Last Updated on May 26, 2015 by Bharat Saini
Take time to look at the items around you, and you can be sure that at least one or two of them were a result of a manufacturing process called injection moulding. In its basic definition, this process is utilized to produce certain parts through injection of material/s into a mould. While there are various materials that can be used, such as metals, glasses, and elastomers, the most common of all are still thermoplastics.
From Raw Materials to Everyday Items
You don’t have to be a manufacturing industry professional to understand how injection moulding truly works. In a nutshell, this process could be easily figured out by understanding its basics. Typically, the polymer granules (pellets) are heated at a certain temperature and then fed into a mould in order to take its shape after the cooling process. While this explanation is fairly simple, the specifics of it can be quite more complicated.
From this process, variety of consumer and industrial products are made. Countless of the items we use on a daily basis are a product of this process, most especially those made of plastic materials. From plastic combs, containers, toys, to electronic gadget parts, these were all made through the use of plastic moulding process.
The Industries that Take Advantage of Injection Moulding
Ever since injection moulding has become the go-to manufacturing process of various industries, it witnessed dozens of improvements. From very basic and raw processes, injection moulding underwent series of developments to become what it is today. Throughout the years, this process has been proven to be extremely efficient when it comes to producing everyday items, most especially those that are made of thermoplastic materials.
There are particular industries that greatly rely on injection moulding, such as consumer electronics, packaging, medical, automotive, construction, consumer products, as well as aviation. Consumer electronics products like cell phones, televisions, computers, speakers, and radios are made with the help of injection moulding. Certain precision instruments and tools used in the medical field are also produced through the use of this process. Many construction materials and tools are also produced via injection moulding. The automotive industry likewise relies on this process as countless auto parts are made through it. Furthermore, the aviation and aerospace industries depend on injection moulding as it provides them with parts necessary. These industries could have not prospered without the utilization of efficient processes like injection moulding.
The Future of Plastic Moulding Industry
Since the World War II, the injection moulding niche of the manufacturing industry has seen rapid growth, and there are no clear signs of it being slowed down. While there are other alternatives being discovered like 3D printing, injection moulding still remains strong as ever before as it is deemed more practical and cost-efficient. Alternatives to this process may provide other benefits, but injection moulding remains significant because many industries cannot afford to suddenly shift to other processes. Because of this, it is safe to assume that this process will still be widely used for the years to come. Simply put, injection moulding is cheap, effective, and practical hence it is here to stay for the long run.
There are many businesses and corporations that provide plastic moulding services to various industries, so finding one is fairly easy. If you are looking for a company that provides such services, you should not have a hard time. You can easily find several of these companies on the Internet, and you can also find leads from colleagues and directories. However, just make sure that the company you will hire has solid experience in the industry to avoid wasting time and money on businesses that cannot cope with your demands and expectations.