For over six decades, The Rodon Group has provided innovative manufacturing solutions for a wide range of industrial applications. As an ISO 9001:2015 certified plastic injection molder, we offer high-quality custom parts in high volumes and at low costs to clients in the following industries:
Recent Posts
A mold is a hollow form typically made from stainless steel that has plastic injected into it to manufacture a plastic part. The plastic is inserted into the mold cavity, which is a hole in the mold shaped like the desired part. Molds are only used in mass production because of the cost involved in designing and manufacturing them. Because molds are critical to the production process, it is essential they are accurately made.
The cost and quality of manufactured parts rely on the accuracy and speed at which they’re produced. Industrial manufacturing uses plastic injection molding to keep material costs down while maintaining the capability for high-level production. The key concept is accuracy, especially for industries that require intricate or complex parts.
Although metal-to-plastic conversion was introduced in the 1950s, with the invention of engineering-grade resins, many manufacturers today are unfamiliar with the advantages of this versatile technique.
When partnering with a turnkey manufacturer, customers begin with a new design and end with a final, finished product ready for immediate use. Design, toolmaking, production, packing, shipping, and all other details are managed by a single, experienced contractor. The end user simply needs to “turn the key” and start using the product.
Before you can manufacture a plastic part you need to have a solid design in place. Once done, you can build an injection mold to meet the product specifications.
The role of the Design Engineer is critical in this process. They assess the part design and make modifications and recommendations based on key product requirements including product usage and function. The engineer will need to know:
- How will the part be used? Is it a standalone product or a component of a larger assembly?
- What are the dimensional and tensile requirements?
- Does the part need to withstand elements, pressure, chemicals?
A plastic injection mold design is built with these criteria in mind. Mold cavities, vents and gate placement will vary based not only on the part design but the type of resin as well. Taking all of these manufacturing factors into account is a challenging task and one that requires a strong knowledge base, not only of mold design but the injection molding process as well.
In the past, many businesses operated on the assumption that their vendors were in compliance with the latest rules and regulations regarding their industry. Technology and materials were limited, so buyers worked with manufacturers who could produce the best product often without clearly defined quality guidelines or parameters.
Speed and efficiency in plastic injection molding equate to cost savings. So, it is no surprise that robots play an important role in improving the manufacturing process. From simple sprue pickers to complex automated End-of-Arm Tooling (EOAT), the industry is taking advantage of this automation trend.
Seven hundred pounds of hardened stainless steel. That’s the average weight of an injection mold. Some can weigh over a ton, some just a few hundred pounds, but any way you slice it, you certainly wouldn’t want one to fall on your foot.
