ESCATEC establishes in-house BPA-free plastic manufacturing capability
EMS provider ESCATEC has established an in-house capability to manufacture plastic components from BPA-free resins at its Johor Bahru facility in Malaysia. The capability targets customers in food and beverage, medical technology and other applications requiring stringent material controls.
The process has been validated through mass production of a BPA-free coffee machine for an unnamed Italian brand. Qualifying BPA-free resin suppliers, establishing controlled injection-moulding processes and implementing dedicated production measures – including a machine used exclusively for BPA-free production and strict segregation from conventional production – were all required to bring the capability online, according to a press release from ESCATEC.
By combining in-house BPA-free injection moulding with its existing electronics, mechatronics and product assembly capabilities, ESCATEC can support customers from component manufacture through to finished product under controlled and traceable conditions.
The capability is relevant to medical device OEMs in particular, where polymer materials are widely used in components that may come into direct or indirect contact with patients, pharmaceuticals or biological fluids. Stringent material handling procedures, regular audits and laboratory testing provide ongoing verification of the manufacturing controls.
"We can now manufacture BPA-free plastic components ourselves from qualified resins under dedicated and controlled conditions. This is particularly relevant for customers in food-and-beverage and medical technology, where material selection, traceability and robust process controls are increasingly important," said Charles-Alexandre Albin, CEO of ESCATEC.
