Today, plastics are so common in everyday life that the average person takes them for granted. So much so, that it is surprising for many to learn just how widespread the usage of plastics is. Home appliances revolutionized the way we live by extending convenience into every area of our lives, but plastics made them affordable, longer-lasting, and more versatile. Without injection molding technology, many of these parts and components would not be nearly as easy or as cost-effective to produce. Even a quick look at appliances from refrigerators to dishwashers reveals a vast array of injection molded components.
The Advantages of Injection Molding for Appliances
Why do so many appliance manufacturers turn to an injection molding company to play a role in supplying plastic parts? Based on a process that uses molten plastic forced into a highly precise mold under pressure and allowed to cool, injection molding has been one of the primary means for producing plastic components for more than half a century. Highly versatile and capable of delivering several advantages over other manufacturing processes, appliances use injection molded parts for many reasons:
- High-pressure injections enable plastics to reach into even the deepest parts of a mold, enabling intricate shapes and designs that minimize the need for additional processing after molding.
- Molding produces a high part volume at a very rapid pace. Although the design and finalization of each mold may take some time, the manufacturing process moves very quickly afterwards. Once you have mold designs in hand, you can use them indefinitely.
- Injection molding enables the easy addition of fillers for changing the properties of a plastic. Inserts and additional components inside the mold allow for even more complex processes, such as overmolding.
What Appliances Use Injection Molding Processes?
It’s easy to see why appliance manufacturers would favor a high-volume, highly replicable process for creating their plastic components — but what are those components? Let’s look at some of the most common examples you might find:
- Refrigerator components. In-door shelving units for holding condiments and jars and sliding drawer frames both likely use injection molding. Fridge and freezer door handles also come from a mold, as do many of the components used in ice makers, such as the plastic auger that dispenses ice on demand.
- Dishwasher components. Much of the interior of modern dishwashers comes from injection molds, including silverware caddies, the dishwasher racks themselves, and the water-spraying wash arms, and even the door or hatch to the detergent dispenser.
- Kitchen gadgets. A toaster’s exterior shell may come entirely from a plastic mold, as do blender housings and the blender’s container itself. Plastic food storage containers use molding, too.
Learn More About Injection Molding Today
These examples are just a scratch on the surface of what it is possible to achieve when working with a plastics company near youto design and develop components for an appliance. With faster turnaround times, better product quality, and more versatility, it’s possible to achieve a wide range of outcomes.
At Reliant Plastics, we support clients across many industries, including the appliance sector. With robust and highly scalable solutions, we’re well-positioned to bring projects to fruition as plastics manufacturers in Texas. Contact us for a free quote on your project today.
