Converting Metal Industrial Parts to Plastic
Countless industrial parts have traditionally been made of metal, but innovations in plastic formulations in recent decades have produced plastic resins which can perform as well as or better than their metal counterparts while offering reduced costs and a variety of other benefits.
Some Benefits of Plastic Parts Over Metal Parts
Versatile and highly customizable, plastics can be designed to meet virtually any performance and appearance requirements, and offer many advantages over metal parts, including:
- Enhanced strength, outperforming metal in some cases
- Reduced vulnerability to moisture, corrosion, impacts, abrasions, and other hazards
- Formulations to meet environmental requirements such as UV tolerance, heat/cold tolerance, flame retardancy, and others
- Rapid production cycle
- Versatility in color, finish, and even plastic resin
- Fewer secondary operations needed as ribs, gussets, and assemblies can be molded as a unit without welding or other processes
- Reduced material costs with more stable prices
- Lower transportation costs with lighter weight, often smaller, thinner parts
Steps in Metal to Plastic Conversion
A careful analysis of your metal parts in coordination with our team of plastics experts can simplify the metal to plastic conversion process. Main steps in the conversion include:
1. Choose Parts to Convert
Review parts and identify those which are best suited to conversion, including:
- Parts needed in high volume
- Parts where secondary operations can be eliminated
- Parts where reduced weight is desirable
- Parts where multiple colors or formulations are wanted
2. Specify Part Requirements
Identify the specific requirements each selected part must meet so designs and plastic formulations are optimized. Consider:
- Required strength, durability, and other performance needs
- Regulatory compliance
- Environmental exposures and resistances desired
Work With Our Team
Our expert team will work with you to select, design, and produce the parts you need to meet or exceed your specifications and requirements.
At Bennett Plastics, we have decades of experience in manufacturing plastic parts and products, from design and material selection through manufacturing and fulfillment. Contact us today to learn more about converting your metal parts to plastic.
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