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Midstate Mold & Engineering

Precision Plastic Injection Molders

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Safeguarding Your Plastic Manufacturing During a Trade War

Cargo containers with American, China, and EU falgs on them on a backdrop of a world map.

The US and China and, in broader terms, the world finds itself in a trade war. Regardless of where your business sits on the manufacturing/logistics pipeline, from raw goods to finished products, you’ve already felt or are bracing for the impact. While this affects every industry, from produce to semiconductors, today we’re focusing on plastic manufacturing during a trade war, as well as the impact and steps you can take to safeguard your plastics supply chain during this conflict.

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Industry 4.0 and Sustainability in Injection Molding

If your company is involved in the manufacturing industry, you know about the growing trends of sustainability and Industry 4.0—especially when it comes to plastic injection molding. What if we told you that you could continue and even improve your company’s sustainability initiatives without compromising your productivity by using a manufacturer that has embraced Industry 4.0 initiatives? Learn more about how Industry 4.0 and sustainability can go hand in hand if you partner with the right manufacturer.

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Plastic Injection Molding Tariffs: Preparing Your Business

Image of a stamp marking "tariff" on a document with business supplies nearby.

It’s important to understand that the US has a long history of tariffs. While these lessened in the free market economy of the 20th and 21st centuries after US manufacturing power increased, the use and threats of use are nothing new. The first Trump administration saw over $380 billion in tariffs, many of which were kept in place during Biden. Now, with the new administration’s larger blanket tariffs threatening global trade, you need to prepare your business for the impacts of plastic injection molding tariffs.

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Considerations for Coloring and Finishes for Injection Molded Parts

If you want your part’s appearance to pop, you’ve got several options and choices ahead of you. From high-quality finishes and textures on molds to changes in the plastics, additives, and manufacturing processes, there’s a lot to take in. Today we’re going to look at the two most common options: additives for coloring and finishes to the mold itself, along with other considerations, drawbacks, and options when it comes to injection molded parts.

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Understanding Manufacturing Machines: The Injection Molding Press

Closeup of the inside of an injection molding machine, showing an open injection mold and surrounding press.

At the heart of the industrial-scale plastic manufacturing known as injection molding machines, is the injection molding press. In these tightly engineered machines, heat, intense pressure, computerized systems, and precise machinery all work together to quickly and efficiently take molten plastic, subject it to high pressure, release, and then set up to do it all again. Understanding this part of injection molding machines can help you be better prepared to work with manufacturers on your products.

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Common Design & Production Issues with Offshore Injection Molding

Container ship representing offshore manufacturing and transportation.

Cost is a critical part of every business’s manufacturing. While injection molding is one of the cheapest options for large-scale manufacturing of plastic parts, there are some considerations to account for before you move that manufacturing overseas. Today, we’re going to look at common design and production issues with offshore injection molding, including issues with mold and part quality, differing design and manufacturing standards, and localization issues.

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