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Precision Plastic Injection Molders

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COVID-19 and the Plastic Injection Industry: 11 Months In

A nurse wearing a hair net, plastic goggles, a face mask, and a face shield staring exhaustedly out a window after dealing with COVID-19 patients.

The pandemic ushered in a wave of supply chain disruptions across all industries, but the plastic injection industry has an advantage that has helped it weather the storm: versatility. It’s an adaptable industry that seizes opportunities in varying markets, but while one would expect a surge in demand for plastic medical parts, the opposite has been true during COVID-19. Though, plastic injection molding companies have come up with innovative ideas to find success in the hard-hit industries. To understand its evolution over the past year, let’s take a look at COVID-19 and the plastic injection industry.

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The Importance of Cooling Time in Plastic Injection Molding

A worker operating an industrial plastic injection molding machine.

The more parts you produce in a given time, the lower your costs. While the injection molding cycle time is a major contributor to the overall performance of the bottom line of your company, it’s a process that should not be rushed. One integral component of injection molding – and one that takes up most of the cycle time – is cooling time. It has a major bearing on the quality of your final product, and it’s not an area where you can cut corners. In this blog, we’ll further dissect the importance of proper cooling time in plastic injection molding.

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The Roles of Glass and Ceramic Additives in Plastic Injection Molding

A closeup image or microscopic glass beads used for filler in plastic injection molding.

While thermoplastics are naturally strong and durable in their own right – often being preferred over their metal counterparts – sometimes additives can further reinforce certain features of plastic injection molding. This is especially beneficial when using types of thermoplastics that excel in some properties but lack in other departments such as heat resistance or durability. Some such enhancers that are often used in plastic injection molding are mineral reinforcers such as glass and ceramic additives.

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The Benefits of Entrusting Your Injection Molding to a Turnkey Manufacturer

A male worker operating an industrial plastic injection molding machine at a turnkey manufacturer

It’s easy to bake a cake when all the cooking instruments and ingredients are conveniently located in the kitchen. Turnkey services operate in the same way, in that all aspects of an injection molding project are overseen by the same company from beginning to end. They handle all phases of the injection molding process, from the initial design all the way to the shipping of the final product. It’s ideal for protecting yourself from mishaps resulting from middlemen. However, the benefits of entrusting your injection molding to a turnkey manufacturer are even more widespread than that.

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How You Can Source High-Quality Plastic Parts in the US

Shipping boxes stamped with a red "Made in USA' stamp

Regardless of the effects of the US-China trade war, sourcing parts locally has always been ideal for companies invested in quality and reliability. Plastic injection molding manufacturers based in the US are bound to stringent guidelines that ensure their products and team members are treated with the utmost care. However, before you enter a partnership with a domestic manufacturer, you should learn about the best ways to source high-quality plastic parts in the US.

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What Can Cause Discoloration in Plastic Injection Molding?

A gradient of different colored plastics arranged int he order of a rainbow on sand, used to signify discoloration in plastic injection molding.

Discoloration in injection molding is defined as a disparity in the original color of the plastic. This part defect can arise from a multitude of sources, such as overheating, contamination, or manufacturing error. This inconsistency in the part’s coloring is caused by thermal degradation, and depending on the severity, it can influence how noticeable this defect is. In order to avoid this complication, one must first understand what can cause discoloration in plastic injection molding.

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