Phillips Plastics doubles its metal injection molding capacity with new equipment.

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Phillips Plastics Corp. has spent $2.6 million to purchase a new furnace that will double its metal injection molding capacity.

The new Elino Metal Injection Molding (MIM) furnace will enable Phillips to meet the demand of customers in need of several million parts per year, the Menomonie, WI-based company said. The German-manufactured furnace features a one-step debinding and sintering cycle and can process about 70 pounds of MIM parts per hour with a maximum operating temperature of 2,640 degrees Fahrenheit (1,450 degrees Celsius).

Phillips Plastics provides concept design, rapid prototyping and tooling services. It has annual sales of more than $250 million and employs 1,600 people in 15 locations throughout the United States. Earlier this year, the company announced that it had broadened its manufacturing capability to include multi-shot liquid silicone injection molding, a process that combines liquid silicone rubber and thermoplastics in one molded part. The resulting product is able to withstand harsh environments.