When creating a product that requires molded plastic parts, depending on the type of application and type of part you want to produce, you have several processes to choose from. One of the most popular processes to achieve high quality and cost effective plastic parts is injection molding.
Injection molding is a manufacturing process for producing parts in large volume – from thousands to millions. Melted resin is injected into a hollow mold until it is completely filled. The injection molding process uses high temperature and extreme pressure to sufficiently fill the interior with molten plastic resin or liquid polymers. The molds are then cooled to release completed plastic parts.
The process is highly versatile and can produce a myriad of parts for a wide variety of applications.
Typical Products Made with Plastic Injection Molding
Plastic bottles are the most common product manufactured by the billions each year, ranging in multiple shapes and sizes. Typically, the plastic bottles used to hold potable water and other drinks are made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), because the material is both strong and light.
Electronic housings are also quite commonly fabricated with injection molding services. Used in devices such as remote controls, computers, televisions, medical equipment, and other consumer electronic components, housings are all produced by injection molding process. Injection molding services can manufacture any custom plastic enclosures for practically any application and sizes.
Toys: Imagine a building material which is lightweight, durable, and doesn’t corrode; it comes in many sizes and colors and is designed for easy precise assembly. The Lego brand of building block recognized by all is made of firmer plastic granules which are heated until liquefied and then injected into metal molds in which the plastic cools and solidifies into a studded brick or other shape. But what’s important is that each brick and component is accurately molded so they’ll all fit together. It’s a precision product available in many colors, shapes, and sizes.
Agricultural: OEMs designing for the agricultural marketplace are switching to plastic as a low cost alternative to metal components commonly used throughout the industry. Plastics offer higher resistance to impacts during use, humidity, and are able to resist extreme high or low temperatures. UV additives also help protect plastic parts from harsh weather conditions or exposure to corrosive substances.
Household: Molded closures, containers, components, and drinkware are just a few of the common items that can be custom fabricated with injection molding.
Machinery and Automotive Components: Bumpers, dashboards, radio controls, cup holders, and many other elements found in cars and transportation vehicles, both interior and exterior, are made by the injection molding process.
Healthcare Industry: In the healthcare field, there are thousands of products that are made with the injection molding process. The healthcare industry relies heavily on multipurpose plastic products that can be manufactured in bulk, as many of these products are single use, disposable items to maintain sterility or to prevent the spread of germs or disease. From plastic syringes to tools used in medical procedures, injection molding is what helps the medical professionals get their jobs done.
Injection Molding is a very common manufacturing method used to produce everyday household items. The applications cover commercial, industrial, and consumer products alike. Injection molding offers the versatility to generate designs that have intricate detail or complexity, down to simpler forms in any range of sizes from small to large objects.
This method has produced solid parts such as electronic housings, bottle caps, containers, computers, televisions components, outdoor furniture, agricultural products, toys, machinery components, and much more.
Commercial Products:
Electrical Boxes
Mop Heads
High-end Trash and Recycling Receptacles
Vending Machine Components
Equipment Housings
Medical Components:
Sharps Disposal Bins and Wall Mounts
Medication Trays
Automotive:
Color-matched Interior Components
Commercial Construction:
Conduits for Concrete Beams
Insulators
Raised Flooring Panels
Residential Construction:
Roofing Vents
Railing Gaskets
Deck Fasteners
Consumer Goods:
Skateboard Storage Racks
Barbecue Accessory
Bird Feeder
Tackle Boxes
Toilet Seats
Toys and Hobbies:
High-end Collectible Models
Decorated Children’s Furniture
POP (Point of Purchase):
Spring-loaded Supermarket Display Tray
Literature Display Rack
Home Products:
Flower Pots
Wire Ties
Air Freshener Units
Food Service:
High-Temperature Serving Pans
Bread Trays
NSF Food Service Products
Sporting Goods:
Training Device
Exercise Tools
Short-Run 3D Printed Components:
Electrical Knobs
Specialty Buttons
Fixtures