By Michael Lauzon
CORRESPONDENT
Published: June 25, 2014 12:11 pm ET
Updated: June 25, 2014 12:33 pm ET
Image By: Nolato Contour
Nolato Contour is expanding its multi-shot injection molding capacity to meet growing demand in the medical market for multi-material devices.
New business spurred the $1.2 million expansion, said Mattias Persson, director of business development, in a phone interview.
“We have three new customer products,” Persson said from his firm’s Baldwin, Wis., operation.
Nolato Contour has purchased and is commissioning three new injection presses at Baldwin. A 110-ton Arburg two-shot machine will produce two-component silicone parts. Two 180-ton Engel E Victory rotary two-shot presses will inject thermoplastic and thermoplastic elastomer layers. The new lines are automated and boast small footprints making it easier to locate trays for molded parts next to the presses, Persson explained. Increased automation is in keeping with parent company Nolato Medical’s focus on the technology.
Nolato Contour has about 40 injection presses with clamping forces ranging from 40-400 tons. About a quarter of the presses are two-shot models to keep up with multi-material trends in medical products. Baldwin boasts Class 10,000 and 100,000 clean room areas. It employs 185 in Baldwin.
Nolato Medical specializes in thermoplastics and silicone molding. It employs about 1,000 at operations in Sweden, United States, China, Great Britain and Hungary.
Nolato Contour, created when Nolato AB of Torekov, Sweden, bought Contour Plastics Inc. in 2010, introduced liquid silicone molding in 2011 after technology transfer from the Swedish parent. | 
