What Products Can Be Made From Injection Molding?

Plastic injection molding provides numerous products for several industries and manufacturers around the world. Recent technological innovations have enhanced this versatile process to make high-quality, durable products of practically any size and shape. At Global Design and Development, we design and manufacture top-of-the-line plastic products that benefit many important industries.

What is Plastic Injection Molding?

Plastic injection molding is a process that makes high volumes of parts and products from an original design. Compared to other traditional methods of plastic manufacturing, injection molding is more efficient and cost-effective. After a prototype is finalized by the client and design team, a mold is created that serves as a template for several million or more products.

The ability to produce mass quantities of products in a brief period benefits clients and consumers. Higher production levels keep the cost of plastic items low, and the reduced cost translates to a lower price for consumers. Excessive waste can drive up production costs, but injection molding is more efficient than other techniques like CNC machining. Manufacturers who rely on injection molding have lower scrap rates than their competitors, and much of the excess plastic is reused to make more products.

The Plastic Injection Molding Process

The injection molding process begins when a client works with an engineering team to develop a mold for the product. The design phase is the lengthiest portion of the project, and designers may change the original plans several times before a final mold is created. After testing is completed, the mold is copied several times and integrated into the production line.

Next, the manufacturer uses plastic pellets or granules heated under high pressure to produce molten plastic. Since shrinkage can change the dimensions of an injection molding product, the manufacturer accounts for any material loss during cooling by adding additional plastic to the original quantity. The plastic is poured into the molds and allowed to cool. When the product reaches the desired cooling temperature, a machine extracts the items for quality control experts to inspect.

Plastic Injection Molded Parts:

Although injection molding was first used for production in the late 19th century, the process has evolved significantly with the introduction of new polymers and thermoplastics. The method’s almost limitless possibilities have convinced more companies and industries to adopt injection molding as their preferred means of production. Here are some of the industries that use plastic injection molding.

Automotive Parts

The automotive industry uses injection molding extensively to produce several interior and exterior parts. Oil pans, cylinder head covers and radiator supports built with injection molding are lighter and more durable than previous metal designs. Although plastic cannot be substituted for metal on all auto parts, automakers have increased their use of plastics substantially since the 1980s. Some of the components commonly produced for vehicles include:

• Dashboards
• Fenders
• Cup holders
• Taillights
• Condensers
• Step bumpers

Electronic Housings

Manufacturers of electronic goods are dependent on injection molding to produce plastic housings for their products. The process is used on parts for computers, televisions, phones, toys and many more items. Engineers choose polymers for the injection process that can withstand the heat generated by electronic systems.

Medical Supplies

The medical supplies industry has become more reliant on injection molding products in the 21st century. In addition to test tubes, syringes and surgical equipment, innovative plastic implants are created using injection molding. Plastic’s low weight and resistance to corrosion and deterioration make the material ideal for medical applications.

Food & Beverage

Food-safe plastics are used to create numerous items for the service industry. Food containers, dishes, kitchen tools and silverware are commonly produced with injection molding.

Construction Supplies

Construction workers rely on plastic equipment that’s durable, light and resistant to inclement weather. Fasteners, hand tools, floor panels and decking supports are some of the products made with injection molding.

Each year, the list of products made with plastic injection molding increases substantially. As plastic technology advances, more companies see the advantages of using a process that offers high production volumes at a lower price than other methods.