Pros and Cons of Injection Molded Products
Injection molded products offer numerous advantages including cost-effectiveness, reliability, and the potential for large production runs. While parts and products produced in this manner have clearly identified pros, there are some cons to be aware of if you’re considering utilizing this manufacturing method. .
Metro Plastics highlights the pros and cons of injection molded products and discusses why working with the right manufacturer can eliminate challenges that may arise.
Pros of Using Injection Molded Products
Injection molding is one of the most commonly used manufacturing methods of plastic products, thanks to the many advantages that come with the service.
High Efficiency
Creating injection molded products continues to be a highly efficient process. The post-tooling part of the production cycle moves at a high speed, with cycle times operating anywhere between 10 to 60 seconds.
Cost-Effectiveness
The efficiency and part repeatability — more on that in a moment — makes injection molding a cost-effective service. This is especially true if you’re placing a medium to large order run. More parts drives down the cost per part, making it popular for those in the automotive industry, for example.
Part Repeatability, Tight Precision
Once a mold has been created, that opens the door for repeated production cycles. Much like with cost-effectiveness, part repeatability is critical for customers who place medium to large orders. Additionally, injection molded products are incredibly precise, which minimizes the risk for quality issues.
Allowance For Complex Shapes
Injection molding allows for the manufacturing of products that have unique geometric shapes. The cost to perform production of complex shapes compared to another form of manufacturing favors injection molding, but there is a potential drawback we’ll address later.
Cons of Manufacturing Injection Molded Products
Like any manufacturing process, there can be challenges to overcome, which will have to be considered when choosing whether this is the right method for your products.
Tooling Costs
Mold creation is the most expensive part of the injection molding process. This is because the mold is made out of metal, usually steel.
Design Changes
Unexpected costs incur when there are multiple design changes. Design changes lead to multiple molds having to be created, which restarts the tooling process.
Risk of Defects
Injection molded products run the risk of defects like any other manufactured part. Potential defects related to injection molding services include: warping, sink marks, bubbles, and incomplete mold filling.
How to Minimize the Cons
While there are cons to every manufacturing process — injection molding included — there are ways to deter them. Limiting the potential for defects is one way to avoid the cons of injection molding. Best practices for limiting defects include:
- Lower melt and mold temperatures to reduce burn marks
- Increase cooling times to avoid sink marks
- Balance cooling times and temperatures to avoid sink marks and warp marks
High upfront costs are common with injection molding because of the tooling services required to make the molds. Ensuring a satisfactory design for the mold eliminates the need for repeating the process and helps eliminate costly redesigns.
Metro Plastics has numerous services at its disposal to help eliminate potential issues when using injection molding services. Any engineering changes are quoted at cost so you know there isn’t any mystery or massive upcharge.
We have high standards for our tooling procedures and we outline our tooling processes — clearly backed by a four-step guide that starts off with an inspection. Additionally, Metro Plastics prides itself on its DFM and upfront engineering support capabilities.
All of our skills and services are meant to narrow down the potential for issues while maximizing the injection molding experience.
Why Working with the Right Manufacturer for Injection Molded Products is Critical
Metro Plastics understands all too well how critical it is to find the right manufacturer for injection molding services. We recently detailed the best ways to find the right manufacturer, but it is worth reinforcing these critical points.
Engineering Support
Plastic injection molding companies should all be equipped with a team of engineers providing guidance throughout the manufacturing process. Key support could include showcasing all capabilities so you may best utilize a company’s services.
Another level of support is an engineering team’s level of material expertise. The team can guide you through material selection ahead of the manufacturing process for proper product optimization. Additionally, strong engineering support can advise whether or not to use secondary services such as stamping or engraving.
Superior Quality Management
Quality control and management should be central to everything the best plastic injection molding companies do. Best practices for quality management and control should include thorough and rigorous product testing and evaluation to ensure the part is made to your specifications and design.
A great indicator of the best plastic injection molding companies is if they hold key certifications such as ISO 9001. This certification holds manufacturers to a specific set of standards that include thorough internal and external audits that make sure a company is performing at a high level of quality.
The consistency and responsiveness of its customer services also demonstrates the company’s dedication to quality.
Partner with Metro Plastics for your Injection Molded Products
Metro Plastics has proudly served clients across the country from our Noblesville, Indiana, home since 1975. Work with us and you’ll find why we’re one of the best plastic injection molding companies in the industry.
We take pride in the work that leaves our facilities and the relationships we build with our customers. As an ISO 9001 certified company, quality isn’t just a buzzword, it’s a priority for our team.
Ready to end your search to find the best plastic injection molding companies? Contact us today and see why we are the right choice for you.