Each type of plastic has its own set of benefits and drawbacks. Understanding the different types of plastic manufacturing and applications is essential for anyone looking to implement plastics in their business.
What Is Plastic Manufacturing?
Plastic manufacturing is the process of transforming raw plastic into useful products. Each plastic manufacturing method has its own unique set of benefits and drawbacks that business owners must consider before making a decision.
Read on to discover the most common forms of plastic manufacturing and why they might suit your product concept.
Injection Molding
Injection molding accounts for around 60 percent of all plastic products. Its popularity is primarily centered around its efficiency, though there are many benefits to the injection molding process.
When using injecting molding, manufacturers heat the raw materials in a furnace until they reach their melting point, then inject the molten plastic into a mold. The plastic cools and solidifies into the shape of its container.
Many businesses choose injection molding because it’s a relatively cheap and fast process with minimal waste. However, products made via injection molding are sometimes less durable and have shorter life spans.
Manufacturers commonly use injection molding for small, everyday objects. The process has many applications, including food product packaging, personal care products, electronics, and medical devices.
Blow Molding
Blow molding is a type of plastic manufacturing that involves heating up the material then blowing air into the molten plastic until it takes on the desired shape. The main benefits are that it produces high-quality products at a low cost with minimal waste.
The main drawbacks include increased difficulty in creating complex shapes, longer wait times for production, and higher energy consumption.
Blow molding is a popular option for manufacturing large objects such as furniture, tanks, and automotive parts. This plastic manufacturing type also has a wide range of applications in the medical and aerospace industries.
Rotational Molding
Rotational molding involves heating the raw materials and then pouring them into a rotating mold. This rotating mold is typically metal, allowing for better heat transfer and easier production.
Rotational molding is known for creating products with high-quality finishes and intricate details, but it can be more expensive than other types of plastic manufacturing processes due to increased energy consumption during production.
Extrusion
Extrusion is the process of shaping a material by forcing it through a narrow opening using pressure. Compared to the other types of plastic manufacturing, extrusion is the most common and cost-effective method for creating a substantial number of plastic products in a short period.
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Extrusion often leads to excellent product quality and consistent dimensions throughout each piece, but the process requires more labor than other methods, as workers must continuously monitor the process until completion.
Manufacturers commonly rely on extrusion when creating packaging, pipes, hoses, and cables.
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