Converting to Plastic Injection Molded Components
Humans, by nature, tend to stick with what they know. In the world of manufacturing, that can mean a hesitancy to switch from metal to plastic components if metal parts are all that a business has ever used. As new plastics and plastic resins have emerged on the market over the last fifty years, we’ve seen an uptick in the number of businesses that are ready to make the switch. One of the very first benefits they notice when they switch from metal to plastic components are cost-savings ranging from 25-50%.
Cost reduction can be attributed to many things, such as the price of raw materials and the flexibility of plastic into a single mold design vs. metal components requiring more secondary operations like finishing work and welding to attain the same design. Cost savings is not the only benefit of converting from metal to plastic parts, though.
Additional Benefits of Converting From Metal to Plastic Components
Design Improvements. Plastics provide design improvements over metal in many ways. There are hundreds of different kinds of plastics and resins available, making it possible to find a material that has all the qualities necessary for design success. Metal is much more limited in such adaptability and versatility. Being the more flexible material and capable of melting down, plastic can be used to create highly intricate and detailed molded parts that metal just can’t replicate. Plastic also weighs less than metal, reducing the weight of finished products.
Manufacturing Improvements. Plastic injection-molded components can be produced faster and more consistently than products requiring metal fabrication. There are fewer finishing requirements, better uniformity among the parts produced, and the opportunity to combine multiple components into a single mold. Additional time-saving benefits include: less finishing and secondary operations to paint or protect the material and faster production speeds.
Performance Improvements. Initial tooling costs are similar for plastic and metal components, but plastics tooling can last as much as ten times longer than the exact same metal tooling. It’s also possible to switch to a different plastic resin without changing the design of the component, but the same cannot be said of metal components. Other performance improvements of plastics over metals include: lighter weight, reduced size and thickness, competitive strength and durability, heat, impact, and corrosion-resistant.
Production Improvements. Converting from metal to plastic components improves production ins several ways. Material costs are more stable since plastics are not subject to the same price fluctuations and tariffs are metals. Plastics scraps can be melted down and reused for even more cost savings. The lower weights and operating costs associated with plastic parts translate to reduced shipping costs.
Speak With The Injection Molding Experts At Baytech Plastics
There’s only one way to know for certain if it is beneficial for your business to make the switch from metal to plastic components: speak with an injection molding expert at Baytech Plastics. Browse our market contacts to find the expert for your industry to get started today! Not sure who to contact? Call our main line at (705) 526-7801 or contact us online to discuss your needs and learn more about metal to plastic conversion.
