Zygulski added that while Johnson Precision does not build its own molds, the company operates a fully capable mold shop for repair, maintenance and ECOs of the molds it runs.

The new grades use Elix Polymers base polymers: standard ABS, high-heat ABS, ABS/PC or PC/ABS – and because their key properties remain the same, this does not affect existing OEM approvals of Elix grades. Furthermore, as the shrinkage of the materials stays the same, current molds can be used without further need for modifications.

Johnson Precision's Owner Jim Umland commented, "Being able to welcome three distinguished industry leaders to our growing team is a pleasure for our company and a gateway to prolific future growth."

"We were sourcing over 90% of our tools in Asia with joint venture partners, 85% of those being medical and device related," Zygulski said. "However, with the new hires we will certainly look to their relationships from a domestic standpoint to build tools."

Mr. Herter added: “This new development is the result of our close partnership with leading OEMs. Together, we identified the need to address this issue and we were able to develop tailor-made solutions. This approach is fully in line with our strategy to focus on specialty added-value materials.”

The new grades underwent stick-slip tests at several premium automotive OEMs according to the VDA230-206 standard using testing machines from Ziegler Instruments, with very positive test results: a 10-point scale is used where 10 is the highest risk level. The new Elix grades managed toscore 1 – the lowest risk level. Tests were conducted with different forces (10 N, 40 N) and speeds (1 mm/s and 4 mm/s) at several temperatures.

Johnson Precision has seen substantial growth - 17% over the last fiscal year - building on the company's existing customer base consisting of the top 10 medical OEMs. "We've done a good job of getting new business, so we've had to explore building tools domestically."

Until she retired in September 2021, Clare Goldsberry reported on the plastics industry for more than 30 years. In addition to the 10,000+ articles she has written, by her own estimation, she is the author of several books, including The Business of Injection Molding: How to succeed as a custom molder and Purchasing Injection Molds: A buyers guide. Goldsberry is a member of the Plastics Pioneers Association. She reflected on her long career in "Time to Say Good-Bye."

Randy Pell, formerly owner of Pell Design, recently spent 17 years with Mack Molding. Pell holds two industry patents, and has spent his career involved in part and mold design, and procurement of tooling for new and existing customers. Brian Fischer will be responsible for all program launches, oversee the sustainable growth of selected major key accounts, and comes to Johnson Precision after nine years with Nypro Inc. Fischer holds a BS Degree in Plastics Engineering from U Mass-Lowell.

"We're making a substantial move toward using product families in our operations and with the acquisition of our new Arburg injection molding machines, we have taken a significant step towards streamlining our processes even further," said Jason Stein, manufacturing manager at Johnson Precision. "Now, we're looking at reduced set-up times and a stricter approach to process control, which will serve to help us continue our industry leadership through the products and services that we offer."

It takes continued upgrading of both equipment and talent to be a successful mold manufacturer and molder in today's global marketplace. Johnson Precision Inc., a global manufacturer of thermoplastic injection molded components and assemblies to the medical device marketplace, announced its acquisition of three new, state-of-the-art Arburg injection molding machines. The company has also added three new members to its management team.

The new equipment replaces the company's existing injection molding equipment, and represents a significant technical upgrade from the previous machinery the company used, and highlights Johnson Precision's continued drive toward manufacturing excellence. The three Arburg machines consist of two 55-ton models and a 28-ton model, and will be housed in Johnson Precision's 5,000-sq-ft, ISO Class 8 cleanroom. Each machine features innovative touch screen controls and advanced calibration options, while the 28-ton machine will give the company the capability to mold components on a micro-scale.

Typical critical automotive interior parts affected include door handles, seating parts, cup holders, and air vents. The newly developed grades may also be suited for other segments such as E&E, white goods, or consumer goods.

Stefan Rasch, a 28-year veteran of the injection molding industry, has help positions with Mack Molding, GE Plastics and most recently, Sinicon. Rasch holds a BA degree in Biology and BS degree in Medical Terminology from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA.

Stephen has been with PlasticsToday and its preceding publications Modern Plastics and Injection Molding since 1992, throughout this time based in the Asia Pacific region, including stints in Japan, Australia, and his current location Singapore. His current beat focuses on automotive. Stephen is an avid folding bicycle rider, often taking his bike on overseas business trips, and is a proud dachshund owner.

In today's globally competitive environment, people make the difference, explained Scott Zygulski, VP of sales and marketing, in an interview with PlasticsToday. "We can all buy the same equipment but at the end of the day it's about the people running the business. We've made a concerted effort to hire experienced people with expertise in this industry."

Johnson Precision's commitment to excellence by its management team "makes a big difference," Zygulski said. "We have a lot of exciting programs in the pipeline."

Planning for the future of the company also requires thinking about apprentices and their growing role in the company's success. Johnson Precision also announced that it has acquired a machining intern from Nashua (NH) Technology Center through the end of 2014. Michael Small, a precision machining student at the Nashua Technology Center, will learn and observe the fundamentals of tool making as well as the construction and repair of injection molds.

It takes continued upgrading of both equipment and talent to be a successful mold manufacturer and molder in today's global marketplace. Johnson Precision Inc., a global manufacturer of thermoplastic injection molded components and assemblies to the medical device marketplace, announced its acquisition of three new, state-of-the-art Arburg injection molding machines. The company has also added three new members to its management team.

Elix Polymers (Tarragona, Spain) has developed a range of specialty grades of acrylonitrile-styrene-butadiene (ABS) and polycarbonate (PC)/ABS to reduce the squeak that is generated when plastic parts come into contact with other plastic parts, leather, PVC foil, or other products. These undesirable noises can negatively affect the driver’s comfort and the car’s quality impression.

"The tool making industry has been slowly aging and disappearing over the last 10-15 years, as a result of off-shoring," said Michelle Mountain, director of human resources for the company. "The technical skills required are still being taught in a few schools, such as the Nashua Technology Center, specifically in their Precision Machining Program, and we were fortunate enough to be able to build a strong partnership through this internship program."

In a separate announcement, Johnson Precision welcomed three industry veterans to its upper management staff. Stefan Rasch will act as the company's new director of engineering; Randy Pell was hired as senior design engineer, and Brian Fischer as senior program manager.

Currently, the company operates 18 presses up to 200 tons. Part of the newly installed clean room is spoken for with a new blood filtration device program, in which Johnson Precision will be the distributor for the product after it is returned from the sterilization house, rather than having the products shipped from the sterilization company, Zygulski explained.

According to Fabian Herter, Industry Manager Automotive at Elix Polymers, with these new grades, significant cost savings are possible: “Until now, in many instances, fabrics or grease had to be added afterwards to reduce squeak and rattle. However, this involves additional costs and manual labor – and therefore is not ideal. Now, thanks to these new Elix grades, we are able to offer a more competitive solution when compared to other resins that are currently available.”