Illinois has one of the largest GDPs in the United States, with an economy that continues to grow every year. Chicago is the heart of Illinois’ economy, as it operates as a hub for business, trade, and production. In fact, Chicago is home to some of the largest mass production companies in the state.
Plastic injection molding is an important process for the mass production of parts. Without plastic injection molding, supply chains would come to a halt, businesses would be unable to use and stock parts that they need, and some services and products would be unattainable for consumers. So, what exactly is plastic injection molding? More importantly, what are some of the best plastic injection molding companies in Illinois?
What is Plastic Injection Molding?
Injection molding is a process in which liquid or molten materials are injected into a mold so that they can develop into a given shape. Materials like metal, glass, and plastics are the most common. Though injection molding can serve a variety of purposes, it is most often used in mass manufacturing, as it can quickly produce thousands or even millions of parts in a relatively short amount of time.
The Advantages of Plastic Injection Molding
There are a number of advantages to injection molding with plastic for both commercial and personal use. Here are a few of the top reasons to choose plastic injection molding:
- Time – If you need to produce (or reproduce) a large number of parts or products in a short amount of time, there is literally no better option than plastic injection molding. Newer processes like 3D printing may be tempting, but they are notoriously slow. Alternatively, injection molding can produce thousands of identical parts in a matter of hours.
- Scrape Rate – Other methods of mass production scrape away large percentages of excess plastic. This is both wasteful and costly. Fortunately, plastic injection molding has a relatively low scrape rate, as the amount of excess plastic produced via molds is minimal.
- Cost – The primary benefit of injection molding is the cost. If you only need to create a few copies of a part, you might be better off using 3D printing services. However, if you need to scale the volume of your production, you’ll definitely want to use injection molding. The more you produce, the more you save, as the price per unit is extremely low.
- Uniformity – Typically, when an individual or business wants to reproduce a part en masse, they want accurate results with every copy. This means that every single unit needs to be identical to the last. With plastic injection molding, the process ensures that every unit is shaped and textured exactly like the original mold.
- Reuse – With thermoplastic materials, you don’t have to worry about the materials burning if you need to melt them down a second time. Even after thermoplastic is melted and then solidified, it can be melted again without any reduction in quality.
Injection Molding in Illinois
If you’re in need of plastic molding companies in Illinois, you have several options. That said, we offer some of the best quality service and rates in the entire state. So, if you’re looking for plastic injection molding in Illinois, contact us for more information today!
