Plastic injection molding has several advantages, as OEMs from a variety of industries can attest. It’s great for producing a wide range of morphologically complicated plastic parts that can resist practically any environment in a consistent, low-cost manner.
This should alone set injection molding at the top of the list, but there’s more. Let’s take a closer look at each of the primary benefits of plastic injection molding to better understand how and why businesses employ it:
- Efficiency
When it comes to efficiency, a qualified custom injection molding partner gives producers a particular advantage. The molder’s teams, from engineering to production, are likely to have decades of knowledge to draw on when analyzing ways to improve part design and manufacturing.
Best practices, such as;
- Focusing on design early to avoid problems later, and
- Integrating value-added offers to encompass manufacturing process phases
can help you save time and money.
- Complex Geometry Production
When combined with the correct tooling, such as a quality cnc machine for mold making, and a science-based molding approach to manage optimization; injection molding may help greatly. Especially for businesses to produce immensely complex, accurate plastic parts in big quantities with virtually no deviation.
The key to consistency is depending on the engineers who have also been trained in the process. As well as extensive data collecting and analysis procedures at the heart of science-based molding.
Specialization is required to precisely establish and document the standards and parameters. Also, steps that are taken to construct a strictly controlled and reproducible manufacturing process. When done correctly, the outcome is beautiful details and geometry.
- Strength
Plastics have grown tremendously in strength and durability over time. Today’s ultra-light thermoplastics can withstand even the harshest conditions on par with, if not better than, metal parts. It has been even used by electrical switchgear manufacturer in delicate electronics now such as switchgear and much more.
There are over 25,000 designed materials to chose from for sophisticated injection-molded applications. High-performance blends along with top-notch hybrids can also be tailored to satisfy highly precise part specifications and qualities, which include high tensile strength.
- Cost-Effective
Plastic part consolidation and over-molding are two ways that injection molding can help OEMs save money. However, a collaboration between OEM and injection molding engineering staff prior to manufacturing has proven to be the most cost-effective method so far.
During the design phase, focusing on Design for Manufacturability (DfM) and other comprehensive processes decreases the number of moldability issues that can develop, decreasing the need for costly tooling changes, downtime, and other production delays.
- Multiple Finishes
Many injection-molded items nowadays have a smooth finish that closely resembles the final look. On the other hand, a smooth appearance isn’t suited for every application.
Depending on the physical and chemical qualities of the plastics used, injection molding provides for surface finishes. That does not require further operations, such as matte finishes and distinctive textures, as well as engraving and more.
- Flexibility
Injection molding is mostly about flexibility. Whether it’s due to the properties of various polymers or the ability of OEMs to make custom color choices or meet specific project requirements. OEMs have more design flexibility with injection molding than with metal.
- Better Color Control
By aligning plastics, additives, and biocompatibility to obtain the appropriate coloring, injection molders may achieve whatever color an OEM requires. In many cases, multiple colors are necessary for a single product.
In this instance, over-molding is the best option if the injection molder has the appropriate multi-material injection molding experience.
- Reduced Labor Cost
Almost all of the injection molding process, which is handled by a single operator or specialist, is automated by machines and robots. They take place in sterile automated clean room molding spaces.
This saves money for OEMs by cutting labor expenses and decreasing the chance of rework due to part failures or human mistakes.
- Light Weighting
OEMs employ lightweight in a range of industries, while it is most common in the automotive industry. Simply put, employing plastic components helps metal components to be lighter.
Thermoplastics with high strength and lightweight can be used in a variety of applications. High-strength, quality, lightweight thermoplastics may now be used to replace metal components with almost no loss of strength or dependability.
- High-end Production with Consistency
To achieve tight tolerances in the high-volume production of intricate plastic parts, a reliable, repeatable procedure is required.
Injection molding helps to maintain consistent quality by continuously using the same mold for each product. It is accompanied by an injection molder’s continuous improvement strategies that integrate cutting-edge technologies.
Wrapping Up
Manufacturers must seek out skilled custom injection molders who know how to increase productivity and solve any design or process challenges that may develop in order to fully enjoy the benefits of plastic injection molding.
Having the greatest technology, equipment, and materials can only get you so far. Also, having the best, most experienced injection molding engineers and tooling partners will make a huge difference in your lead times, costs, and ultimate quality.
