With so many injection molding companies, choosing the right one for your part can be difficult. There are some things to consider when looking at the right company. It’s important to be aware of the plastic molding process. The process may seem straightforward, but many manufacturers will need a partner that will produce complex parts and cater to specifications and unique industry needs.
Volume Specification: Start by narrowing down your options based on size and volume requirements. Low volume molders will specialize in producing parts fewer than 10,000 units. If you are producing a prototype to test a part, then a low to moderate volume molder can be the right choice. These injection molding companies are also right for applications that don’t require thousands of parts or bridge tooling. High volume molders will specialize in jobs over 750,000 parts and will work to produce parts that require small sized molds.
Specifications Compliance: You don’t want to compromise on the product. There will be a company out there that can produce your part without having to make any sacrifices. Partners should be able to make recommendations based on your specifications without having to make any significant compromises. Recommendations can come from the molder’s expertise, knowledge of the latest technologies, and experience. There can be specification changes that include alternative resin or minor design tweaks, but these changes should be to save you money and time during the design and production process and not reinvent the wheel.
Expanded Technology and Services: Not all companies can offer expanded technology or services. You may want to work with a molder who offers part design, prototyping, and quick response manufacturing, in addition to some traditional serving offerings. The great efficiency when it comes to project budget and time will usually happen earlier in the developing cycle. This is why it’s important to work with a molder that can be involved with the earlier processes.
Quality: In addition to not compromising on specifications, your partner should be committed to providing the best possible service. Ask if they have high quality machines, if they have been recognized as a manufacturer of status or won any awards for performance, and if they are ISO certified.
Product Application: The intended use of your part or product will play a role in every step of the design, development, and production. When plastics can’t provide the right strength needed, metal parts may be converted to plastic to minimize cost and waste. Molders will want to consider a part’s end use when making recommendations in regards to production techniques, materials, and design.
Time: Building a part can range from four to 12 weeks. It’s best to communicate any time constraints you have with your molder partner as early as possible to see if they can get you the product in time.
