The Importance of Plastic Injection Molding in Common Consumer Goods
From shampoo bottles and milk jugs to remote control casings, bird feeders, toys, and flower pots, injection molding quickly, consistently, and efficiently produces countless items we depend on and enjoy in our daily lives.
Variety of Plastics for Injection Molded Consumer Goods
An astounding variety of plastic resins, with additives to enhance various aspects of their performance, means there's a plastic formulation to meet virtually any requirements and specifications. Thermoplastics are generally best suited to injection molding, including:
- Polystyrene — Flexible and inexpensive; popular for food service containers and utensils and packing materials
- Polypropylene — Durable and non-reactive; commonly used for food and beverage containers
- Polyethylene (HDPE & LDPE) — Versatile, strong, recyclable; often used for bottles, films, trash cans, and shopping bags
- Nylon (Polyamide) — Strong, heat-resistant, popular for fasteners and car parts
- Polycarbonate — Clear, strong; commonly used for eyeglass lenses, and food and beverage containers
- ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) — Strong and resistant; popular for toys, keyboards, and sporting goods
- Sustainable plastics — Various bioplastics and recycled plastics are excellent substitutes for these thermoplastics, with formulations to match their performance
Advantages of Injection Molding for Consumer Goods
Versatile and efficient, injection molding offers many advantages in producing consumer goods, including:
- Cost-effective — Many plastic resins are inexpensive, and after tooling costs, injection molding is less expensive than many other manufacturing processes. Automated production also means reduced labor costs.
- Versatility & Complexity — Color, multiple colors, finish, texture, and virtually any shape can be successfully molded.
- Low waste — By its nature, injection molding produces minimal waste.
- Speed & Consistency — Injection molding is perfectly suited to rapidly producing long runs of identical products.
- Strength & Resistance — Plastic formulations can rival performance of nearly any material on the market.
- Lightweight — Reduced product weights save in transportation costs.
At Bennett Plastics, we have decades of experience producing injection molded consumer goods, and bring our expertise to every job. From design through fulfillment, we offer a full array of services to bring your products to life. Contact us today to see how we can partner with you.
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