Plastic injection molding can be defined as a technique of production used for creating components such as medical devices, pharmaceutical parts, medical equipment, laboratory tools and testing instruments. This technique makes use of plastics for the production of both prototypes as well as full-production units of the requisite component. Not only is this process extremely efficient and cost-effective but has also helped contribute towards lowering the rate of infectious diseases as well as better pain management.
Applications of Plastic Injection Molding
The extensive use of plastics in modern manufacturing operations can be attributed to the exceptional advancements in material manufacturing techniques and technologies. The process of plastic injection molding is majorly used in applications including but not limited to –
- Implants
- Containers such as Beakers and Test Tubes amongst others
- Casings for laboratory equipment
- Medical enclosures
- Surgical equipment and components
- Drug delivery equipment and components
- Orthopedic equipment and components
- Dental instruments
- Prosthetics
Seems like a lot? But, that’s not all. Plastic injection molding is also used any and all medical parts which ought to be sterilization-friendly and durable, especially if they are needed in higher volumes.
Benefits of Medical Device Injection Molding
The use of injection molding technique has helped medical equipment manufacturers and supplier enjoy a wide array of benefits including –
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Affordability
Plastic injection molding is by far one of the most cost-effective manufacturing techniques, when it comes to producing medical equipment in high volumes, thereby making it a highly preferred process in the segment.
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Brilliant Precision
Medical device manufacturing is one of the few segments, where every millimeter and every micron is critical and can result in a vast difference in the resultant product. This type of tight-tolerance production can be only carried out by highly efficient plastic injection molding facilities like that of Crestwood Industries, in both small and large quantities. This exceptional accuracy is what makes plastic injection molding a highly dependable production technique.
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Wide Range of Material Selection
When it comes to the production of medical parts, devices, and equipment, it is essential that the technique in use allows for the selection of a broad range of materials. While there aren’t many materials that can be categorized as medical-grade due to the stringent specifications, this is still a remarkable benefit of plastic injection molding.
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High Robustness of Final Products
A vast majority of plastics used to produce medical parts, devices and equipment ought to be sterilized after every use, and thereby need to be heat resistant. This is where plastic injection molding offers yet another advantage. The technique makes use of plastics that exhibit very high resilience, are able to withstand harsh treatments such as repeated heating, vibrations, and blunt forces, without showing any signs of cracks, breaks or shattering.
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Contaminant Resistance
It is quintessential for any medical-grade product to be resistant to contaminants, which is a property that all plastics used in medical device injection molding inherently possess. It is because of this quality that parts produced using this technique easily meet FDA requirements.
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Reduced Product Development Timeline
Expert teams of injection molding engineers can help ensure a highly curtailed timeline for product development, leading to faster production cycles that too with little to no scope of defects. This is precisely what gives OEMs a competitive advantage in the segment.
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Several Finishes
While it is fairly easy to achieve smooth surface finishes using the plastic injection molding technique, not all medical parts and equipment need such a finish! Deepening upon the application and end-use of a product, it may require a matte finish or a unique texture, or anything in between. Thankfully, injection molding allows for customized final finishes making it ideal for the production of a wide range of medical parts. But, that’s not all! With the help of the right injection molding facility, you can also count on a wide array of undercuts, internal or external threads, insert molding, custom colors, and over-molding to ensure that the end product is precisely how you envisioned it to be!
We hope that you are now aware of the phenomenal significance of plastic injection molding in the production of medical parts, devices, and equipment. So, what are you waiting for? If your company is in need of an injection molding facility to help meet your production and supply needs then get in touch with us, right away!
FAQs
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What are some of the Medical-Grade Plastic types?
More often than not, plastics that are used in the manufacturing of medical-grade products include –
- Polyethylene and its variations such as LDPE, HDPE, and UHMW
- Polypropylene
- Polystyrene
- Polycarbonate
- Polyetheretherketone (PEEK)
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On what basis are Medical-Grade Plastics chosen?
Some of the key factors to consider when choosing between the material options include:
- The desired level of strength
- Compliance with industry standards as well as FDA
- The ability of the material to accommodate the requirements of the application environment
- End-use of the product