Turnkey toolmaking and automation systems for injection molding, assembly and testing of medical devices
SHL Advantec AG
Zug (CH) · LCA Automation (CH/CN/MX) · SMC Mould Innovation (CH) · Superior Tooling (NC, USA)New on Amplifa
About SHL Advantec
SHL Advantec is a globally active provider of turnkey solutions for advanced machinery and equipment manufacturing, specializing in high-precision injection molding tools, automation systems, assembly lines and testing machines for medical devices and other demanding applications. As a specialized equipment-building offshoot of SHL Medical, a leading provider of self-injection solutions, the company has for over 20 years supported the injection molding, assembly and testing of more than 50 commercialized combination products. The value chain extends from tool design and simulation via CNC machining and EDM at the in-house tooling center to the engineering and manufacture of modular assembly and testing platforms with in-line quality control. Around 600 employees at sites in Switzerland, Taiwan, China, Mexico and the USA handle projects from feasibility studies and qualification through to maintenance, retrofit and spare parts management. The network includes the sub-brands LCA Automation (Switzerland, China, Mexico), SMC Mould Innovation (Switzerland) and Superior Tooling (North Carolina, USA).
- Site
- Zug
- Processes
- Plastic injection molding (injection molds / plastic injection molds), Hot-runner technologies for injection molds, Mold design and simulation (tool design/simulation), EDM (electrical discharge machining), CNC machining (CNC machining), Assembly equipment: MAM (assisted manual assembly), Assembly equipment: SLIM (semi-automatic lab station), Assembly equipment: AD08 (semi-automatic, single machine)
- Materials
- Plastic (for injection molds, unknown type), Medical injection device components (syringes, cartridges), Plastics for injection molding, CNC machining, Electrical discharge machining (EDM), Hot-runner technologies, Sensors: load cells, optical systems, AI vision
- Certificates
- ISO 11608 / FDA 21 CFR Part 11 (test standards support)
- Employees
- 600+
- Industries
- MedTech, Pharma, Diagnostics, Industrial applications
- 01
Engineering: planning, feasibility, proof of concept
- 02
Mold design and simulation
- 03
CNC machining and EDM at the in-house tooling center
- 04
Injection mold making incl. hot-runner technologies
- 05
Engineering and build-up of assembly and testing machines
- 06
In-line quality control and injection testing
- 07
Commissioning, training, maintenance, retrofit and spare parts management
Materials & Processes
Plastics for injection molding
Injection molding tools with hot-runner and needle-valve gating for high-precision medical device components.
CNC machining
Manufacture of high-quality machined parts for assembly and testing machines.
Electrical discharge machining (EDM)
Core task at the in-house tooling center for precise tool design.
Hot-runner technologies
Used in multi-cavity molds for higher production output and process stability.
Sensors: load cells, optical systems, AI vision
Integrated testing technologies for 100% inspection of subassemblies and end devices.
Sites
Zug (Headquarters)
CHHeadquarters
- Materials
- Kunststoff
- CNC machining centers
- EDM machines
- Robotic exchange systems
- Injection mold making (in-house tooling)
LCA Automation (Switzerland/China/Mexico)
CHAutomation systems and service network
- Assembly lines MAM, SLIM, AD08, SMART, AD16, AOU
SMC Mould Innovation (Switzerland)
CHToolmaking services
- Materials
- Kunststoff
Superior Tooling (North Carolina, USA)
USToolmaking and services
- Materials
- Kunststoff
Components & Equipment
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic injection molding (injection molds / plastic injection molds)Kunststoff | – | – | – | – | Kunststoff |
| Hot-runner technologies for injection moldsKunststoff | – | – | – | – | Kunststoff |
| Mold design and simulation (tool design/simulation)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| EDM (electrical discharge machining)Zerspanung | – | – | – | – | – |
| CNC machining (CNC machining)Zerspanung | – | – | – | – | – |
| Assembly equipment: MAM (assisted manual assembly)Montage | – | – | – | Low volume | Medical devices/injection devices |
| Assembly equipment: SLIM (semi-automatic lab station)Montage | – | – | – | Low | Medical devices/injection devices |
| Assembly equipment: AD08 (semi-automatic, single machine)Montage | – | – | – | Medium | Medical devices/injection devices |
| Assembly equipment: SMART (fully automatic, high-mix)Montage | – | – | – | Low to medium | Medical devices/injection devices |
| Assembly equipment: AD16 (fully automatic, high throughput)Montage | – | – | – | High | Medical devices/injection devices |
| Assembly equipment: AOU (semi- or fully automatic, scalable)Montage | – | – | – | Medium to high | Medical devices/injection devices |
| In-line quality control in assembly machines (probes, laser sensors, camera systems, deep learning)Prüfung | – | – | – | 100% inspection of subassemblies and | – |
| Testing machines: MTM (machine-assisted injection tester)Prüfung | – | – | – | Low | – |
| Testing machines: ATT (benchtop test system)Prüfung | – | – | – | Low | – |
| Testing machines: SATM (semi-automatic test station)Prüfung | – | – | – | Medium | – |
| Testing machines: FATM (fully automatic with robotics and AI vision)Prüfung | – | – | – | High | – |
| Container-free release (CoFR) testing for syringe/cartridge injection devicesPrüfung | – | – | – | – | – |
| Injection testing (injection time, extractable volume, injection depth, click signal, forcePrüfung | – | – | – | – | – |
| Automation systems (modular to custom machines for product industrialization)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Spring and tray formation (spring and tray formation equipment)Umformung | – | – | – | – | – |
| End-to-end assembly and packaging equipment for medical devicesMontage | – | – | – | – | – |
| Engineering: planning, feasibility, proof of conceptEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Repair, maintenance, retrofit, modernization of machinesMontage | – | – | – | – | – |
| Test method development and transferPrüfung | – | – | – | – | – |
16 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Injection molding machines/toolmaking equipment (in-house tooling center) | SHL Advantec | – | – | – | SHL sites (Taiwan, among others) |
| CNC machining centers | not specified | – | – | – | – |
| EDM machines (electrical discharge machining) | not specified | – | – | – | – |
| Robotic exchange systems (robotic exchange machines) | not specified | – | – | – | – |
| Assembly line MAM (assisted manual assembly, benchtop device) | SHL Advantec MAM | – | – | – | – |
| Assembly line SLIM (semi-automatic lab station) | SHL Advantec SLIM | – | – | – | – |
| Assembly line AD08 (semi-automatic, single machine) | SHL Advantec AD08 | – | – | – | – |
| Assembly line SMART (fully automatic) | SHL Advantec SMART | – | – | – | – |
| Assembly line AD16 (fully automatic, high throughput) | SHL Advantec AD16 | – | – | – | – |
| Assembly line AOU (semi- or fully automatic) | SHL Advantec AOU | – | – | – | – |
| Testing machine MTM (machine-assisted injection tester) | SHL Advantec MTM | – | – | – | – |
| Testing machine ATT (benchtop test system) | SHL Advantec ATT | – | – | – | – |
| Testing machine SATM (semi-automatic) | SHL Advantec SATM | – | – | – | – |
| Testing machine FATM (fully automatic with robotics and AI vision) | SHL Advantec FATM | – | – | – | – |
| JOHO Manual Testing Machine (MTM) platform | SHL JOHO MTM | – | – | – | – |
| Testing machines with load cells, optical systems and AI vision | SHL Advantec | – | – | – | – |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality
SHL Advantec develops testing methods, software and machines entirely in-house and supports testing in accordance with ISO 11608 and FDA 21 CFR Part 11. The testing machine platforms (MTM, ATT, SATM, FATM) and assembly lines feature integrated sensor technologies such as load cells, optical systems and AI vision for 100% quality control including container-free release testing (CoFR).
| Evidence | Zug (Headquarters) |
|---|---|
| ISO 11608 / FDA 21 CFR Part 11 (test standards support) |
History
Roger Samuelsson founds Scandinavian Health Limited (SHL Group, today SHL Medical).
SHL's first autoinjector project PenInject 2.25.
Build-up of an automation team for assembly and testing systems.
Development of the first semi-automatic testing machine (SATM) for the DAI® autoinjector.
Automation capacities officially become the Automation Systems Department (AMSD).
Investment in CNC machining.
Establishment of an in-house tooling center; toolmaking becomes its own department.
Introduction of the first 8-16 cavity injection molds with needle-valve gating.
Start of a training program with the National Taipei University of Technology.
Donation of a CNC machine to Taipei Municipal Muzha Vocational High School.
Development of the JOHO manual testing machine (MTM).