In this article, we explore some of the most common plastics you could use in injection moulding, including their properties and applications. Polypropylene, Polyamide – Nylon, Polycarbonate, and Acrylonitrile Butadeine Styrene are just a few examples.

Choosing the right material plastics for your injection moulding project depends on several factors, including:

The Application:

The first consideration when choosing a plastic for injection moulding is the intended application of the part. You should select the material based on the part’s required properties, such as:

• strength,
• durability,
• flexibility,
• heat resistance,
• or chemical resistance.

Production Volume:

What you expect the production volume is going to be is also an important consideration. Some materials are better suited for high-volume production runs, whereas others may be more appropriate for low-volume production.

Cost:

The cost of the material is another important factor. Some materials are more expensive than others. Therefore, this can affect the overall cost of the production process.

Processing Conditions:

Different materials require different processing conditions. For example, some materials may require a higher melting temperature or longer cooling time than others. It is important to choose a material that can be processed efficiently and cost-effectively.

Environmental Factors:

Environmental factors such as exposure to UV light, moisture, and chemicals can also affect the choice of material. For instance, some materials may be better suited for outdoor use, while others may be more appropriate for indoor use.

Regulatory Requirements:

Depending on the application, there may be regulatory requirements that dictate the choice of material. For example, materials used in medical devices must meet certain safety standards, while materials used in food packaging must be food safe.

Choose the Right Material

Thermoplastic injection moulding is a widely in use for manufacturing parts and components for a range of industries. In the process of injection moulding, thermoplastics are liquified by being heated up in the barrel of the moulding machine. After that, the plastic is cooled and solidified inside the moulding tool. However, depending on the plastic you choose can impact different elements of the production process. Consequently, it is vital you choose the correct one for you application.

Related: 4 Types Of Plastic Moulding

What plastic should be used in injection moulding?

Are you not sure of the best plastic to use for your bespoke project? Let’s take a closer look at some of the most commonly used plastics in injection moulding.

Polypropylene (PP)

Polypropylene (PP) is a cost-effective polymer with a high melting point, excellent impact strength, good resistance to stress and cracking, and good resistance to water, acids, and detergent. It is widely used in a variety of household goods, including First Aid Boxes and Weaving Bobbins for the textiles industry.

Polyamide – Nylon (PA)

Polyamide – Nylon (PA) is a tough, strong material with a high level of stability and is resistant to abrasion, impact, and chemicals. It is commonly found in the products used in the automotive and medical sectors and is extensively used in producing engineering parts used in the lock making industry, as well as internal parts in window and door manufacture.

Polycarbonate (PC)

Polycarbonate (PC) is a naturally transparent, amorphous thermoplastic primarily used when impact resistance and good transparency are needed. Unlike many other thermoplastic polymers, PC can undergo large plastic deformations without cracking or breaking. It is commonly used in the manufacture of DVD disks and medical devices and is also used in the production of lighting diffusers and covers.

Acrylonitrile Butadeine Styrene (ABS)

Acrylonitrile Butadeine Styrene (ABS) is an opaque thermoplastic and amorphous polymer composed of three distinct monomers – Acrylonitrile, Butadeine, and Styrene. Together they create a polymer that is light in weight, flexible, and easily mouldable. ABS has good impact resistance, heat resistance, and toughness and is found in a wide variety of everyday items, including drain pipe systems, miscellaneous kitchen items, and even Lego bricks.

Looking for a plastic injection mouldings company in the UK for your bespoke project?

At Moldwel, we specialise in providing bespoke services for you plastic injection mouldings project. If you’re looking for Injection Moulding in the UK, give us a call on 01922 631252, and our team will be happy to advise you further.

If you enjoyed reading this article you may also like to read our previous post on: Injection Moulding vs Vacuum Forming | Everything You Need To Know

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Injection Moulding & Vacuum Forming: The Basics – What are they?

What is Vacuum Forming? 

Vacuum forming, sometimes also referred to as Thermoforming is a process where plastic sheets are heated in automated forming equipment until soft and malleable. Once soft, it is then “formed” around a shape or mould. A vacuum source is then turned on to suck the plastic sheet to the mould shape. When the formed sheet of plastic has cooled sufficiently, the excess sheet is trimmed off to give the final, finished component.

What is Injection Moulding? 

Plastic injection moulding is a far more complex, detailed process. The plastic used in this comes in a granule form which is then heated in a barrel until it becomes plasticised. This is then injected from the barrel into the injection mould tools. Once cooled, the finish component in its solid form is ejected from the tool using special ejector pins.

What are the advantages?

Advantages of Vacuum Forming

1. Vacuum forming has shorter lead times on new tooling.
2. Much lower tooling start up costs.
3. This method has the ability to create larger plastic parts.
4. Relatively low costs for smaller batch requirements.

Advantages of Plastic Injection Moulding

1. A wide variety of different materials, with different mechanical properties can be used.
2. Parts can be made from any colour required.
3. Inserts can be used within the moulding process.
4. Closer tolerances and more intricacy within the design is possible.
5. Far more cost effective on large run / repeat orders.
6. Very little waste / scrap is produced – this can be reground and re-used.

What are the disadvantages?

Disadvantages of Vacuum Forming

1. Consistency in wall thickness / uniformity of plastic products is not always achievable.
2. Limited in the detail and complexity of parts.
3. This method is not cost effective on larger batch runs.
4. Additional time and cost involved in the finishing process.

Disadvantages of Plastic Injection Moulding

1. Higher initial start up costs because of the tooling needed.
2. More skill, knowledge and experience is required.
3. Initial tooling manufacture has a longer lead time.

Looking for UK plastic injection moulding manufacturers?

We are leading plastic injection moulding suppliers based in the Midlands. Our team of expert technicians can help you with any project and can guarantee you a trusted service at competitive prices. Give us a call on 01922 631252 for free expert advice on injection moulding, or visit our website today.

If you have found this blog helpful, you may wish to read our previous blog on Blow Moulding Vs. Injection Moulding.

The post Injection Moulding vs Vacuum Forming | Everything You Need To Know appeared first on Moldwel Products Ltd.

At first there was a great reluctance to change; the majority of designers and engineers had only ever worked with metal and initially were unsure about changing. However, steel prices are ever-increasing and coupled with longer lead times, steel was proving less beneficial to manufacture with.

Plastic is more versatile, easier and cheaper to source, quicker to work with, and can produce more ROI than steel if used in appropriate applications. Injection moulded plastics are almost guaranteed to be the most cost-effective option.

What is Plastic Injection Moulding?

Plastic injection moulding is a manufacturing process that is used to create high volume batches of plastic parts. Plastic pellets – usually thermoplastic polymers – are melted into a liquid to begin with. They are then injected at a high pressure into a mould cavity. The mould is filled and the plastic then solidifies inside of it. The plastic can be popped out and the result will be a specific plastic part once cooled and hardened.

The moulds are made in the required part’s shape and size, and then can be used over and over to create accurate and consistent batches of the same product fact and efficiently. It is typically a mass-production process where the same part needs to be created hundreds, thousands, millions of times.

Related: Plastic Injection Moulding | From Design to Delivery

Injection Moulded Plastics

The main advantage of plastic injection moulding is the short time frame. Due to the mould being the same, you’re always guaranteed to get accurate results, incredibly fast. Once the mould has been made, there is very little labour required too. This means it is a fast and reliable manufacturing process – with little cost required in comparison to its production scale.

Plastic is one of the most versatile and reliable materials on the planet, which is why injection moulded plastics are continually on the rise. It’s available in thousands of different forms and is used worldwide for a wide range of applications. Whether it’s for furnishing, building, entertainment purposes, or communication, the list of plastic uses is ever-expanding.

Here at Moldwel, we’re proud to be one of the country’s leading plastic injection moulding companies. With so many different uses for plastic, there is also a lot of ways to manufacture with it. Plastic injection moulding is one of the most popular manufacturing processes.

Plastic vs Metal: The Advantages of Plastics 

• The cost of ‘Raw Material’ in plastics is considerably less than metal – also production using plastic is far less labour intensive which gives clear savings in energy, wages costs and production time.
• Plastic weighs considerably less than metal ( despite retaining similar strength properties ) giving savings in component costs and also transport costs.
• It does not corrode or rust as metal does.
• Plastic components can be manufactured in any specific or matched colour – metal cannot – metal has to be painted or coated as a secondary operation, increasing production time and cost.
• The material can be manufactured easily in any design, shape or texture irrespective of complexity – metal cannot.
• Plastic injection moulding is far more efficient and cost effective, quicker and produces less scrap and wastage compared to metal.
• There are hundreds of different grades of plastics available all with different properties, strengths etc – metal is far more limited with its options.

Looking for plastic injection moulding companies?

If you would like to find out more about our injection moulded plastic services, then head to our website today. Alternatively, call 01922 631252 to speak to a member of our helpful and friendly team.

If you have found this blog helpful, you may wish to read a previous blog: Multi Use Plastics – It’s What We Do

The post Injection Moulded Plastics Vs Metals appeared first on Moldwel Products Ltd.

In this article, we will be looking at 4 different types of plastic moulding techniques and their advantages and applications.

4 Types of Plastic Moulding Techniques

Blow Moulding

This type of plastic moulding is well suited for hollow objects, like bottles. The blow process follows the basic steps that you would find in glass blowing. A parison, or heated mass of plastic, is placed in a tube and then inflated by air. The air then pushes the plastic against the mould meaning that it takes the form of its desired shape. The plastic is then left to cool, then ejected once it is at its desired temperature.

The blow mould process is perfectly designed to manufacture at high volume for one-piece hollow objects. This moulding process creates uniformed walled containers, perfect if you’re looking to manufacture lots of bottles.

Compression Moulding

This process is well suited for larger objects such as auto parts. The name of this type of plastic moulding method says it all; the heated plastic material is placed into a heated mould and is then compressed into shape. The heating process, which is also known as curing, ensures that the part will maintain its shape and functionality when in use. Like with other moulding methods, once this part has been shaped, it is then cooled and removed from the mould. If sheeting plastic material has been used, then it is first trimmed whilst still in the mould before the part is removed.

Compression moulding is suitable for high-strength compounds such as thermosetting resins, fiberglass and reinforced plastics. The superior strength properties of the plastic material used in the compression mould help make this method a valuable process for the automotive industry.

Injection Moulding

This moulding method is well suited for high-quality, high-volume part manufacturing. Plastic injection moulding is seen to be the most versatile of all moulding techniques. The presses that are used in this moulding process vary in size and are rated based on their pressure and tonnage. Large injection machines can create car parts, whereas, smaller machines can produce very precise parts. During the injection moulding process, there are many types of plastic resins that can help increase its flexibility.

This production process itself is fairly straightforward; however, there are a variety of enhancements and customisation techniques that can be used to help produce a unique and desired finish or structure to the product. Injection moulds contain cavities so that when the melted plastic is injected it will fill the cavities and therefore, take the desired shape. Once the plastic is cool, the parts are then ejected using pins.

The initial mould making costs is relatively high; however, the cost per part is very economical. Low part cost along with resin and finish options have all contributed to injection moulding’s popularity in today’s manufacturing industry.

Rotation Moulding/Rotomoulding

This plastic moulding process is well suited for large, hollow, one-piece parts. It is done by using a combination of high temperatures and rotational movements to help coat the inside of the mould and form its shape. By having a constant rotation of the mould, it helps to create centrifugal force which produces evenly-walled products. Due to the fact this type of moulding is suited to large, hollow containers, it is not a fast moving process.

Contact Us Today

Here at Moldwel, we are plastic injection moulders who specialise in the different types of plastic injection moulding. If you would like more information on the services that we offer, contact us today.

You might like to read our previous article on “Plastic Injection Moulding | From Design to Delivery”

The post 4 Types Of Plastic Moulding appeared first on Moldwel Products Ltd.

Lean And Flexible Manufacturing

At Moldwel, we operate a very lean and flexible manufacturing facility using the very latest technological advancements possible. Therefore, ensuring that your project is a success. Plastic injection moulding refers to the manufacturing process of injecting material in liquid form in a mould.

Furthermore, you should know why the process of plastic injection moulding is done. There are a number of significant advantages for the use of plastic injection moulding. Here at Moldwel, our focus is not just to create components that you may require, but rather to provide a complete and full service.

This can include:

• Design of products
• Tool Making
• Tool Assembly
• Labelling
• Delivery

At Moldwel, we guarantee to provide a quality service for all our customers. We can handle and manufacture all forms of plastic products, including low volume electrical components, engineered plastics and even products that fall under mass multi cavity production. The uses of plastic injection moulding can be beneficial, as with the process you can have the ability to create a number of intricate and detailed parts. Plastic injection moulding also has the ability to replace the need for smaller mechanical parts in some projects.

Take A Look On Our Website

We hope that this blog post has allowed to understand the importance of the plastic injection moulding process. Based in the West Midlands, we pride ourselves in the plastic injection moulding services we offer. To find out more information about how we can help you, please visit other parts of the Moldwel website. Alternatively, call us on 01922 631252.

If you found this blog useful, why not take a look at a previous one: Blow Moulding Plastic Vs. Injection Moulding 

The post Plastic Injection Moulding – What You Should Know About The Process appeared first on Moldwel Products Ltd.

Original equipment manufacturers (OEM’s), often see producing equipment in house as a simple, cost effective way to create high quality products whilst keeping costs down. In reality, the process ends up being much more complicated and time consuming than originally expected. Plastic injection moulding requires cutting edge equipment, support staff and significant investment in infrastructure.

In your decision to manufacture injection moulded products, you must undergo careful evaluation, being honest and critical with the facts. Ultimately, the decision must benefit your business for cost effective moulding and be in the company’s best interest.

Furthermore, alongside the evaluation, other factors  must be considered as the foundation of your evaluation. Such as, investments in moulds, raw materials, utilities, bottom line costs, labour and packing. No matter how costs are organised within your company, costs are costs. Therefore, if they can be reduced in any way possible, surely that is a huge advantage to the business.

Benefits of Outsourcing Your Plastic Injection Moulding.

Cost Saving

By using contract manufacturers your overheads and labour costs are cut significantly. Consequently, you can focus on what your company specialises in and leave the tricky parts to experts without any worries.

High Quality

Ensure to use an ISO certified contracted manufacturer as this signifies continuous improvements on quality of your injected moulded products.

Flexibility

Contract manufacturers can offer higher scheduling capacity in order to meet the needs of your market. Therefore, they are able to distribute new products under higher capacity hence reducing lead times.

Inventory

As leading plastic injection moulders we can supply your parts quickly, based on your demands; so there will be no panic in house when demands are high.

Economies Of Scale

Contract manufacturers develop and maintain relationship with suppliers. So, it is a good idea to take advantage of their sales resources as well as, industry contacts.

Quality Service For All Our Customers

At Moldwel, as plastic injection moulders we guarantee to provide a cost effective quality service for all customers. In addition, we can handle and manufacture all forms of plastic products. Contact us to find out more on our plastic injection moulding service.

If you enjoyed this article, you might like to read our previous article.. The everyday uses of plastic injection moulding..

The post Why You Should Consider Outsourcing Your Plastic Injection Moulding appeared first on Moldwel Products Ltd.

Plastic Injection Moulding can seem like a complicated process when you first hear about it. You might think at first glance that the products made from this method are all highly technical and specialised for big industries and companies. However there are many uses of plastic injection moulding for a wide range of industries.

Plastic Injection Moulders

Moldwel plastic injection moulders were formed in 1973. Over the years we have seen and been part of how plastic injection moulding has evolved and now makes a range of products. Many of them are things that you use in your everyday life.

Plastic Injection Moulding Uses

This type of manufacturing process was once used to create buttons and combs. But, now it is being used to produce a wide range of items for many industries including:

• Aerospace
• Automotive
• Consumer Products
• Construction
• Medical
• Packaging
• Plumbing and many more.

Furthermore, it’s pretty certain that you have at least one, if not more items in your home, having a high chance of them including a component that was produced using plastic injection moulding.

For instance some of the uses of injection moulding include:

Mobile Phone

Though not every phone is made of plastic, the majority of smartphones have some tiny piece inside or out that will have been created by plastic injection moulding.

Car Interiors

The dashboard of a car is a carefully crafted piece of equipment that is made via plastic injection moulding. Not to mention the various internal pieces that have been made the same way.

Computers

If you’re reading this on the computer, it’s thanks to plastic injection moulding. Your computer casing and keyboards were all likely made through this process.

Kitchen Utensils

Your plastic cups, bowls, plates, lids and eating utensils will have been forged from plastic injection moulding for the extra precision needed for the designs.

Home Décor

Even just the day-to-day Knick knacks around the house are made through plastic injection moulding.

As you can see, the number of products range from the tiny and complicated parts that go into mobile phone and computers, to large and simple designs like tuber wear and push pins. The way Plastic Injection Moulding works allows for minuscule amounts of detail, or for large, strong creations. Without Plastic Injection Moulding, your everyday life would look entirely different.

Get In Touch With Our Friendly Team

Here at Moldwel, we are a small, efficient, customer friendly company. We put the customer first, our phones are on 24/7 allowing our customers to get in contact with us at any time. For more information on our services or if you have any enquiries, contact us today.

You might like to read our previous article.. 4 Types of Plastic Moulding..

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