US contract manufacturer GW Plastics (Bethel, Vermont; www.gwplastics.com), a specialist in complex injection-moulded thermoplastic and silicone solutions, has acquired Ireland-based Avenue Mould Solutions (Sligo; www.avenuemouldsolutions.ie). The Irish company specialises in precision mould-building, machining and injection moulding and has a solid customer base in the growing medical device sector.

GW Plastics said the buy – for which terms were not disclosed – will give it “unparalleled” global precision mould-making and advanced manufacturing capability in Europe and Asia as well as its North American home market and will add strength in injection moulding and contract manufacturing. In particular, Avenue will provide expertise in building ultra-high-cavitation tooling (up to 192 cavity moulds) for the medical device, diagnostics and pharmaceutical markets.

Over the past two years, GW Plastics has completed expansions of its US plants in San Antonio, Texas, and Tucson, Arizona, as well as at Dongguan / China. The company has also invested in its thermoplastics and silicones manufacturing and mould-building facilities in Royalton, Vermont / USA.