The powersports sector of the automotive industry designs snowmobiles, ATVs, motorcycles, and other vehicles to drive safely and efficiently across diverse and rugged terrain. With utilitarian and recreational applications, powersports vehicles require quality, safety, and reliability. Plastic injection molding plays a central role in achieving all three within a finished product.
The broader automotive industry has already embraced injection molding as a central method of production. Plastics are everywhere in the cars we drive each day, from knobs, buttons, and interior trim to engine covers, gas caps, and other exterior components. They even play a role in pushing the electric vehicle revolution forward. For many of the same reasons automotive manufacturers choose plastic injection molded parts, the powersports industry can benefit, too.
What Role Does Plastic Injection Molding Play in the Powersports Industry?
Plastic parts are necessary throughout the design and construction of powersports vehicles. The broad accessibility of molding services and the large number of plastics available make it a very versatile method for manufacturers to turn to for support. There are some specific benefits to plastics in this space.
- Plastics weigh less than metals. Lighter vehicles consume less fuel or battery power.
- Plastics can be highly durable and well-suited to applications requiring long-term strength or impact resistance.
- Plastics can withstand challenging environmental conditions, such as heavy UV exposure, large temperature ranges, and high moisture environments.
These and other qualities mean a powersports OEM can turn to plastic for many use cases.
Applications of Automotive Injection Molding in Powersports
You will find plastics in cosmetic, structural, and functional applications across the powersports sector. The versatility of automotive plastic injection molding and the potential for complex geometries make it especially suitable for those scenarios. Plastics are frequently used on powersports vehicles such as:
- All-terrain vehicles (ATVs)
- Utility terrain vehicles (UTVs)
- Side-by-sides
- Motorcycles
- Jet skis
- Snowmobiles
Within these vehicles, you’ll find plastics applied to parts and components, including:
- Bumpers
- Liners
- Engine covers
- Buttons, switches, knobs, and dials
- Hoods
- Storage containers or areas
- Mounting points and more
With applications across entire vehicles, a prudent investment in quality plastic manufacturing can pay dividends over the life cycle of a product.
Plastic Manufacturing Methods for Powersports Products
The appropriate equipment and techniques are essential for achieving success in this space. The molding machines themselves are of critical importance. During molding, the machines involved must be able to keep the molds securely clamped shut to allow for part formation. Simple injection molded parts may not require a large amount of force. Complex plastic parts with unique designs may require a significant level of tonnage. At Reliant, we field a broad range of state-of-the-art molding machines across a broad tonnage spectrum to meet diverse needs.
Overmolding, the combination of plastic and another material, also helps create components for powersports applications. Reinforced plastics with new materials are also available today, creating more parts options. Additional secondary services provide parts with the fit and finish necessary for their final application.
The Future of Injection Molding and Powersports
Plastics and injection molding both have well-established applications in the powersports sector. The need for lighter, more efficient vehicles that exhibit high durability won’t go away any time soon. If anything, manufacturers and consumers will continue to look for future improvements, too.
Research and development into new plastic materials and applications continues. The development of advanced composites could ultimately lead to improvements in automotive and powersports design. Considering the need to continue meeting existing demand, it’s easy to see that plastics will continue to be an important factor in this industry for the foreseeable future.
Automotive Injection Molding Manufacturing for Powersports
Plastics can be a game-changer in vehicle design. As we’ve seen, that’s true not only in the automotive industry but also in more specialized applications, such as powersports. For companies seeking design and manufacturing improvements, transitioning some metal parts to plastic may be the right thing to do. Sourcing high-quality plastics for other components can also reduce costs without compromising on reliability.
Reliant Plastics makes it all possible and stands apart among automotive injection molding companies. We can support your powersports project with a broad range of services, including VMI, which has advanced and well-equipped manufacturing facilities and decades of design expertise. Our keen attention to detail and quality control reflect our successes in automotive injection molding and high-precision applications for the aerospace industry.
Speak with our team today to learn more about how to tap the benefits of plastics for your project.
