MONTICELLO, Iowa—Less than three months after rebranding as Viant, MedPlast Inc. is closing its 85,000-sq.-ft. facility in Monticello, laying off 70 employees.
The job losses at the injection molder and contract manufacturer of single-use medical components and devices are scheduled to occur by Nov. 16, the company wrote in its notice to Iowa Workforce Development, which is required under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act.
Company officials could not immediately explain the move.
The Monticello plant has automation cells and 41 injection presses ranging from 55-880 tons of clamping force and capabilities for over-, insert- and high-temperature molding.
A spokeswoman said the privately held company would issue a statement later this week.
With an estimated $310 million in annual sales, Viant ranks 28th among North American injection molders, according to Plastics News' latest ranking.
The company also offers thermoforming and blow molding to make surgical, diagnostic, orthopedic and animal health products as well as medical devices for wound management, infection prevention, oncology and respiratory uses. The products are manufactured mostly from thermoplastics, rubber, metal and ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene.
The business has undergone major changes since it was bought by Water Street Healthcare Partners and JLL Partners in December 2016. Two months later, the new owners acquired the device manufacturing business of Vention Medical, which served many of the same customers and had been based in South Plainfield, N.J.
Earlier this year, MedPlast completed the acquisition of Integer Holding Corp.'s advanced surgical and orthopedics business, which was expected to double sales to nearly $1 billion while expanding metal component capabilities and its global footprint into Europe.
In July, MedPlast announced that it would do business as Viant "to reflect the company's new strategic direction." CEO Brian King said in the release the Integer acquisition enabled Viant to achieve its goal of being a full-service supplier.
The company also announced in July it was relocating the corporate headquarters from Tempe, Ariz., to Foxborough, Mass., to be in a major medical device hub near customers.
Earlier this year, MedPlast said it would close a 60,000-sq.-ft. facility in New Berlin, N.J., where it had 44 presses and offered molding, assembly, decorating and packaging. Some of those operations and personnel were to be consolidated with an existing 46,000-sq.-ft. plant in South Plainfield, which has clean rooms, a tooling center, and capabilities for molding, assembly, packaging, staples manufacturing, ultrasonic welding, and pouching.
According to the company's website, MedPlast operates 25 locations, including Monticello, in addition to its headquarters. Other sites are in Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin as well China, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom.