Learn How Custom Injection Molders Can Help You Better Manage Molding Costs
As many manufacturers and companies already know, injection molding can be the most expensive part of any project and can dramatically increase costs. Whether you are in the initial design phase, prototyping, or production, controlling injection molding costs requires a lot of planning and consideration. The main factor at play in molding costs remains the time it takes to produce the tooling — the more complex the part, the higher you can expect your manufacturing costs will be. Beyond part complexity, you will need to consider the size of the part, materials used, production volume, the qualifications of your custom injection molders, and process efficiency.
It is understandable that total costs remain one of your biggest concerns, and that is why custom injection molders like Intertech Plastics are here to help. If you are looking for an accurate estimate of your injection molding costs to get your project up and running, consider reaching out to our team for insight based on years of industry expertise. Remember that inefficient processes, ineffective designs, and higher material prices ultimately hurt your bottom line. Learn how to avoid a few costly mistakes when it comes to injection molding by reviewing below.
Breaking Down The Costs for Injection Molding
Plastic injection molding costs file into two categories: one-time tooling costs and product manufacturing costs. Depending on the complexity of the part you want to create, whether you need an insert mold or free standing mold for your part shape, your number of cavities, and the size of your part, one-time mold tooling costs fluctuate. Actual production costs, on the other hand, are largely dependent on resin material costs, secondary machining, painting, and other production elements like equipment costs, retail packaging, and product delivery.
The initial mold tends to be a major investment for most companies. While there is no set standard on costs in this area, you will want to understand the costs involved in the manufacturing process, contributing factors, and the risks associated with new modifications. A quality mold should give you a good return on the price initially paid for it. If you have a specific product — or problem — that is top of mind, getting a custom quote will help eliminate any questions you have.
How Custom Injection Molders Can Help Reduce Costs
While mold costs can run high, custom injection molders can help you evaluate your design, optimize cooling channels, eliminate extra features, reduce its size, and recommend the best material for your application. Ultimately, they can ensure every element is designed for mold and part production efficiency by minimizing component complexity and improving production time. Your part should be as easy as possible to produce, package, and fulfill, while minimizing the risk of errors.
With the help of an efficient design, your structural integrity can be improved while reducing cycle time, and consequently your machine time, saving you additional costs.
Design for Production Efficiency
To avoid unnecessary costs, it is essential to take a second look at design in the early stages. Your custom injection molder should recommend design modifications, round out troublesome corners, monitor wall thickness, and improve part moldability with draft angles, making the part easier to eject. They will identify opportunities to reduce areas of solid material, dramatically reducing material costs. Ultimately, they will merge quality and efficiency to produce a expertly crafted, cost-effective product.
Master Injection Mold Material Costs
When considering production, plastic resin is your primary material cost. When selecting your material, you will want to be sure to consider your application, appearance, regulation needs, and molded part life expectancy. Many plastics are similar in strength and functionality, but some are inherently easier to mold, driving down part costs. By choosing inexpensive material with more shots, you can benefit from fewer cycles to produce the same part quantity. Additionally, buying more materials upfront can be an easy way to help lower costs in the long run.
Find Success Today with an Accurate Mold Design Estimate
While injection molding may seem costly compared to 3D printing, the ability to scale and manufacture thousands of parts makes it cost-effective for mass production. You might find that start-up costs can be expensive, but as you continue to produce more units, you will understand that a quality design keeps part production up and running smoothly. While designing for costs is crucial, other elements like designing for quality, risk, and speed to market also remain critical.
You can anticipate a quality customer injection molder will account for all costs from design through production, optimize the entire process, and offer turnkey solutions to ensure efficiency, product quality, and profitability. At Intertech Plastics, we are known for specializing in highly engineered, tight tolerance manufacturing. We deliver molded products across a number of industries, including medical packaging, consumer goods and industrial products. For a strong commitment to quality and affordability, you can count on our team to deliver.
Produce high quality products quickly and affordably with a trusted partner today.