Spectrum Plastics further invests in micromoulding with cleanroom expansion

Spectrum Plastics Group, a global solutions provider for development through scaled manufacturing of critical polymer-based components and devices for medical and other demanding markets, has announced a significant renovation and cleanroom expansion project at its Minneapolis, MN facility. 

The 105,000 sq. ft facility is increasing the size of the Class 8 cleanroom manufacturing space to a total of 10,000 sq. ft, investing in additional moulding machine capacity, renovating the office and employee amenity space, and further updating the facility to reflect the modern state of the art and highly technical moulding services.

Paul Schmeling — Sr. VP of Specialty Molding said of the expansion: "Spectrum has been quietly investing in this market segment by adding 15 new moulding machines over the last 3 years. This cleanroom expansion furthers that commitment with the purchase and installation of another 10 moulding machines over the balance of this year and next."

A majority of that capacity will be in 110 ton and less injection moulding machines, representing the company's focus on high precision, small and micromoulded parts serving the medical and defense industries.

The new Class 8 cleanroom will be a purpose-built moulding and assembly cleanroom designed to manage the special challenges of cleanroom moulding. The drying of materials and all process utilities reside outside of the cleanroom and enter the cleanroom at the press. Special utilities including high purity nitrogen and oil-free compressed air service the company's medical device moulding and reduce risk of contamination. 

Real-time data capture, process quality monitoring, and RJG in cavity pressure monitoring capabilities are incorporated in the infrastructure of the new cleanroom. The office renovations include collaborative workspaces which will allow quality and engineering teams to work more closely with customers on concepts, design for manufacturability (DfM), mould designs, and other manufacturing solutions.

The company says it expects to complete the entire expansion project by November 2021.