New MAPLAN 160T LSR press commissioned to expand silicone moulding capacity

In June 2023 Clinical Polymer Technologies took delivery of a new MAPLAN MTF/160/100 edition S vertical injection moulding press, adding a further 160 tonnes of dedicated liquid silicone rubber (LSR) capacity to our ISO 8 cleanroom moulding cell.

The investment is part of a multi-year programme to expand precision silicone capacity for medical device customers and to shorten lead times on new product introductions. The MAPLAN platform was selected for its combination of servo-hydraulic control, low-energy operation and the tight process repeatability that LSR programmes for regulated markets demand.

Why MAPLAN, and why 160 tonnes?

MAPLAN's C-frame vertical presses are widely used across the European medical silicone sector. They pair effectively with cold-runner LSR tooling, allow straightforward operator access for insert loading and overmoulding, and hold cavity pressures with the stability required for thin-wall parts, valves and micro-features.

The 160-tonne clamp force is well suited to the majority of medical silicone programmes handled at CPT, from small-cavity, high-cavitation drug-delivery components through to larger single-cavity tools for surgical and diagnostic assemblies. The new press complements the existing line-up rather than duplicating it, providing additional scheduling flexibility when running validation builds alongside routine production.

Configured for medical LSR from day one

• Servo-driven hydraulics with closed-loop injection and holding-pressure control
• Integrated cold-runner temperature control with per-nozzle monitoring
• Vacuum-assist moulding for void-free thin-wall and complex geometries
• SPC data capture at the machine, with batch traceability into our MES
• Configured for two-component LSR and silicone-to-substrate overmoulding

What this means for customers

The additional capacity releases immediate slots for new tool trials and pilot builds through Q4 2025 and into 2026, and shortens the path from T0 samples through IQ/OQ/PQ into validated production. It also provides a like-for-like backup platform for existing MAPLAN-tooled programmes, reducing single-machine risk on customer-critical part numbers.

All work on the new press is conducted under CPT's ISO 13485:2016 quality management system, with cleanroom moulding, inspection and packaging performed in-house.

To discuss a new LSR programme or a tooling transfer onto the new press, please contact the CPT engineering team.