But when factories need to produce things out of plastic, they use a process called injection molding. This method is very commonplace as it allows factories to efficiently produce high quantities of plastic products. Mold CreationThe initial stage of injection molding is the creation of a mold. It is a metal block with a hollow space which is called a mold. This void is the inverse of the part the factory intends to produce. Once the mold is prepared, the next phase is to pour liquid plastic into the hollow space. This liquid plastic is then heated until soft enough to pour with the tip of a finger. Then, after pouring in the plastic, it has to cool. When it cools, it hardens and assumes the shape of the mold. Once the plastic cools, the factory pulls the mold off and the solid plastic part is ready for use. This is how an injection molding process is found in the production of many common objects in our daily life, namely toys, furniture, vehicles.
While plastic parts used to take quite a long time to be manufactured, recent technology advancements have made the plastic parts manufacturing process significantly quicker and more efficient! Factories now have machines that can be programmed to produce hundreds or thousands of identical pieces in just a few hours. This allows them to produce large quantities of products quickly, which is a benefit for fulfilling customer demand. They are also being produced with robotic arms in addition to these machines. The robotic arms are capable of lifting and positioning the molds as well as the plastic, helping to accelerate everything even further. With the advancement of technology, even more cool tools and methods are likely to emerge that will make the task of producing plastic components easier and quicker than in the past.
Because when you are making injection moulding parts it is so important to make sure every single one is produced exactly the same. This is called quality control. Quality control is an essential process because it ensures that the finished product meets a company’s quality standard, or the expectations of the customers. Special sensors track the temperature and pressure of the plastic as it is molded at factories. That way, they can tell that everything is exactly where it should be. They also perform a careful inspection of the finished parts to ensure there are no defects or imperfections. If they uncover any issues, they can correct them before the parts are sent to customers. That's an important part of the process to ensure every product is safe and effective, so quality control is critical.
Injection molding parts can be produced with various types of materials. Polypropylene, polyethylene, and PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, are some of the most common materials. Industrial chemicals — which factories select depending on their strength or flexibility and cost of production. For example, different projects require different materials based on what the part will be used for. Over the last few years, a lot of factories use either recycled plastics or biodegradable plastics. They make it a more environmentally friendly choice as they reduce waste and pollution. By choosing these types of materials, factories help to protect our planet, making quality products while at the same time being mindful of how our production and waste can affect the world around us.
With the growing awareness of sustainability, most of the factories are in search of solutions to make their operations eco-friendlier. They achieve this using biodegradable or recyclable plastics, materials that eat less into the earth. In addition, some factories are also getting into running the machines that create injection molding parts on renewable energy, (like solar or wind), for example. By harnessing these energy sources, they can contribute to reduce the effect they have on the environment. One company tackling the sustainability challenge is Moldie: taking all those important steps in protecting the planet while still making great products necessary for people to use.