One of the most common questions about injection molding is what types of parts or products it can be used to make. There is no simple answer to this question simply because this particular manufacturing process can be customized to suit the needs of many industries and manufacturers. Indeed, plastic injection molding is an incredibly versatile process that you can use to manufacture a wide variety of different parts. This post will take a closer look at injection molding, why it is such a dynamic process, and which types of injection molding products and parts it is regularly used to create.
How the Plastic Injection Molding Process Works
Injection molding is typically used to produce a specific part in large volumes with a high degree of accuracy. The process works by injecting melted plastic resin into a hollow mold until the mold fills with the melted plastic. The mold is then cooled so that the plastic resin inside can harden and take on the form of the desired part. Molds can take on a near limitless number of shapes and forms, which is why injection molding is such a versatile approach to manufacturing and why there are so many types of plastic injection molding products that can be made.
Parts and Products Produced By Injection Molding Machines
Because an injection molding machine can be used to fill almost any mold design you can think of, there is no truly comprehensive list of injection molding products with the types of products or parts made with injection molds. However, here are a few common and widely used products that, in most cases, come about thanks to injection molding:
- Electronic housings. Most electronic devices have some plastic housing that forms both the main exterior body of the product and protects the interior components and wiring from damage. Examples include TVs, computers, remote controls, phones, printers and more. Injection molds are used to manufacture custom plastic housings or enclosures for all these devices.
- Industrial parts. Many industrial parts and components are crafted using plastic injection molds. Industries such as oil and gas may rely on durable plastic parts as a reliable and low-cost option for replacing more expensive metal parts.
- Consumer goods: So many plastic consumer goods start in injection molds. From toothbrushes to cosmetic bottles to packaging, many of the things you use every day likely originated thanks to injection molding.
- Sporting goods. Injection molding is extremely common in sporting goods and parts, including helmets, padding and other protective gear.
- Health care supplies. Many health care products are plastic and disposable, and most of those are made through a molding process. Examples include plastic syringes, containers (such as beakers or test tubes), surgical equipment and even implants.
- Construction materials. We often think of construction materials as wood, steel or concrete, but plastic often plays a key role in everything from flooring panels to deck fasteners to vents to housings for fixtures.
As we already mentioned, this injection molding products list is not meant to be comprehensive. Instead, we intend to give a basic idea of just how far-reaching the impact of injection molding can be. Because producing molds is easy and inexpensive, and the overall manufacturing process is so replicable, injection molds can provide money-saving opportunities for product manufacturers of all shapes and sizes. In turn, these savings are passed on to the consumer — all without sacrificing design precision, durability or overall quality.
At Reliant Plastics, our plastic manufacturers in Texas work with a diverse slate of clients from across a broad range of industries to craft custom molds and provide plastic injection molding services that suit their needs. Contact us today to learn more and receive a quote.
