limits of their own technology. We know that our customers need us to be able to supply parts from prototype to millions a month. We know that customers want assurance they can have a supply partner that is here for the long haul. The supply chain partnership has become one of the most valuable components for today’s manufacturers.
Accumold will break ground this spring on our third addition as one more step in meeting our customer’s requirements. This new facility will not only give us more manufacturing space but more room for innovation, the life blood of Accumold. As we like to say, ‘Bring us your ideal design and together we can surprise the world with the real power of micro.’