The Benefits of Custom Injection Molding
| Blogs | Comments Off on The Benefits of Custom Injection MoldingCustom injection molding is a highly versatile method of producing plastic parts and offers multiple benefits over other manufacturing methods allowing for the creation of complex designs with high precision. Discover the top six advantages of custom injection molding and learn if it’s the right solution for your manufacturing needs.
High Efficiency and Fast Turnarounds
Custom injection molding is one of the most efficient processes for producing plastic components. With cycle times as short as 15 seconds, a larger quantity of parts can be produced in a limited amount of time. This high production output rate helps businesses improve productivity while boosting revenue and profit margins.
Precision for Intricate Part Designs
Plastic injection molding allows for greater design flexibility than other methods. It can produce highly complex plastic parts with extreme precision, typically within 0.001 inch. Regardless of complexity, having a strong understanding of customers’ needs is crucial for ensuring proper part performance. With over 50 years of custom injection molding experience, D&M Plastics works closely with customers to understand their unique requirements and develop the ideal part design. Examples include coupler & respiratory tubing assemblies or relay housings developed for major medical distributors.
Diverse Material Options
Material selection is a crucial step in the plastic injection molding process. With so many material options available, it’s important to consider requirements for strength, color, finish, elasticity, and regulatory compliance. Common materials for custom injection molding include:
- Acrylic (PMMA)
- ABS
- Nylon
- Polypropylene (PP)
- Polystyrene (PS)
- Polyethylene (PE)
Additional processes such as overmolding (or co-molding) further increase materials options. For example, plastic can be overmolded around a metal core to improve strength, appearance, or functionality, i.e. overmolding plastic around a metal insert in an electronic connector.
Automation Capabilities
Specific aspects of injection molding can be automated to improve speed and efficiency. Automation offers a wide range of unique benefits, including higher part quality, improved consistency, less waste, and reduced labor costs. Automation enhances the injection molding process working through repetitive tasks such as:
- Positioning inserts or metal components in the injection molding machine
- Ejecting or removing parts from molds
- Assembly, labeling, & packaging
D&M Plastics utilizes advanced automated injection molding processes to deliver accurate, high-quality parts with lower production costs and increased repeatability.
Cost-Effective
Plastic injection molding is cost-effective for multiple reasons, including:
- Suitable for high volumes. Once the initial mold is created, injection molding can produce large volumes of parts at a lower per-unit cost. This is because the total cost of the mold is spread over the total number of units, significantly reducing the per-piece cost as quantity increases.
- Reduced waste. Most of the material injected into the mold is used to create the final product, with minimal waste. Any excess material can often be recycled and reused in future production runs.
- Lower labor costs. Injection molding is highly automated, reducing the need for manual labor.
- Precision. Custom injection molding can produce complex parts with extreme accuracy. This level of precision reduces the need for costly rework or post-processing operations.
Part Versatility
When utilizing custom injection molding, you can produce a nearly endless variety of parts due to its versatility in mold design, material choice, color, and complexity. Whether you require simple components or intricate, multi-featured designs, injection molding can accommodate your needs. This adaptability makes it the ideal production method for everything from automotive parts and consumer goods to electronics and medical devices.
Custom Injection Molding at D&M Plastics
To realize all of the benefits of custom injection molding, it’s important to work with an experienced partner. At D&M Plastics, we offer expert injection molding services with a dedication to delivering the highest quality products. We are ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485:2016 certified, and our rigorous attention to quality has allowed us to achieve an external defect rate of 17 ppm.
We collaborate closely with customers from start to finish to ensure we deliver the parts you need when you need them. For a personalized quote or to learn about our custom plastic injection molding capabilities, contact D&M Plastics today.
Custom injection molding is a highly versatile method of producing plastic parts and offers multiple benefits over other manufacturing methods allowing for the creation of complex designs with high precision. Discover the top six advantages of custom injection molding and learn if it’s the right solution for your manufacturing needs. High Efficiency and Fast Turnarounds […]