A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO INJECTION MOLDING FOR NEW PRODUCTS

A new plastic product includes preparation and planning. A common way to manufacture plastic parts is with injection molding. Using a metal mold, the manufacturer melts down the plastic, forms it into a specific shape, and quickly cools off the plastic to hold the form.

As you launch a new product, understand the process of the injection molding and the steps you will take until you have the parts ready for your retail product. As you learn more about each part of the process, you can better manage your execution and expectations.

Part Design

Specific and detailed part design is one of the essential aspects of launching your product. You will work with a plastic company on the specs, measurements, and full design. The process will often include 3D renderings on computers and the number of separate parts involved in a project.

Precise measurements are key because the computerized injection molding machine will create the parts according to those numbers. A plastics company will look over the design and determine if anything draws a red flag or needs changes.

Tooling

Tooling is the process where a mold is created to use for the plastic parts. The mold is typically a durable metal like steel or aluminum. Timewise, tooling may be one of the longest parts of the process. Any time you tweak the plastic parts or make changes, you will need to retool in the mold.

In some cases, plastic companies can trim or adjust the current mold you have. In other cases, you may have to complete scrap the current mold and retool a new one. The budget will increase with each new retooling, but figuring out the proper tooling will ensure you don't run into problems after you've manufactured thousands of parts.

Prototype Run

As you launch a new product, complete a full prototype run to ensure all the parts come together correctly and the product design matches your standards. Through a prototype run, you will often create a smaller order first and get a true hands-on experience with the product. You can test how the parts fit and how they feel in person.

Some companies will have a minimal order amount you must meet for your prototypes. All of the extra prototypes are ideal for testing. Give the prototype products to others and seek out honest feedback on the design and use of the product. Typically, the prototypes are of basic plastic, eliminating the need for extras like paint and decals.

Do not rush the prototype process. Take time to really handle the parts and take note of any shortcomings of the product. From there, you may cycle back around to the tooling or proceed with the final injection molding design.

Final Order Changes

Once the prototype process completes, you can move forward with the final production. Ideally, you want to have a bulk order planned to help drive individual prices down and have enough products to sell.

As part of the final order, you may tweak some properties of the plastic mold. You may seek out a small stamp featuring your company name or a trademark. You may choose a colored or tinted plastic to add different design schemes to the product. Basically, all of the changes for the final order are cosmetic ones.

Separately, you may prepare orders for decals that match the measurements of your final product design.

For more information on injection molding, reach out to us at Seiler Plastics. We will help you plan your product launch and ensure you have all the professional help you need to get through the process.