Get Your Product Launched With Injection Molding

Injection molding is a great option for many entrepreneurs and startups to get their products off the ground and into the hands of consumers. This process has been around since the late 1800s and was originally solely used to make simple things like buttons and combs, but over the years it has evolved. Now injection molding is used to create everything from car parts to medical supplies.

It is a way to quickly and easily manufacture hundreds or even thousands of identical parts in a timely and cost-effective way. This is a popular process to use when producing mass quantities because most of the cost comes from creating the mold. Plus, typically the more you produce the cheaper each individual part becomes.

How can the process be so quick and inexpensive? Here is a quick rundown of how plastic injection molding works to help give you an idea of the benefits for your product.

1. Design – First the mold has to be designed and created. Typically it is made from aluminum or steel so it can be durable enough to withstand making hundreds or thousands of parts. It has two parts that come together, leaving a hollow center for the plastic to be injected into. Once the mold itself has been created you are then ready to start the injection mold process.

2. Close – The injection mold machine closes the mold, clamping each side together tightly so the material that will be injected inside doesn’t come out through any cracks.

3. Filled – After the mold has been tightly clamped, the material is then injected into the mold. This is done by melting plastic pellets through intense heat and pressure. The liquified plastic is then injected inside the hollow mold, coating the walls of the mold.

4. Cooling – As the hot plastic touches the mold it begins to solidify. It will form to the shape of the mold, cooling into a hard plastic replica of the inside of the mold casing.

5. Ejection – Once the plastic has completely hardened the mold is opened and the part is then ejected. As soon as the completed product is out of the way, the mold with then clamp closed again to prepare for the next injection of molten plastic.

Injection molding also has low scrap rates because the plastic is being injected into exactly the space it needs to be. This saves you money in the long wrong because you aren’t having to pay for materials that aren’t actually being used in your part.

Also, since each part is created in the exact same mold it helps with brand consistency. You’ll be able to rest assured that the first part you see and the 1056th part will look and handle the same way, and your customers will be able to expect identical quality from each part you offer.

Since injection molding becomes cost-effective when producing large quantities of the same part it is important to figure out at what point this would be a good decision for your company. If you only need 50 parts made it might be smart to use a different process, but if you need 500 or more, this very possibly could be the best route for you.