Is Plastic Injection Molding the Right Process for You?

If you’re considering creating a plastic product, then you’ve definitely asked yourself: is plastic injection molding the right process for creating my part? How does it compare in costs per unit, lead times, design flexibility, product consistency, and up-front costs compared to other processes? Plastic injection molding is the preferred process for many reasons, such as manufacturing plastic parts in high-volumes. Below are other advantages and common uses that should help you to determine if this process is right for your part.

Advantages of Plastic Injection Molding

Below are a few reasons why injection molding is a popular technique:

• Capable of high production rates
• Simple to complicated parts can be created
• Large material selection
• High precision tolerances can be maintained
• Low labor costs
• Minimal scrap loss
• Metal replacement

Common Uses for Plastic Injection Molding

Injection molding is commonly used for making high-volume custom plastic parts. However, at our facility we are able to do both short run and high-volume production. We commonly create parts for the medical, life sciences, industrial, and electronic markets.

In addition to volume requirements, there are thousands of types of thermoplastics and additives with a wide range of material properties that can be used to increase and improve your plastic product. Thermoplastic resins come in the form of granules and are the most popular type of materials used in this process. Additives are blended with thermoplastics to help keep or restore the physical, thermal, electrical, or aesthetic characteristics of the part that can be changed through the molding process.

View our other articles for more information on choosing an appropriate thermoplastic or additive for your part, Selecting the Appropriate Resin Grade for Your Application, Choosing the Best Resin For Your Molded Parts, and What Additive Applications Improve Resin Characteristics?

Injection Molding Machines

Plastic injection molding is an automated process. A majority of the process is performed by machines and robotics which a sole operator can control or manage. Automation helps to reduce manufacturing costs through reduced labor force, as well as allow precise and accurate injection molds. Computer aided design (CAD) and computer aided manufacturing allow close tolerance during the making of the molds.

Injection molding machines are classified mainly by the type of driving system used: hydraulic, electric, and hybrid. There are many types of molding machines due to the product being created and how the machine affects the product. Due to our diverse equipment, we are able to handle a wide variety of jobs which greatly range in both their industries, quality of plastics, and the number of pieces produced.

Injection molding is a great process for finished production on a massive scale, but it’s also useful for prototypes that are used in initial product design or for customer product testing. The possibilities and applications for utilizing injection molding to produce plastic parts are endless. Midstate Mold works with its customers to make sure the technology, materials, and production processes are right for each individual job. Contact an expert today!