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The TPR learned about SIMTEC Silicone
Parts and the strides it is making in LSR injection molding technology,
so we now bring readers a feature about this Madison, Wisconsin-based
business. Company President Enrique Camacho gave us an up-close view of
his operation and where it’s headed in a global – and progressively
green – market. What is your company niche and what does your company do that is notable, unique or different?
SIMTEC’s exclusive
focus is in the production of high precision injection molding of Liquid
Silicone Rubber (LSR) as a single material or in conjunction with
overmolding and 2 Shot injection molding. Our scope of services
includes, but is not limited to: material selection, design advice,
prototyping, serial production, validation, and regulatory compliance.
We continuously research and develop improved methods of manufacturing
parts and components made from Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR). Knowledge
obtained through these activities is applied to every aspect of the
manufacturing process. Our Team’s second to none expertise and
experience in science, plastics and LSR processing along with
state-of-the-art machinery allow for the development of extraordinary
solutions for the most technically challenging applications.
Break-through research has been conducted together with world renowned
universities in the US and Europe. The results obtained from portions
of our research have been presented and published during conferences in
the US and Europe. By combining a deep understanding of materials with
expertise in integrating systems, SIMTEC has consistently challenged
conventional mindsets allowing us to meet and exceed our customers’
expectations again and again. When and how did you get into the industry, what attracted you to it?
We started operations in the U.S. in March of 2002 after having conducted a world-wide search for the best location. Given the technology was developed in Europe there were already, at the time, established players on that continent. Asia was unattractive to us due to freight costs and due to the fact that at that time raw material was only made in Japan. High import costs along with limited logistic options led us to decide against production in Latin America.
We decided to bring this technology to
the U.S. because of our firm conviction that we can contribute to the
improvement of the final products, where our parts have applications.
At the same time we eliminate quality issues, grey areas, and allow for
sophisticated component integration. An added benefit is the positive
impact of our technology for the environment due to the purity of the
material and the way of processing it that eliminates waste. Relate a notable "best time" for your company.
Similarly, relate notable challenges
that your company has overcome.
Our expertise designing complex
components integrating several parts enables our customers to obtain all
encompassing solutions from one source.
When you are working on projects with
your customers, what aspects would you like them to better recognize?
List newly acquired technology, machinery or key personnel. SIMTEC has acquired specialized production units from Europe for 2 Shot injection molding of LSR and our engineering team has carried out a customized system integration to enable fully automated 24-hour operation at our facilities in Madison, Wisconsin. These units are the first of their kind in the world.
Please see above. Are you involved in any industry organizations or educational programs related to the trade?
SIMTEC is a member of the Society of
Plastics Engineers, and has been honored together with the University of
Wisconsin Madison with the 2006 SPE Thermoset Award for research carried
out in relation with 2-shot technology. Together with research
universities in the US and in Germany, we continuously carry out
research and development on processes, materials and applications. We
have published a portion of our research results at conferences in the
US and in Europe.
What do you think about changes occurring in the industry due to globalization? How has it affected the way you do business? The degree of specialization in materials and processes makes it mandatory that we concentrate design, development and production in the same physical location. Logistics nowadays facilitate parts availability anywhere in the world in a maximum of 36 hours. Being that our industry is capital and knowledge intensive rather than labor intensive, countries with less expensive labor do not have the upper hand in this industry.
SIMTEC has always been and continues to
be a global player. Some of the components that are manufactured by
SIMTEC are exported to France, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom, Japan,
China, and Canada.
What will the industry look like in 3 to 5 years?
The outlook is favorable as more and more
companies in the medical device, cosmetics, automotive parts, food
packaging and food contact fields will turn to LSR and 2-shot injection
molding for their needs. The combination of the product’s quality and
reliability will allow manufacturers to expand their customer and
product base. Additional Background Information:
Contact Information:
Tel.: (608) 663-4553 Fax: (608) 663-4554
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