Today’s manufacturers rely on plastic molding manufacturing methods to produce exceptionally complex, high-quality parts and components efficiently and affordably. Dependent on your intended application, there are a number of specific methods that may work best for you. Three of the most utilized plastic molding techniques are injection molding, dip molding, and blow molding. At Molded Devices, Inc., we specialize in plastics processing and molding services, with a dedicated facility for designing and engineering the best parts and components on the market. With 12 facilities in the United States, along with 3 facilities in Canada, Mexico, and China – we have perfected our advanced plastic molding capabilities and production capacities since our founding in 1963. Depending on your unique product design and application needs, any one of these molding techniques could work best for you. Explore how each of these methods are used below to find the best match for your product design.
Injection Molding
Ideal for achieving complex designs at mass production scales, plastic injection molding is the process of injecting hot, liquid plastic into a custom metal mold, then letting it cool and solidify into a finished product. This process allows companies to control the exact ID and OD dimensions of their product. Some common examples of products produced using injection molding include plastic packaging, automotive parts and components, 1-piece mechanical gears, and various children’s toys. While this process does have a relatively high upfront tooling cost, once companies create the perfect molding tool out of steel or aluminum, they will be able to produce their plastic parts more quickly, and at a significantly lower cost. Any company that is consistently producing large volumes of complex plastic parts should consider the injection molding process.
Dip Molding
Highly utilized for producing hollowed-out parts, the dip molding technique is essentially the inverse of the plastic injection molding technique. By dipping a hot steel mold into a liquid polymer/elastomer, companies are able to produce hollowed-out plastic parts with precision control over the product’s ID. A common place you see the dip molding technique utilized in is the medical device production. Anything from a catheter balloon and catheter tubing to surgical masks and gloves can be produced using this process – with the high degrees of precision the medical industry demands. For all of our dip molding projects, Molded Devices, Inc. uses either liquid plastisol or neoprene rubber. Plastisol is ideal for medical devices, given that it is non-toxic, FDA approved for food contact and meets the USP Class VI, UL, and MIL-P-20689 standards. We also utilize neoprene rubber in our dip molding process when manufacturing non-medical products, such as automotive parts, gaskets, hoses, and bellows. This material also offers great resistance to chemical exposure, corrosion, compression, and abrasion. Compared to the costs associated with the injection molding and blow molding process, dip molding is an inexpensive alternative for producing parts with less complex designs and lower production volumes.
Blow Molding
Similar in many ways to both injection molding and dip molding, blow molding allows you to produce a hollowed out, complex part design at scale. Combining a specialized polymer tube, metal mold, and compressed air, this process melts down the polymer tube, and uses the compressed air to create a uniform shape and thickness around the walls of the mold. This process allows manufacturers to control the OD via a steel mold, and the ID via compressed air. When compared to dip molding, blow molding allows for improved control of your wall thickness, along with more advanced, complex mold designs. This method of plastic molding is best suited for companies looking to routinely produce highly-complex, hollow plastic products at a large scale.
No matter your unique plastic or elastomer molding needs, Molded Devices has the services, staff, and facilities to make it happen. As one of the biggest names in professional molding services, we consistently produce a superior product with unmatched efficiency. Whether you require a standard plastic part, or a highly-complex, custom piece – we have the engineering, design, and manufacturing capabilities to make it happen. Contact us today at 1-800-852-1472, or use our contact page. We will respond within one business day with insights on how we can best service your needs.
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