GW Plastics Announces Merger with Ireland-based Product Development Firm NeraTek Limited
Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rebecca Murphy GW Plastics Corporate Marketing Specialist
239 Pleasant Street Bethel, VT 05032 +1 (802) 234-9941
Rebecca.Murphy@GWPlastics.com
Bethel, VT – In response to growing customer demand in its European medical device and drug delivery business, GW Plastics announced today a merger with product development and 3D printing firm NeraTek Limited of Sligo, Ireland.
NeraTek will be merged into Avenue Mould Solutions, which was recently acquired by GW Plastics. NeraTek provides product development, 3D printing, additive manufacturing, and prototyping design services for leading medical device and pharmaceutical companies. Des Forde, Founder and Director of NeraTek, will assume the role of Commercial Director for Avenue – A GW Plastics Company, serving Ireland and the greater European markets.
This merger will strengthen GW Plastics’ medical device contract manufacturing capabilities in Europe by combining Avenue Mould Solutions’ precision mold-building capabilities and NeraTek’s product development and additive manufacturing expertise. GW Plastics acquired precision mold-building and injection molding company Avenue Mould Solutions in July.
“We are thrilled that Des has joined the GW and Avenue team,” said Benjamin Bouchard, GW Plastics VP of International Business Development. “This merger will strengthen our European capabilities to provide a truly integrated supply chain solution for our customers, including product development, 3D printing, precision tooling, contract molding, and assembly.”
This is a homecoming of sorts for NeraTek founder Des Forde, who used to work for Avenue. “These are exciting times and I am really looking forward to working with the Avenue Mould Solutions team once again and being able to contribute to the growth of the company, having previously worked in Avenue from 1999-2008,” said Forde. “The GW Plastics, Avenue, and NeraTek team brings tremendous experience, resources, technology, and infrastructure to our clients who need to support their product design and development from concept to commercialization.”
About GW Plastics:
Founded in 1955, GW Plastics has earned a reputation as an industry leader in precision tooling, injection molding, and contract manufacturing serving the world’s most successful companies in the healthcare, automotive safety-critical, and consumer/industrial markets. Specializing in complex injection molded thermoplastic and silicone solutions, GW Plastics excels at close tolerance mold building, precision injection molding, and contract manufacturing. With leading-edge technologies, a Six Sigma quality commitment, and a relentless pursuit of innovation, GW Plastics continues to attract and partner with market leaders who seek consistency of ownership, financial stability, professional leadership, business integrity, a high-tech standardized global manufacturing platform, and a highly-trained and experienced workforce. Headquartered in Bethel, Vermont, the company’s standardized ISO 9001, ISO 13485, ISO/TS 16949, and FDA-registered, 21 CFR Part 820 compliant manufacturing facilities are located in Bethel and Royalton, Vermont; San Antonio, Texas; Tucson, Arizona; Querétaro, Mexico; and Dongguan, China and Sligo, Ireland. GW is a Plastics News Processor of the Year and Sustained Excellence award winner.
About Avenue Mould Solutions:
Founded in 1988, Avenue Mould Solutions has become a trusted partner for leading medical device and drug delivery OEMs and contract manufacturers. Accredited to ISO 9001 and ISO 13485, Avenue specializes in the design, manufacture, and validation of high precision multi-cavity injection molds and contract injection molding for high volume applications to the medical device and pharmaceutical industry. Based in Sligo, Ireland, Avenue is strategically located in a region recognized internationally as a center of excellence in mold and tool-making and home to eight of the top ten healthcare companies worldwide. Avenue serves customers in over 15 countries worldwide and is a two-time winner and nine-time finalist for excellence in mold-making in the UK Plastic Industry Awards.
About Des Forde – NeraTek:
NeraTek is full-service product development company offering its customers comprehensive services, including product design, project management, 3D Printing, 3D Scanning, and CAD Services. Based in Sligo, Ireland, NeraTek has helped leading OEMs and Tier One Manufacturers bring their products to market with a focus on Design for Manufacturing Excellence (DFMX). NeraTek's founder and director, Des Forde, has been working in the Plastics Industry, Product Design and Development, Project Management, Metrology, and CAD Services since 1988 and in 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing since 2010.
Global market-leading OEMs trust GW Plastics to deliver their most challenging projects. For more information, please visit their website at www.GWPlastics.com. For more information on Avenue Mould Solutions, please visit their website at www.AvenueMouldSolutions.ie. For more information on NeraTek, please visit their website at www.neratek.com.
