Micro moulding operation Starlim pushes the limits of silicone micro moulding

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From 0.7 mm O-rings to precision hearing aid components, Starlim specialises in producing silicone micro parts at industrial scale. Its dedicated micro moulding department combines Wittmann Micropower machines, in-house mould making and cleanroom production.

New applications in medical technology, automobile electronics and other industries are generating a rising demand for micro parts made of silicone. Starlim, the world’s largest silicone processor, is well prepared. At its headquarters in Marchtrenk, Austria, an entire department is dedicated to micro moulding — equipped with Micropower injection moulding machines from Wittmann and its own cleanroom.

“For us, everything below a part weight of ten milligrams is micro”, says Dominik Kreuzmayr and passes around two sample parts at the conference table during our visit in Marchtrenk, an O-ring and a hearing aid component. Kreuzmayr is the marketing team leader and was previously the driver of the micro moulding department’s in-house development. He knows that there is no universally accepted definition of micro injection moulding. The classification at Starlim is based on many years of experience and a deep understanding of the material behaviour inside extremely fine mould structures. For entirely different rules apply here, says Kreuzmayr.