Point-of-purchase display components require rugged construction in combination with an attractive appearance. At The Rodon Group, we injection molded a range of products, including items such as pegboard hooks, shelf dividers, and product stops for one of the leading companies in the point-of-purchase display industry. This project highlights our ability to provide value-added services in conjunction with close tolerance injection molding that equates to cost savings over the entire product lifecycle.
Working with the customer supplied prints, we first focused our attention on mold design. Our goal, as always, was to construct molds that would lead to volume high quality while minimizing production costs. By paying detailed attention to aspects such as cavity dimensions, gate location, venting, cooling systems, and more, we achieved optimal cycle times while upholding tolerances as close as ± 0.005” across varying complexities in part geometry. One critical feature of these parts was a fine quality surface, so we leveraged the capability of our EDM equipment. This allowed us to create a very fine finish on the mold cavities to add clarity and quality to the surface of the finished part with no extra processing required.
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.
Dr. Martin Luther King's contributions to the advancement of civil rights in this country defines the word "leadership". He was a visionary leader who was deeply committed to achieving social justice through nonviolent means.
In celebration of Dr.King's birthday this past Monday, we thought we'd highlight past leaders in the manufacturing world who made very different but equally important contributions to today's advanced technologies. Each of them had their own unique leadership styles with one important trait in common; they were all visionaries. They each saw the potential of creating a better, more efficient system or machine to complete a task. While the official “Industrial Revolution” may be over, our society still benefits from the work of these current day visionaries.
In today’s manufacturing environment, plastics are being used to make a wide variety of items, and each application requires a special manufacturing process that can mold the part based on its specifications. If you're looking to manufacture a plastic part, one of the first things you'll need to determine is the type of molding that would be best for your particular application. At The Rodon Group, we specialize in high volume, custom injection molding. This article provides a brief overview of the 5 different types, their advantages and applications.
For years, products made in the United States have been considered to be more expensive than products made overseas. Manufacturing was cheaper outside of the US, and it was easier to find the low-paid labor needed to keep factories running. In 2004, each manufacturing dollar in the United States cost only 86.5 cents to produce in China, leaving a much wider margin for profit for goods made overseas. According to The Boston Consulting Group, by 2014, that number had changed substantially: each manufacturing dollar in the United States costs 95.6 cents to manufacture in China. The trend suggests that the gap between those numbers can only close further. As a result, a growing number of American companies are reversing the trend and bringing manufacturing back to the United States.
A common question for designers and engineers is “How much will a plastic injection mold cost?” It makes sense. Injection molds represent the greatest expense in upfront production costs. And, there are many factors that go into determining the cost. With any custom injection molding project, your injection molder will be able to give you the final price tag.
In this article, we will review the variables that can impact the cost so that you can be better informed in making a mold purchasing decision.
The number of polymer compounds has grown over the past 20 years. As a result, plastics are being used in more applications than ever before. These materials are gaining a reputation for strength and endurance. Combine these improvements with the advantages of corrosion resistance and aesthetic appeal and plastics are taking center stage in the manufacturing of many consumer and industrial components. Due to their versatility, strength and light weight characteristics, plastics are taking a larger role in the transportation, medical and construction industries.
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.
