Engineering Precision: LEO Precision’s Impact on India’s Mould Industry
Leo Precision Pvt. Ltd. is of one of India’s leading mould-manufacturers, specializing in PET preform moulds, ISBM moulds, and Cap & Closure moulds. LEO Precision is an organization whose vales are rooted in technical proficiency, innovation-forward thinking, and quality-oriented process, through which LEO Precision has made a significant contribution to India’s precision mould-manufacturing industry and contributes to higher productivity for their customers.
Mr. Senthil Kumar, Founder and Managing Director, established the organization in 2010, with the journey beginning in a modest 1,000 sq. ft. facility. With a clear vision and unwavering determination, he has since transformed the company into a state-of-the-art manufacturing organisation spanning over 175,000 sq. ft. in Silvassa. This remarkable growth reflects his strategic thinking, commitment to excellence, and ability to adapt to the evolving needs of the packaging industry.
In this journey of 16 years, LEO Precision has become a trusted partner for customers across India and global markets. Organization’s commitment to customer satisfaction remains the foundation of achieving excellence with consistency. This achievement is underpinned by a proactive workforce, innovative mould designing, and world-class machinery- a combination that has strengthened the company’s manufacturing capabilities and elevated product quality. By consistently meeting international standards, the company has built long-term relationships founded on trust, quality, and reliability. Today, Leo Precision is recognised for its engineering excellence, dependable technical support, and timely delivery.
LEO Precision pioneers the making of hipster bottle moulds for ISBM (single-stage) machines, supplying to major players in the liquor industry. Beyond this, the company manufactures bottle moulds for a diverse range of industries, including Pharmaceutical, Medical, Household, Chemical, FMCG Food, Beverage, Cosmetics, Personal Care, and Edible Oil containers; enabling customers to achieve higher productivity on the same machine, across DPH and DPW standard machines.
In PET injection moulding, LEO Precision is equipped with the complete capabilities to deliver solutions built on high-precision machining, ensuring consistency across all stacks and enabling seamless cavity-to-cavity and mould-to-mould interchangeability of inserts. Their Cold-Half range extends up to 144 cavities, complete with integrated post-cooling systems.
In Caps and Closures moulds, LEO Precision offers a comprehensive range of solutions; from simple bump-off and flip-top caps to complex moulds featuring in-mould closing and un-screwing mechanisms. These high-precision caps and closures moulds are engineered for consistent performance, superior sealing, and high-speed production, meeting global packaging standards across diverse industries.
LEO Precision’s newest turn-key project is LPM-100, an 4-stage Injection Stretch Blow Moulding machine which is high-performing due to its technical superiority supported by intelligent Servo systems, and automation-integrated systems. These features enable the user lower operation cost and higher machine life. This project marks the first of many under LEO Precision’s “M2M: Moulds to Machines” initiative, through which the company commits to delivering customers an end-to-end packaging solution, from mould to final bottle.
Beyond business achievements, LEO Precision has purposively contributed to the industrial development of Silvassa by generating employment, supporting skill development, and promoting advanced manufacturing practices. These efforts have strengthened the regional manufacturing ecosystem while contributing to the growth of India’s precision engineering industry.
Looking ahead, LEO Precision’s vision is to keep expanding Leo Precision‘s global presence through advanced technology, continuous innovation, and strategic partnerships. Guided by the organization’s philosophy, “You ideate, we shape it,” the organization remains committed to delivering world-class engineering solutions and inspiring the next generation of manufacturing leaders through precision, quality, innovation, and customer excellence.
Smart Water, Greener Future: How TOM® and ecoFITTOM® are redefining sustainable infrastructure
All over the world, countries are facing a common challenge: ensuring access to clean water while reducing the environmental impact of infrastructure. As climate change places increasing pressure on natural resources, investing in efficient and sustainable water networks has become more important than ever.
At Molecor, sustainability is more than a commitment; it is a core principle that drives innovation. Through its advanced OPVC (oriented PVC) technology, the company develops hydraulic solutions that support the transition towards more resilient and environmentally responsible infrastructure. This approach is closely aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly with SDG 6, which focuses on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
Leading this transformation, we find TOM® pipes and ecoFITTOM® fittings, the innovative solutions manufactured using Molecor’s exclusive Molecular Orientation technology. By reorganizing the molecular structure of PVC, mechanical performance is enhanced while reducing the amount of raw material required. The result is a lighter, stronger, and more efficient product than conventional alternatives.
Sustainability is integrated into every stage of the value chain. From manufacturing and transportation to installation and operation, TOM® and ecoFITTOM® are designed to minimize environmental impact through lower resource consumption, optimized energy use, long service life, and responsible material management.
TOM® pipes and ecoFITTOM® fittings have been presented as the most ecological solution of all those existing in the market, due to their better contribution to the correct sustainable development of the planet. In addition, TOM® pipes are remarkably lightweight, weighing less than half as much as PVC and PE pipes and between six and twelve times less per linear meter than equivalent cast-iron pipes. This fact facilitates handling, transport, and installation while reducing associated environmental impacts.
One of their main environmental advantages is a significantly lower carbon footprint. The manufacturing process requires less energy than many traditional pipe materials, generating up to 33% fewer CO₂ emissions.
The benefits extend beyond emissions reduction. TOM® and ecoFITTOM® contribute to the efficient use of natural resources by maximizing hydraulic capacity and minimizing water losses. PVC is also a resource-efficient material, as only 43% of its composition is derived from oil. Combined with lower energy consumption throughout the entire life cycle, these characteristics contribute to a more sustainable use of resources.
Circularity is another key pillar of their design. OPVC pipes and fittings are 100% recyclable. They can be ground and processed as rework material to be used in the manufacture of other plastic products with lower technical requirements. Combined with resource optimization and waste reduction strategies, this approach contributes to more responsible production and consumption patterns, in line with SDG 12.
Durability also plays a crucial role in sustainability. TOM® pipes and ecoFITTOM® fittings offer outstanding resistance to impact, fatigue, corrosion, and chemical degradation, ensuring reliable performance. A longer service life means fewer replacements, lower maintenance requirements, and reduced consumption of resources over time, while helping preserve water quality across the network.
By combining efficiency, durability, recyclability, and a reduced environmental footprint, TOM® and ecoFITTOM® demonstrate how innovative products can support smarter water management. Together, they provide a practical solution for building the sustainable, resilient infrastructure needed to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.
Every Process. Every Product. Every Time- Quality First
Arun Plasto Moulders (India) Pvt. Ltd. — known in industry circles as APPL — is the flagship manufacturing enterprise of the Saro Group of Companies, one of India’s most diversified and respected private business groups. Headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, the Saro Group traces its origins to 1984, when founder Mr. P. Marimuthu established Arun Enterprises at the Guindy Industrial Estate to manufacture plastic processing machinery. That foundational business, now more than four decades old, continues to export to 32 countries worldwide — a quiet testimony to the enduring quality standards the group has maintained since its inception.
Mr. P.Marimuthu, Founder and Chairman, Arun Plasto Moulders (India) Pvt. Ltd.(SARO Group)
APPL itself was incorporated in 2004, created to harness the growing global demand for precision plastic components and high-quality packaging. Since then, it has grown into a nationally significant manufacturer operating across three Indian states — Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Uttarakhand — with a combined built-up area of 3 million square feet and a workforce of more than 800 skilled professionals.
“We began with the belief that Indian manufacturing could meet the world’s highest standards. Everything we have built since is proof of that conviction.”
Infrastructure & Scale
APPL’s manufacturing presence is anchored by four strategically located facilities, each purpose-built to serve distinct market segments. The flagship campus at Pillaipakkam, Sriperumbudur — a greenfield facility established in 2013 — houses three dedicated production units covering packaging, polycarbonate extrusion, and electronic plastic components respectively. The Haridwar facility in Uttarakhand was built expressly to serve the FMCG supply chains of multinational corporations. Two further facilities, at Guindy in Chennai and Rajamundry in Andhra Pradesh, complete the group’s national footprint.
The company’s production capabilities reflect its commitment to technological leadership. APPL operates more than 250 injection moulding machines — a remarkable 97 per cent of which are all-electric, underscoring its dedication to precision, energy efficiency, and environmental responsibility. Our fleet of machines consists of: Fanuc, JSW, Toshiba, Engel, TOYO, and so on. Complementing these are 15 thermoforming machines, 10 extrusion lines, and over 100 ancillary machines for pad-printing, hot foiling, wadding, and other value-added finishing processes.
Quality as an Operating Principle
Quality at APPL is not a department — it is the foundational operating principle of the entire enterprise. The company maintains a modern, fully equipped in-house QC laboratory, staffed by an expert technical team whose combined experience exceeds 40 years. Every production line is governed by rigorous quality management systems that consistently meet, and frequently exceed, international benchmarks — a fact affirmed by the company’s extensive certification portfolio and its long-standing relationships with some of the world’s most demanding corporate customers.
FOUR DECADES OF GROWTH & INNOVATION
The history of Arun Plasto Moulders is, in many ways, a microcosm of India’s own manufacturing transformation — a story of ambition meeting opportunity, and of a visionary founder who refused to confine his aspirations to a single decade or a single product line. What began as a machinery workshop in Chennai has, through sustained investment, strategic diversification, and an unwavering focus on quality, become one of South India’s most respected industrial groups.
Milestones That Shaped a Company
1984 — Arun Enterprises established at Guindy Industrial Estate, Chennai, manufacturing plastic processing machinery. The company begins what will become a 32-country export relationship spanning four decades.
2004 — Arun Plasto Moulders incorporated in Chennai. The company makes history as the first manufacturer in South India to produce laminated oval tubes for Oral care, establishing its early credentials in precision FMCG packaging.
2006 — Solar Compact established — the first CD and DVD manufacturing unit in South India — reflecting the group’s appetite for entering high-technology segments ahead of the market.
2007 — A second APPL facility inaugurated at Haridwar, Uttarakhand, built specifically to supply FMCG packaging to Unilever Ltd. This plant marks the beginning of one of APPL’s most enduring and defining corporate partnerships.
2010 — Arun Enterprises expands its northern presence with a second unit at Haridwar, consolidating the group’s manufacturing capability in Uttarakhand.
2013 — A landmark greenfield facility established at Pillaipakkam, Sriperumbudur — destined to become APPL’s most advanced and expansive campus.
2016 — A fourth facility launched at Rajamundry, Andhra Pradesh, dedicated to the agro-products packaging segment and extending APPL’s geographic and sectoral reach.
2017 — Unit 2 inaugurated at the Pillaipakkam campus for the manufacture of polycarbonate roofing sheets, further broadening the group’s product portfolio.
2019 — Unit 3 inaugurated at Pillaipakkam — a state-of-the-art facility dedicated entirely to electronic plastic components for the EMS (Electronics Manufacturing Services) sector, positioning APPL as a key partner to the booming Indian electronics industry.
2024 — Chairman Mr. P. Marimuthu honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award by Modern Plastics India — the industry’s most prestigious individual recognition.
“Every facility we have opened has been a direct answer to a market need — and a statement of our faith in India’s manufacturing future.” Mr. P.Marimuthu
The Founder’s Vision
Driving each of these milestones is Chairman Mr. P. Marimuthu — a first-generation graduate and alumnus of CIPET Chennai, where he majored in Tool Design and Development. A self-made industrialist in the truest sense of the term, he identified the latent potential in precision plastic manufacturing long before the sector attracted the global attention it commands today. His progressive thinking led him to introduce several of the latest international technologies to India, significantly improving product quality and production efficiency across the business. Under his leadership, the Saro Group has not merely kept pace with industry evolution; it has, on numerous occasions, led it.
PRODUCTS, CUSTOMERS & GLOBAL REACH
APPL serves some of the world’s most demanding customers across four distinct and strategically chosen market segments. This breadth of portfolio is not accidental — it reflects a deliberate philosophy of building deep capability in each sector it enters, rather than pursuing superficial scale across many. From multinational FMCG corporations to global electronics manufacturers, from agricultural plastic aid products to specialised export food-grade packaging, APPL’s customer base is a roll-call of industry leadership.
FMCG & Consumer Packaging
APPL’s credentials in FMCG packaging run deep and has sustained multi-decade partnerships — producing high-volume, high-integrity packaging products from its purpose-built Haridwar and Chennai facilities. Its manufacturing capabilities are tailored to meet the speed-to-shelf and cost-efficiency demands that FMCG operations require, with process consistency that global supply chain auditors have repeatedly endorsed.
Notable FMCG Clientele
Unilever
Himalaya
Dabur
Bisleri
Marico
ITC
Godrej
and other prestigious partners
Electronics & Electrical
The company’s newest and fastest-growing segment, APPL’s electronics plastic components manufacturing capability is centred at its dedicated Unit 3 on the Pillaipakkam campus — inaugurated in 2019 in direct response to the surging demand from India’s electronics manufacturing ecosystem. The facility produces precision-moulded enclosures, connectors, housings, and sub-assemblies for leading domestic and international OEMs, operating to the tight dimensional tolerances and cleanroom-adjacent standards that the electronics sector demands. This segment positions APPL as a strategic domestic supplier to an industry that India has committed, at a national level, to developing into a global manufacturing hub.
Notable Electronics Clientele
Flex
Foxconn
BSH
Motherson
and leading EMS partners across domestic & global supply chains
Export Food Packaging
APPL manufactures a specialised range of food-grade trays and containers for international markets, including packaging for fish fillets and shrimps exported to the Japan and South East Asia. These products are produced to exacting food safety and international retail compliance standards, and the company exports to more than six countries including the USA, the United Kingdom, and the Middle East. This segment exemplifies APPL’s ability to operate at the intersection of manufacturing precision and regulatory rigour — a combination that few Indian plastics manufacturers can offer at comparable scale.
Notable Food Packaging Clientele
Kwality Wall’s
GRB Foods
Global suppliers for processed seafoods
and international food retail partners
Agro & Industrial Products
The Rajamundry facility in Andhra Pradesh serves the agricultural sector, producing packaging and component solutions for agro-industry applications. This is a segment in which APPL has earned specific external recognition — including the Plasticon Award for Contribution in the Agro Field — and one that reflects the company’s commitment to serving India’s rural and primary industry economy alongside its more high-profile corporate clientele.
Notable Agro Clientele
Kubota
Coromandel
Mahindra
and leading agro-industry partners across India
“Our customer portfolio is not a list of names — it is a record of trust earned, and standards met, over many years of disciplined partnership.”
Export Presence
Beyond its domestic operations, APPL exports to more than six countries across multiple continents. The USA, United Kingdom, and Middle East represent the primary destinations for its packaging products and components. Simultaneously, Arun Enterprises — the machinery arm of the Saro Group — maintains an independent export presence spanning 32 countries, carrying the group’s reputation for quality and reliability to a truly global audience. Together, these two businesses present a comprehensive picture of an Indian industrial group that has earned its place on the world stage.
OUR STANDARD
QUALITY, RECOGNITION & CORPORATE VISION
Excellence, at APPL, is neither claimed nor assumed — it is demonstrated through the certifications earned, the awards received, the audits passed, and the long-term partnerships maintained with customers who accept nothing less than the best. The company’s quality infrastructure is comprehensive: a modern in-house QC laboratory, an expert technical team with over 40 years of expertise, and quality management systems that align with the most rigorous international standards in force across its operating segments.
Awards & Recognitions
Over four decades, APPL and its founder have accumulated a distinguished array of industry honours that bear testimony to the company’s sustained excellence across quality, innovation, and social responsibility:
★Arch of Europe for Quality — International recognition for manufacturing excellence across European market standards.
★DuPont Award, USA — Conferred for outstanding innovation and quality performance in the plastics industry.
★Plasticon Award — Contribution in the Agro Field, recognising APPL’s impact in agricultural plastic product solutions.
★Best Entrepreneur Award by the Government of India, 2006 — Honouring the visionary business leadership of Chairman Mr. P. Marimuthu.
★Best Supplier (India) — Awarded by Unilever in recognition of sustained supply chain excellence and partnership integrity.
★Lifetime Achievement Award — Conferred by Modern Plastics India in 2024 to Chairman Mr. P. Marimuthu, in recognition of a career that has shaped an industry.
“Recognition matters — not because we seek applause, but because it affirms that we are building something of genuine and lasting worth.”
Corporate Vision & Culture
APPL’s corporate philosophy is articulated through six interconnected pillars that define how the company thinks, acts, and grows. Together, they form a coherent framework for sustainable, purpose-driven enterprise:
MISSION
To contribute to society by developing technologies that redefine the market — not merely keeping pace with change, but actively shaping it.
PROSPECT
To rely on team strength, make consistent progress, and grow organically toward market leadership — built on capability, not acquisition.
CORE
Quality. Commitment. Innovation. Three words, non-negotiable, that govern every decision made at every level of the organisation.
PEOPLE
To educate and encourage team members toward shared goals; to create an ecosystem of healthy dialogue, equal opportunity, and mutual respect across the entire organisation.
ENTERPRISE
To establish strategies in active partnership with clients, assuring their participation and upholding rigorous quality standards as a foundation, not an aspiration.
SOCIETY
To prioritise harmonious development between enterprise and community; to realise the value of the business and contribute meaningfully to the society within which it operates.
HIPLEX 2026 Gears Up for Grand Showcase at HITEX Exhibition Centre
Plastic isn’t waste until we waste It: HIPLEX 2026 to Demonstrate Circular Economy Live: Plastic Industry veterans
Watch Plastic Waste turn into roads, homes and T-Shirts at HIPLEX 2026: Experts
Dhannarapu Srinivas Guptha_Sp Vigilance And Enforcrement Seen Addressing The Gathering At The Hiplex
The roadshow for HIPLEX 2026, India’s third largest plastics exhibition held, setting the stage for one of the country’s biggest plastics industry events.
More than 500 exhibitors are expected to participate, while over 50,000 business visitors, including manufacturers, technology providers, buyers, investors, policymakers and entrepreneurs from India and abroad, are expected to visit the four-day exhibition.
Superintendent Of Police–Vigilance And Enforcment Dhannarapu Srinivas Seen At The Roadshow Of Hiplex Roadshow
Themed “The Rise of Atmanirbhar & Viksit Bharat in Amrit Kaal: Invest to Transform,” HIPLEX 2026 will showcase cutting-edge machinery, raw materials, processing technologies, recycling solutions, automation, sustainability initiatives and finished products across the entire plastics value chain.
Addressing the gathering, Dhannarapu Srinivas Gupta said that plastics are often viewed only through the lens of pollution, whereas modern life and industry are deeply dependent on them. The challenge before us is not to eliminate plastics but to use them responsibly, recycle them effectively and build a sustainable circular economy.”
Nearly 40,000 manufacturing units provide livelihoods to around 18 lakh people.
Dhannarapu Srinivas Gupta Seen Unveiling The Plastic Times Second Editon_ A Souvenir Of The Expo
Plastic isn’t waste until we waste It: HIPLEX 2026 to Demonstrate Circular Economy Live: said Plastic Industry veterans who spoke on the occasion. Watch Plastic Waste turn into roads, homes and T-Shirts at HIPLEX 2026, they added
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Meela Jayadev, Convener, HIPLEX 2026, said the plastics industry continues to be a key driver of India’s manufacturing growth.
HIPLEX 2026 has expanded to 26,000 square metres, making it the largest edition in the event’s history, he said
HIPLEX 2026 is more than an exhibition; it is a platform that brings together innovation, investment, sustainability and business opportunities under one roof.
One of the major attractions will be the Recycling Pavilion, which will demonstrate the circular economy in action, including how 25 discarded plastic bottles can be converted into a T-shirt. Visitors will also witness innovative applications of recycled plastics, including plastic roads, railway sleepers, bricks, benches, bus shelters and houses.
The exhibition will feature live demonstrations of plastics processing machinery, interactive knowledge sessions, business networking opportunities, investment facilitation, technology partnerships and concurrent industry events.
The exhibition profile includes plastics processing machinery, moulds and dies, raw materials, specialty chemicals, masterbatches, printing and packaging solutions, testing equipment, research and development, post-processing technologies and finished plastic products.
With its strong industrial ecosystem, progressive policies, world-class infrastructure and strategic location, Hyderabad has emerged as one of South India’s leading hubs for the plastics and polymer industry.
Optimizing Process Stability for High-Quality Pellet Production
New Features for Greater Efficiency and Quality
For decades, MAAG has set benchmarks in underwater strand pelletizing technology (USG). With the new M²-USG generation, the company introduces a system designed to deliver enhanced process stability, higher throughput, and consistently superior pellet quality. Design improvements combined with advanced sensor integration enable customers to achieve more reliable production and improved operational efficiency.
Focus on Reliability and Product Quality
The new development is engineered to ensure maximum system availability (>99% OEE) and highly stable production processes. Reduced downtime and minimized scrap rates help lower operating costs while improving overall plant profitability.
At the core of the system is the newly developed M²-USG cutting head, designed to simplify operation and maintenance while minimizing the risk of operator error. Maintenance procedures can largely be performed without tools, and cleaning times have been significantly reduced, allowing operators to return to production faster.
From Polymer Melt to Perfect Pellets
MAAG systems are engineered to produce uniform, cylindrical pellets with minimal fines. During the process, the polymer melt passes through a die plate, is cooled and automatically guided into the pelletizer.
Precise control of process parameters is essential. Incorrect settings can cause strand adhesion, unstable cutting conditions, and ultimately production interruptions. The M²-USG addresses these challenges with a series of targeted design optimizations, helping customers maintain stable, efficient, and sustainable production.
Mastering the Critical Startup Phase
The startup phase is often one of the most critical moments in pelletizing operations. During this stage, polymer strands must be reliably transferred into the guide system.
A newly developed scraper combines high operating speed with particularly gentle strand handling. The strands are cut sequentially at the die plate and fed into the strand guide section and the cutting head with a controlled time delay. This significantly reduces the risk of strand sticking, clogging or excessive startup waste, resulting in faster and more reliable process ramp-up.
Seamless Transition for Enhanced Stability
An optimized water film on the startup table prevents turbulence and reduces the risk of strands sticking together. In addition, transport water is injected immediately after cutting, preventing potential blockages inside the cutting head, even when processing high-temperature polymers or challenging materials such as polycarbonate.
The result is smoother machine operation, improved process stability and increased system availability for the customer.
Larger Cutting Rotor for Higher Performance
The new cutting head features a compact and optimized design with improved sound insulation. The rotor diameter has increased from 162.5 mm to 200 mm, while the number of blades has grown from 30 to 36.
This upgrade enables significantly higher throughput while extending service life by 20%. A stable cutting gap ensures consistently high pellet quality and reduces maintenance requirements and spare-part consumption further lowering operating costs.
High Capacity in a Compact Design
The M²-USG is available in machine widths of 600, 900, and 1200 mm. At 600 mm width, the system achieves throughputs of up to 13,000 kg/h (PET), while the 1200 mm version reaches up to 24,000 kg/h – significantly exceeding the performance of previous models.
This higher capacity allows processors to achieve the same output with smaller machine sizes, reducing both capital investment and installation footprint.
Integrated Sensors for Maximum Efficiency
Integrated sensors continuously monitor key parameters such as vibration, temperature, flow rates, and pressure to ensure an optimal production at the sweet spot. Any deviations are immediately detected and reported, also via remote monitoring, helping operators prevent process instability and scrap.
A camera system monitors strand flow, while compressed air consumption is also tracked. In addition, energy-efficient reluctance motors contribute to lower energy consumption and improved sustainability.
Conclusion
With its advanced engineering, improved process stability, and outstanding pellet quality, the new M²-USG sets a new benchmark in underwater pelletizing.
Customers benefit from reduced operating costs, higher throughput, improved efficiency, and integrated sensor technology that ensures maximum process reliability.
In micro injection molding, starlim relies on MicroPower production cells from WITTMANN
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 molding – equipped with MicroPower injection molding 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 molding department’s in-house development. He knows that there is no universally accepted definition of micro injection molding. The classification at starlim is based on many years of experience and a deep understanding of the material behavior inside extremely fine mold structures. For entirely different rules apply here, says Kreuzmayr.
The MicroPower is not just an injection molding machine, but a complete production cell. It accommodates all process components within an extremely compact space.
The two micro parts are packaged in transparent bags. Measuring 0.7 x 0.4 mm, the O-ring by itself is too small to pick it up with our fingers. It is a prime example of the precision of mass-produced micro components.
By direct comparison with the O-ring, the hearing aid component measuring 6 by 5 by 1 mm looks almost large, but it impresses viewers by its design. It is a two-component part. At its center, there is a membrane consisting of blue-colored liquid silicone (LSR), which is surrounded by a robust thermoplastic frame made of PBT, which facilitates the assembly inside the hearing device. The application determines the size of the part.
Extremely accurate and stable regulation
This particular hearing aid component was produced inside a single-cavity mold on an all- electric MicroPower injection molding machine. “For industrial mass production, we stop at four cavities”, explains Kreuzmayr. 16 cavities would already be too many, since wherever highest precision is required on the sub-millimeter level, it is important to have the cavities arranged very closely together. The main challenge in producing the hearing aid components are the narrow tolerances in the area of the corrugation on the membrane body. “Here we must be able to rely on the injection molding machine’s control accuracy, for in contrast to injection molding of larger parts, the remnant melt cushion plays no part here”, emphasizes Günter Polt, Application Engineer in starlim’s micro injection molding department. Polt has been working in the area of silicone injection molding for almost 30 years. When he moved to the micro molding department several years ago, “it was quite a shock”, he confides to us with a wink. “You cannot judge the quality of the parts with the naked eye. That is often only possible under a microscope.”
Two-component part for hearing aids: ultimate injection molding precision is the prerequisite for accurate sound reproduction.
“The MicroPower machines recommend themselves by their extraordinary precision in the execution of all parameter settings”, points out Kreuzmayr. “This extremely sensitive dynamism combined with absolutely stable and accurate regulation is setting new benchmarks. Here, people are really re-thinking their standards of process reliability and repeatability.”
In the case of these hearing aid components, the high impression accuracy is not only decisive for efficient assembly. In this application, high precision is much more important for accurate sound reproduction. The tolerance margins for the finished two-component part are plus/minus two micrometers. This requires a very precise adjustment and control of the clamping force, as well as a very precise mold.
Integrated quality control
The mold comes from the in-house mold-making shop, where the roots of the now globally successful group of companies lie. In1974, Franz Sterner founded the mold-making business Sterner Werkzeugbau GmbH (formerly Franz Sterner GesmbH). Ten years later, the company Starlim Spritzguss GmbH (formerly Starlim Gummi- und Kunststoffverarbeitung GmbH) was established. These two business segments have long since become an inseparable entity. Molds are now being made exclusively for the company’s own production.
A big advantage for the customers – they get coordinated solutions from a single source and benefit from the knowledge transfer and integrated development. Only new laser technologies and micro-3D printing make it possible to construct molds for such tiny hearing aid components with so stringent acoustic quality standards.
For mass production it is planned to test the vibrational properties of the membrane in-line, that is directly following injection molding, still inside the cavity. This is the most efficient way, since there the extremely tiny parts are still in a defined position and need not be realigned for the quality check. For the vibration test, the mold-makers have integrated a sound emitter and a laser measurement system inside the robot gripper. “With this hearing aid component, we have achieved a real break-through, thanks to innovative mold technology and extremely efficient processing technology”, says Kreuzmayr.
At starlim, the MicroPower is the standard equipment in the area of silicone micro molding. Pictures: Starlim Spritzguss GmbH
Compact on two square meters of production floor
The integration of further production steps such as quality control is extremely well supported by the MicroPower’s design concept. On a floor space of just two square meters, the all-electric work cell fits in the entire equipment, including the clamping unit with a rotary plate, the patented two-step injection system, plus materials handling, automation, a temperature controller, the quality control system, and further process units. All of this while still keeping the mold space with a 400 mm distance between platens easily accessible. Linear guides ensure highly sensitive mold protection, and thanks to a high-precision 5-point toggle lever system, the clamping force is very evenly distributed across the mold parting line. “The machine’s design enables us to move the injection plunger right up to the mold parting line”, is how Jochen Sassmann, Regional Sales Manager of the WITTMANN Group and cooperating closely with starlim’s micro molding team, describes yet another feature contributing to high processing efficiency. It significantly reduces the sprue in size or even eliminates it altogether. Since fully vulcanized LSR cannot be recycled, silicone injection molding reaps the greatest benefit from this material-saving process.
The MicroPower offers ample room for automation. In addition to the vertically integrated Scara robot, solutions developed by customers can also be integrated via interfaces.
Making the most of what the machines have to offer
15 years have gone by since starlim established its micro molding department. Then, the first micro molding machine from Battenfeld quickly arrived on its production floor. “At that time, Battenfeld was the only company able to supply micro machines for industrial mass production”, Kreuzmayr states. “The machine concept was continuously further developed and today defines the state of the art in micro injection molding in terms of precision and efficiency”, says Sassmann. With the MicroPower injection molding machine, the WITTMANN Group, of which Battenfeld is a part, still holds a unique selling point today.
Several MicroPower injection molding machines are currently operating at starlim in Marchtrenk, some inside the new clean room, where items such as high-precision products for eye surgery are being produced. Every one of these machines is tailored to fit the requirements for some special product group. There are some machines fully equipped for single-component injection molding, as well as two-component machines and one integrated system consisting of two individual machines connected to each other via a robot. The integrated system increases flexibility. It allows for the highly efficient production of two- component parts, but the two machines can also be utilized independently of one another
In micro molding, a magnifier is not always sufficient for checking the quality of molded parts. This is often only possible under a microscope.
with single-component molds. In terms of automation, the MicroPower concept offers ample freedom. In addition to the vertically installed Scara robot, which is an integral part of the MicroPower production cell, various handling systems can be integrated via interfaces – including systems developed in-house by starlim.
Multi-component machine or integrated solution? – For each new project, the question of which production concept yields the higher overall efficiency is thoroughly investigated. The proportion of two-component products is currently about 40 per cent. The Micro Molding team at starlim is certain that this percentage will rise. Inquiries for two-component parts are already being launched more frequently now, but they also take up more time in product development.
Mass production, which originally tipped the balance towards cooperation with the WITTMANN Group in micro molding, still dominates the daily production scene in Marchtrenk to this day. Batch sizes in the millions are quite common. “MicroPower machines cope reliably with these extreme challenges and ensure a safe process for us”, says Dominik Kreuzmayr. In this context, starlim’s micro molding team also points to the good cooperation with the WITTMANN Group. “We communicate fast across short distances, and have so far found solutions for all challenges we have faced by putting our heads together. Thanks to our good partnership, we are really able to make the most of everything the machines have to offer in terms of technology.”
The inaugural meeting of the Exhibitor Advisory Board has marked the start of preparations for K 2028. The world’s leading trade fair for the plastics and rubber industry will take place in Düsseldorf from 18 to 25 October 2028. The Advisory Board supports Messe Düsseldorf in the strategic and conceptual development of K and advises it on fundamental issues regarding the focus, programme structure and communication of the world’s leading trade fair.
At the start of the Advisory Board meeting, the committee unanimously elected Dr Axel von Wiedersperg, CEO of Brückner Group SE, as its new Chairman. He succeeds Ulrich Reifenhäuser, who has led the Advisory Board since 2004 and played a key role in shaping K over the past two decades.
Dr Axel von Wiedersperg holds a doctorate in law and has been Managing Director of the Brückner Group since 2009. He possesses many years of industry and market knowledge in the plastics and rubber sector, as well as an extensive international network within the industry. He has been a member of the K Exhibitor Advisory Board since 2023 and was therefore already involved in the preparations for K 2025 and the strategic development of the trade fair. In addition, he serves on the board of the VDMA Plastics and Rubber Machinery Association.
The meeting focused on a joint review of K 2025, the evaluation of the exhibitor and visitor survey, and an initial outlook on the direction of K 2028. Key themes for the upcoming event were discussed, and the next steps for the strategic development of the world’s leading trade fair were initiated.
The K Exhibitor Advisory Board represents the entire spectrum of the trade fair – from machinery and plant engineering through the production of plastics and rubber to their processing. It comprises representatives from the exhibiting industry as well as leading industry associations.
In spray-drying applications, including powder production, within hygienic processing industries, incomplete cleaning of hard-to-reach surfaces can lead to contamination risks, product loss, and costly downtime. To address these challenges, Alfa Laval today announces the launch of the Controlled Rotating Retractors, designed to effectively remove residues and contaminants from ducts, pipes, tanks, and enclosed areas.
The introduction of the high-performance CIP cleaning devices underscores Alfa Laval’s commitment to providing manufacturers across the dairy, food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and biotech industries with solutions that optimize cleaning performance in hygienic processing lines.
These innovative devices expand Alfa Laval’s tank cleaning portfolio of retractable cleaning devices. They deliver up to twice the cleaning efficiency of traditional static spray ball systems, effectively reaching shadow zones while reducing water and cleaning media consumption. By achieving full coverage with fewer devices, they enable safer, faster, and more resource-efficient operations.
“These controlled rotating retractors make it possible to access challenging areas with fewer devices,” says Kim Kjellberg, Global Tank Cleaning Portfolio Manager at Alfa Laval. “They deliver what today’s manufacturers demand – faster, more precise cleaning with minimal manual intervention. Moreover, they also improve operational performance, support sustainability goals, and cut installation and cleaning costs.”
Reduced resource consumption and lower costs
The Controlled Rotating Retractors reduce water and cleaning media usage by up to 55% compared to static spray balls. Their extended jet reach allows each unit to cover a larger surface area, minimizing the number of devices required. As a result, manufacturers can lower both capital expenditures and operating costs while maintaining high cleaning performance.
Validated performance and process control
Integrated with the Alfa Laval ThinkTop V70 sensing and control unit, these retractable cleaning devices provide real-time monitoring and performance validation. This ensures full process control, minimizes downtime, and enhances workplace safety by reducing the need for manual intervention.
During production, the rotating cleaning retractors remain sealed and flush with the vessel wall, preventing contact with the product area. During cleaning, the cleaner head extends to provide full coverage of product-contact surfaces. Once the cleaning cycle is complete, the cleaner head retracts, leaving the duct, pipe, tank, or enclosed area ready for immediate production.
Maintenance made easy
Simplify maintenance with a one-handed tool that allows easy wear-part removal without detaching the supply tube, keeping the retractor securely connected for safe, easy servicing even in hard-to-reach areas.
Documentation and compliance
The devices support good manufacturing and hygienic practices and comply with FDA, EU and China regulations. For high-purity pharmaceutical and biotechnology applications, the Controlled Rotating Retractor UltraPure includes Alfa Laval Q-doc documentation, providing full traceability of all product contact parts. Q-doc covers conformity declarations, material certificates, relevant test certificates, and documentation to support a smooth qualification and validation process.
Aduro Clean Technologies Inc., a clean technology company using the power of chemistry to transform lower value feedstocks, like waste plastics, heavy bitumen, and renewable oils, into resources for the 21st century, today announced
An underwritten U.S. and Canadian public offering of 1,028,645 common shares at a price of US$15.20 per common share for gross proceeds to the Company, under the Public Offering, of US$15,635,404, before deducting underwriting discounts and Public Offering expenses.
A concurrent non-brokered private placement of up to 471,698 common shares at the Offering Price per common share for gross proceeds to the Company, under the LIFE Offering, of up to US$7,169,810, before deducting any finder’s fees and other LIFE Offering expenses, for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of up to US$22,805,214, before deducting discounts, fees and other Offering expenses. Canaccord Genuity is acting as sole bookrunner for the Public Offering. In connection with the Public Offering, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement with Canaccord Genuity, as representative of the several underwriters in the Public Offering.
Aduro intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for expenditures related to the design, engineering and construction of first-of-a-kind demonstration-scale industrial plant, ongoing research and development costs and the remainder for general corporate purposes and working capital. The Public Offering is expected to close on or about June 11, 2026, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions including the listing of the offered common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Capital Market and any required approvals of the TSX and Nasdaq. The Public Offering is not conditional on the closing of the LIFE Offering, and the LIFE Offering is not conditional on the closing of the Public Offering. The LIFE Offering is expected to close on or about the Closing Date, or such other date as the Company may determine, and, in any event, on or before a date not later than 45 days after the date hereof. The LIFE Offering may close in one or more tranches.
The Public Offering is being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on Form F-10, as amended, previously filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on December 15, 2025 and became effective upon filing, and the Company’s Canadian short form base shelf prospectus dated December 15, 2025 and an accompanying prospectus supplement to the Base Shelf Prospectus.
The Base Shelf Prospectus relating to the Public Offering and describing the terms thereof has been filed with the securities regulatory authorities in British Columbia and Ontario and with the SEC in the United States and is available for free by visiting the Company’s profiles on the SEDAR+ website maintained by the Canadian Securities Administrators at sedarplus or the SEC’s website at sec, as applicable. The Prospectus Supplement will be filed with the securities regulatory authorities in British Columbia and Ontario and the SEC. Copies of the Final Prospectus may be obtained, when available, at the SEC’s website at sec or from Canaccord Genuity LLC.
Before you invest, you should read the Final Prospectus and other documents the Company has filed or will file with the with the securities regulatory authorities in British Columbia and Ontario and the SEC, for more complete information about the Company and the Offering.
The LIFE Offering is being made to purchasers resident in all provinces of Canada, except Québec, pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption from the prospectus requirement available under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions and Coordinated Blanket Order 45-935 Exemptions from Certain Conditions of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption of the Canadian Securities Administrators. Subject to compliance with the terms of the LIFE Exemption, the common shares offered under the LIFE Exemption will not be subject to resale restrictions pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws. In addition, the LIFE Shares may be offered for sale on a private placement basis pursuant to available exemptions from the registration or prospectus requirements to investors resident in certain other jurisdictions outside of Canada and the United States; provided it is understood that the Company will not be required to register or make any filings in such jurisdictions.
The Company anticipates certain insiders of the Company may participate in the LIFE Offering. Any participation in the LIFE Offering by insiders constitutes a “related party transaction” as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions. However, the Company expects to rely on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 based on the fact neither the fair market value of the LIFE Shares subscribed for by the insiders, nor the consideration for the LIFE Shares paid by such insiders, would exceed 25% of the Company’s market capitalization as at the date of this press release.
The Company intends to rely upon the exemption set forth in Section 602.1 of the TSX Company Manual in connection with the Offering, which provides that the TSX will not apply its standards to certain transactions involving eligible interlisted issuers on a recognized exchange.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Company’s securities, nor shall such securities be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of any of the Company’s securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offers, solicitations or sales would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. None of the LIFE Shares will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration.
All amounts in this press release are in United States dollars unless otherwise indicated. All foreign exchange calculations set forth in this press release is based on the exchange rate posted by the Bank of Canada on June 9, 2026 of US$1 = C$1.3947.
The twentieth edition of PLAST, the international exhibition dedicated to the plastics and rubber industry, successfully ended on June 12th at Fiera Milano, Rho. Four intense days of exhibition confirmed the event’s role as a benchmark for the sector, decisively overcoming the cautious outlook of the eve in a global geopolitical and macroeconomic
Mario Maggiani, CEO, Plast 2026
context marked by severe uncertainties, trade tensions, and instability in international markets. The final figures certify the success of the event: 35,000 attendees – with a significant share of foreign visitors equal to 25%, coming from 110 countries – and over 1,000 exhibiting companies, 44% of which were international. The entire event spanned an exhibition area of 40,000 square meters: an impactful result for a market undergoing a phase of profound transformation.
A complete supply chain: from specialized halls to startup innovation
The strength of PLAST 2026 certainly lay in its ability to capture a snapshot of the entire supply chain. Great interest was generated by the satellite shows and thematic areas: RUBBER, the meeting point for the elastomer industry, organized in collaboration with Assogomma; 3D PLAST LAB, developed with Indexlab – Politecnico di Milano, focusing on the frontiers of additive manufacturing; and PLAST MAT,
the showcase dedicated to polymeric materials. A fundamental added value in terms of new content was brought by the innovation ecosystem, thanks to the presence of around twenty Italian startups that presented cutting-edge solutions ready to be integrated into the manufacturing fabric to visitors.
A qualified audience and internationalization
Among the most encouraging signs, the extremely high professional profile of the visitors stands out. Thanks to the enhancement of the strategic incoming project developed in collaboration with ICE Agency, among the approximately 9,000 international operators visiting, the presence of over 350 selected foreign delegates must be highlighted, who confirmed the strong attractiveness and commercial centrality of the fair.
Alessio Fineo, Project Manager, Plast 2026
Drawing the balance of this edition is Mario Maggiani, Managing Director of Promaplast: “We do not hide that our forecasts on the eve were marked by the utmost prudence. We feared far heavier repercussions of the global geopolitical situation on PLAST, which instead confirmed itself as a European point of reference for the plastics and rubber industry, restoring confidence to many of the exhibitors we met. The reality is that today the exhibition world, more than other sectors, is suffering the backlash of a diversification in ways of doing business, especially in the B2B field; this is why we are diversifying the format of PLAST, not only through the addition of satellite shows but also by providing a conference program capable of covering all facets of the supply chain and responding to the updating needs of a rapidly evolving sector.”
He is echoed by Alessio Fineo, Head of the Exhibition Department at Promaplast: “From the
opinions gathered at the fair, many have noted the quality of the visitors and the delegations of foreign companies that showed interest in the products on display. The efforts of the entire team to promote PLAST generated results that went beyond expectations.”
A top-tier program of conferences and seminars
Confirming the dynamism of the event was the success of the program of seminars and
institutional conferences, which in some cases registered a full house. The rich educational and debate palimpsest was made possible thanks to the fundamental synergy with the main stakeholders and industrial partners of the sector. Meetings saw the close collaboration of leading trade associations and research entities – including Corepla, IPPR Plastica Seconda Vita, PlasticsEurope Italia-Federchimica, Unionplast, The European House Ambrosetti, TMP, Assorimap, Assogomma, Ipack-Ima, Largo Consumo, PVC Forum/VinylPlus Italia, and Made Competence Center I4.0 – who chaired the discussion tables, offering concrete answers to the regulatory and technological challenges of the future.
In Caps and Closures moulds, LEO Precision offers a comprehensive range of solutions; from simple bump-off and flip-top caps to complex moulds featuring in-mould closing and un-screwing mechanisms. These high-precision caps and closures moulds are engineered for consistent performance, superior sealing, and high-speed production, meeting global packaging standards across diverse industries.
the showcase dedicated to polymeric materials. A fundamental added value in terms of new content was brought by the innovation ecosystem, thanks to the presence of around twenty Italian 
Meetings saw the close collaboration of leading trade associations and research entities – including