MRPC has completed a cleanroom expansion and automation project at its headquarters in Butler, Wisconsin.
The move by the US-based manufacturer is aimed at increasing production capacity and advancing its silicone moulding capabilities for the medical device sector.
The expansion adds approximately 10,000 sqft of cleanroom space at the Butler facility, purpose-built to support advanced silicone moulding operations in a tightly controlled environment.
As part of the upgrade, the expanded cleanroom now incorporates multiple automated silicone moulding work centres, alongside robotics integration and facility infrastructure improvements.
The inclusion of high-precision automated systems enables more consistent output while reducing the risk of contamination and variability.
The additions also enhance process efficiency, repeatability and scalability across production lines.
MRPC’s Butler HQ facility historically maintained ISO Class 7 and ISO Class 8 environments for medical device manufacturing
The project was completed within MRPC’s existing footprint, with no external cleanroom contractor publicly listed.
The drive for liquid silicone manufacturing
The expansion was designed to support growing customer demand for large volumes of consistent silicone parts using both liquid silicone rubber and high-consistency rubber.
The expansion increases the company’s capacity to manufacture in a controlled, contamination-free environment while maintaining strict standards for quality and process control.
It also reflects a wider industry trend toward automation in cleanrooms, especially in medical device manufacturing where precision and cleanliness are critical.
The expanded cleanroom and automated silicone moulding will allow the company to meet medical device OEMs’ evolving needs.
This includes applications that require tight tolerances, consistent material quality, and scalable production.
Speaking about the expansion, Brunson Parish, Director of Technology Development at MRPC, said:
“Robotics perform repetitive tasks with greater speed and precision, while integrated process monitoring systems continuously verify and control moulding parameters and part integrity. If validated process limits are exceeded, the system automatically segregates products, protecting quality and maintaining consistency shot after shot.”
Two years ago, MRPC completed an eight‑month project to repurpose existing space into a cleanroom to increase automation and capacity at its Butler headquarters.
The recent expansion builds on that effort but with a focus on automation and dedicated capacity growth for high‑precision silicone molding within the cleanroom environment.