Industries That Use Custom Plastic Injection Molding

Highly regarded for its versatility and efficiency, custom plastic injection molding is one of the most widely used manufacturing methods across a diverse range of industries. The method’s continually increasing popularity stems from its ability to mass produce nearly identical parts quickly and cost-effectively without sacrificing
quality.

The plastic injection molding process inherently provides many advantages, including repeatability, efficiency, the ability to produce complex shapes, and minimal waste production. The process begins with mold creation — the most cost-prohibitive step in this manufacturing method. However, the cost savings associated with mass production counteract the upfront tooling costs. Once the mold is created, raw plastic materials are melted and injected into the mold cavity. The molten plastic is then left to cool into its final form.

Since the final component takes the shape of the mold, there is little to no waste produced and any scrap can be recycled back into production. For these reasons, and many more, industries around the world have adopted plastic injection molding to produce large volumes of high-quality parts. Below we will dive into how certain industries utilize this production method.

Material Handling

Material handling is an important aspect of virtually every industry. Products produced in the material handling industry facilitate the safe and easy transportation of materials and products throughout warehouses, manufacturing
facilities, distribution centers, and more.

High-volume plastic injection molding allows for the creation of durable, precise material handling equipment that is easy to clean, including:

• Trays
• Totes
• Bins
• Pallets
• Shelving
• And more

Food and Beverage

To support consumer health and safety, products and equipment used in food and beverage production must comply with stringent standards set forth by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Plastic injection molding easily facilitates compliance with these standards with the use of non-toxic, food-grade plastic materials that prevent cross-contamination. Manufacturers use plastic injection molding to produce a wide range of products and equipment for the food and beverage industry, including:

• Processing equipment
• Beverage filtering components
• Food and beverage containers
• Conveyor systems

Consumer Products

Many of the products that we use every day are made possible by plastic injection molding. One of the major benefits that plastic injection molding lends to consumer products is a high level of design flexibility. Manufacturers of consumer goods can achieve intricate designs that appeal to consumers while maintaining the degree of durability and easy maintenance consumers expect. From kitchen appliances to automotive components, the following are examples of consumer products made by plastic injection molding:

• Furniture
• Household fixtures
• Tools
• Car headlights
• Fridge and dishwasher components

Lawn and Garden

Traditionally, lawn and garden equipment has been made of metal and wood —both of which have certain disadvantages such as higher cost and susceptibility to weathering and/or corrosion. Due to their durability, injection-molded plastic components are an excellent material alternative for lawn and garden products. Due to the nature of these products, it is essential that they be able to withstand the elements of their environment. Using plastic injection molding, manufacturers can create lawn and garden equipment with corrosion-, humidity-, and UV-resistant properties, resulting in long-lasting equipment at affordable prices. Common lawn and garden components made with plastic injection molding include:

• Irrigation systems
• Drainage systems for overflow irrigation
• Lawn mower parts
• Tools

Building and Construction

Plastic injection molding is ideal for creating parts for the building and construction industry due to its ability to create strong, durable, lightweight support components. Additionally, injection-molded parts offer exceptional thermal insulation which allows for the construction of more environmentally sustainable structures. Building
and construction applications for plastic injection molding include:

• Air handling and flow control louvers
• Entire custom plumbing systems
• Plumbing drain pipe fittings
• Trench drains
• Construction tools
• Window and door hardware

Injection-molded Plastic Parts From Port Erie Plastics

Port Erie Plastics has been a trusted supplier of custom plastic injection molding services since 1953. With an arsenal of 90 machines and extensive experience molding all types of thermoplastic materials, we can accommodate projects of any size and difficulty. Backed by an ISO-9000-compliant quality assurance department with an in-house inspection lab, We guarantee that customers will find that Port Erie offers one of the best value propositions in the industry. To support our commitment to quality, we also offer a full warranty for molds made by Port Erie.

To learn more about our custom plastic injection molding services and how they can benefit your industry, check out our plastic injection molding page. You can also request a quote or contact us to get started on your next project.

Why Choose a Career in Injection Molding?

Why Choose a Career in Injection Molding?

Are you looking for a change in pace? Consider starting your injection molding career with Port Erie!

Since 1953, when the company was founded by Henry J. Witkowski, Port Erie Plastics has grown into a leading injection molding company. With a 615,000-square-foot complex on 69 acres in Harborcreek, Pennsylvania, we offer custom plastic injection molding, engineering, automation, a variety of secondary services, warehousing and distribution, and more.

We’re committed to creating high-quality products, offering world-class customer service, and promoting the growth of this exciting industry. For us and many other families, U.S. manufacturing is a proud tradition. We’re pleased to provide injection molding jobs in Northwestern Pennsylvania and help develop the next generation of manufacturers.

How Injection Molders Turn to Collaborative Robots (Cobots)

High Volume Injection Molding with Cobots

Port Erie Plastics offers a wide variety of services including mold design, tooling transfer, and injection molding. Injection molding has been an innovative field lately, as the use of collaborative robots or “cobots” has led to the automation of many tasks. There has been a huge increase in collaborative robot usage within the plastics and polymers industry, and this usage is predicted to continue increasing rapidly. In this blog post, we will go into further detail on what collaborative robots are, their benefits, and how they’re used within high-volume injection molding applications.

What are Cobots?

Collaborative robots are a type of robot that works alongside human operators to help automate complex motions and repeatable tasks. Within high-volume injection molding applications, they are used for tasks such as placing inserts into molds or moving parts along various post-mold processes. By completing these repetitive tasks, human workers can focus on jobs that require problem-solving skills.

Using robots in injection molding applications first began thirty years ago, with the use of a simple machine-mounted three-axis point-to-point Cartesian robot. These robots had the task of quickly extracting parts from a mold and delivering them to other locations. Over the next fifteen years, full servo-controlled Cartesian robots became common, and molders began using six-axis robots in greater numbers. This evolution granted greater precision and control.

More recently, the Injection Molding Machine Interface, or IMMI, was developed.  There are many inputs and outputs on injection molding machines that are needed to manage the complexities of the molding process. With IMMI, the ability to set up, program, and control the entire application is easily managed. Once the IMMI is installed in the cobot’s control box, enhanced communication between cobots and injection molding machines eliminates machine idle time and increases output.

Are Cobots Taking Jobs Away From Employees?

When considering the use of cobots within injection molding applications, many people aren’t aware of the key differences that separate cobots from traditional robots. Robots complete automated tasks independently, requiring almost no human interaction, and they aren’t designed with human safety in mind. Cobots, on the other hand, were created to work in collaboration with human workers. They assist human operators and are designed to be used in close proximity with employees, preventing injury by immobilizing at the slightest touch.

Rather than take jobs away from employees, cobots have actually been seen to increase job creation and the demand for a larger workforce. The use of cobots has dramatically increased productivity, allowing for companies to expand. Additionally, with cobots fulfilling repetitive or dangerous tasks, human workers can do more satisfying jobs that require critical thinking skills cobots aren’t capable of.

The Benefits of Using Cobots at Port Erie Plastics

Besides increased levels of speed and precision, cobots offer a wide range of benefits, including:

Efficiency

Humans sharing a workspace with cobots greatly decreases production time.

Production

The flexibility of cobots allows them to be programmed for many purposes with quick setup times.

Increased Return on Investment

Cobots lead to great production capabilities and have low maintenance costs. This translates to savings that can be passed on to the customer.

Safety

Since they are designed with human safety in mind, cobots ensure a safer work environment, particularly in environments where human errors can be dangerous.

When used in a high-volume injection molding application, cobots offer flexibility in pre and post-mold processes and simplify complex extraction. Port Erie offers custom plastic injection molding services for large, complex projects, and small ones alike. Plastic injection molding reduces manufacturing costs, creates fewer errors, and increases production time.

Injection Molding from Port Erie Plastics

If you have a custom injection molding project, you can save time and money by choosing Port Erie Plastics. The use of collaborative robots with high-volume injection molding allows us to produce parts with your exact specifications at maximum efficiency. If you want to learn more about the high-quality products we deliver, browse our case studies. To get started on your next injection mold project, contact us or request a quote today.