Material selection is one of the most important parts of any manufacturing process. Selecting the right material requires a deep understanding of your product, its intended application, and how the material will handle the production process.

Port Erie Plastics details why selecting the proper plastic extrusion materials is critical for success by highlighting key considerations ahead of your next project.

Plastic Extrusion Materials Impact Product Performance

Selecting the proper extrusion materials impacts product performance, including factors like strength, flexibility, impact resistance, wear resistance, and chemical resistance.

Proper materials are critical during the manufacturing process as well. Customers and manufacturers should work together to identify the right materials and ensure they can withstand the various operational stresses during both manufacturing and for the part’s intended application.

Know and Understand Your Product’s Application

Knowing and fully understanding your product’s intended application, including factors such as the environment it will serve in, frequency of use, and how long it needs to last, helps you select materials that best fit your needs.

Consider the environment of where your final product is going to be used. Materials for indoor products differ from materials for outdoor products as they have to account for UV exposure and drastic changes in pressure as well as the elements. It’s more than just inside or outside, too. Different materials work better in different climates where moisture and other considerations need to be taken.

Knowing the physical demands of your product is also important to note when selecting the right materials. Does your product need to be light? How durable does the product need to be in order to be effective? Should you make considerations for consistent movement from the extruded component? These are all key questions to ask when it comes time to select materials.

Some components in certain industries have to follow proper industry compliance standards, such as extruded products in the food industry that must be FDA- or NSF-approved. When products fail to follow these compliance measures, they can come with a number of penalties including fines, products pulled from the market, or even temporary suspension from the market if the quantity is large enough.

Long-Term Value and Cost-Effectiveness

Selecting the right plastic extrusion materials greatly increases the long-term value of your products. While material cost could be high upfront, by selecting the right one given the product’s intended application you can avoid the risks of defective components and expensive reworks..

Additionally, selecting the right materials can keep manufacturing costs in check. Once the right plastic extrusion material is selected, based on application and design, there is ideally less waste and lower cycle times.

Select the Right Plastic Extrusion Materials by Partnering with Port Erie Plastics Today

Port Erie Plastics has proudly served the needs of customers since 1953. What started as a small injection molding company has grown into an industry leader offering multiple capabilities.

We want to help you create extruded products that are going to serve you in your industry. The first part of creating a successful run of products is selecting the right plastic extrusion materials. Port Erie knows what working with the proper materials can do.

Reach out to us today for a helping hand in selecting the right materials for your plastic extrusion services, and let’s get to work.