Injection Moulding – Process, Materials, Advantages & More
Injection moulding is a process used to manufacture plastic parts for various applications. Today, most industries utilise injection-moulded components in some capacity, whether in wheelie bins, controller parts or even the International Space Station (ISS).
Injection moulding is becoming increasingly mainstream. The demand for injection moulding, which is growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5%, is nearly double that of the general manufacturing industry, which is experiencing a 3% growth rate. As we progress through the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, more manufacturers are incorporating injection moulding into their operations.
In this article, we explore this technology, along with its capabilities and limitations, to understand how companies can leverage it to create customised parts.
Key Takeaways
- Injection moulding is a versatile process ideal for manufacturing parts in various shapes, sizes and materials, including plastics, rubber and certain metals.
- Injection moulding excels in large-scale production, providing one of the lowest per-part costs and generating minimal waste.
- The injection moudling process can work with over 90,000 types of plastics, including polycarbonate, ABS and polypropylene. Thus, a variety of properties can be achieved in the finished products.
- The process requires considerable upfront investment in tools, injection units and auxiliary systems, making it suitable for high-volume production.
What Is Injection Moulding?
Injection moulding is a manufacturing process that uses high pressures to force soft materials, such as plastics, into moulds to take on their shape. This process can accommodate thousands of different types of polymers and plastic materials, each with varying properties. Consequently, it allows for the production of a wide range of parts with unique characteristics. While injection moulding is primarily used for creating plastic products, it can also produce parts from certain powdered metals. The process is essentially the same as it is for die casting
In our daily lives, we are surrounded by items made using injection moulding. Examples include toothbrushes, spectacles, plastic cups, televisions, smartphones, chairs, toys, consumer electronics casings, disposable cutlery, and automotive components. Many products may consist of various materials or incorporate different colours. For instance, a toothbrush combines a soft material with a hard one and may feature stripes and patches of different colours along the handle. Additionally, some products may also include metal inserts.
