How to Choose the right injection molding companies?

How to Choose the right injection molding companies? makenica.com/how-to-choose-the-right-injection-molding-companies March 10, 2021

Over the past few decades of delivering injection molding service, we have supplied a range of molds. When a consumer changes molders, it's not necessarily a matter of low efficiency or distribution. A molder may no longer wish to support your industry; they may be closing their business; they may not be able to manage the workload, or they may not be able to offer value-added services.

Besides, there could be other causes that the molder can't manage, such as moving your company or the "forced hand" of your customers. So, what are the things you should remember when you're thinking about switching molders/injection molding companies?

Below, we're going to overcome those common obstacles and opportunities.

Evaluation of a new injection molder Because of all the complexities of exporting molds, qualifying components, aligning the supply chain, on-board suppliers, etc., swapping the injection molding companies is not something you want to do many times. Therefore, it's essential to know the right questions you need to ask before you start searching.

Although switching can vary, the evaluation system for choosing a reputable, reliable provider is similar. Here is a set of considerations for selecting a potential supplier, injection molding companies.

1/6

Do they understand your needs?

It's essential to understand your priorities and what your part is essential. Your molder/plastic injection molding companies should want to know what the part does, where it goes, how it works, etc. If a molder knows your part, they will concentrate on the most critical aspects of your project.

For example, the component will need to fit the painted part, so an exact color is critical; however, it may not matter if the part is packaged or any old tooling defects. Knowing what's essential helps the molder, injection molding companies optimize productivity and better satisfy your needs.

What services are they providing?

Your component can need secondary operations, such as hot stamping, pad printing, assembling, etc. You want to make sure that your injection molding companies have the expertise of any secondary activity you require. Also, it is essential to identify other fields of knowledge that supplement the injection molding service.

E.g., the injection molding companies with in-house tool construction and repair allow them the flexibility to manage on-site maintenance and repair of tooling. Using plastic injection molding companies with these complimentary facilities in one place would help you prevent downtime and disruptions caused by shipping tools for servicing and repairs.

How much experience have they had?

In our experience, even the smallest aspects of design will make a huge difference.

Knowing when and how to use those specifics comes from years of practice. Don't let the idea become a supplier's learning curve. If you have a daunting project, make sure that the injection molding companies you chose have faced similar obstacles. Else, you might be leading yourself up for a tragedy.

What kind of equipment do they have?

Precision parts and high-quality injection molding service requires skilled individuals, but this skill needs to be combined with new equipment and technologies. Be sure that your toolmaker has invested in machinery that will deliver the output you need.

If your project has significant annual volumes, you'll want to consider whether the molder has robotics and vision systems available. These tools help bring down prices and improve efficiency.

Are they a financially robust and secure business?

You've been relying on injection molding companies to supply you with parts for years to come. If they're going out of business, how will you keep the supply of parts flowing to keep the business going? Ask for sources to make sure they're stable. Your provider may have documented backup arrangements for unforeseen scenarios as well.

2/6

Is the location convenient?

How are shipping costs going to change depending on the location of the injection molding companies? How does this affect the total cost of the project? This dimension is easy to ignore, but it should be taken into account.

On-Site assessment In an environment of online access, video conferencing, and social media, we also feel that on-site visits are crucial to establishing long-term relationships. You should find out the interior of the molding facility of the injection molding companies, see what equipment the molds are going to work in, and meet the people who will make your project a success.

When you move one of the business assets (your mold) to another location, you are sure that the new molder can work and manage the asset appropriately. An on-site appraisal allows you the opportunity to see the atmosphere and community in which the investments can exist.

Transferring Molds and knowledge When changing molders, injection molding companies, it is the simplest part of the operation to ship a mold from one location to another. It is more difficult to transfer an interpretation of your tooling to a new molder to give them the best possible impression of your project.

It would be better to talk to your new molder about past problems, established obstacles, and mold issues. You can also aim to get processing parameters from previous molders.

Because you already own injection molds and the current molder already has a procedure in place, it is wise to pass as much knowledge as possible to the new molder. This includes the scale of molding machine presses, cycle times, established quality problems, suppliers of materials, etc. The transition of information would allow the new molder to remove the guesswork while quoting a job.

If you (and you should) have 3D cad data on your mold, be sure to give it to your new injection molding companies. Injection molding machines are generally uniform, but the new molder will want to verify the ejection system's orientation and ensure that the mold fits into a specific molding machine.

The provision of this information also provides the molder with the details needed to conduct the tooling's maintenance and repair.

Finally, it would be necessary to run a lot of stock before switching the tools to a new supplier. As we have said before, injection molding machines are mostly universal, but that doesn't guarantee you will drop the mold into the system, set up a procedure, and be in production right away.

3/6

Delays in component qualification may occur, or, in the case of secondary activities, equipment set up and testing may trigger delays.The more time you buy with additional stock, the better. You would require much more time, of course, as there are many molds, assemblies, auxiliary equipment, and secondary activities.

New Opportunities Transferring tools to new injection molding companies can be challenging; however, it can also open up some new doors for your project. For example, some customers have used the transfer method as an opportunity to develop new, higher cavitation tools.

But not only do they get on board with a supplier that meets their needs, but they will also now have brand new tools and reduced ongoing costs.

The same may be true with current tools. Mold transfer is a perfect opportunity for injection molding companies to look over the tooling and fix any current or potential tooling problems.

There could be some possibilities for the new injection molding companies to have some value-added operations for you. E.g., there may be some assembly or kitting that you're currently doing in-house. You should speak to your new molder about delivering these services to you and discuss potential cost-saving options.

There is no question that the transition of tools to a new injection molder can be a frustrating operation. It would help if you kept the supply chain going while you change it, which is not a simple feat. Keeping in mind the assessment process outlined above will help you assess the molders and their potential to deliver ongoing program results.

From there, you will start moving information, building stock, and finally transferring tools. In all of this, you should be looking at new ways to make your product better and more cost-effective.

Comparing Injection Mold Quotes If you've got an injection molding project, there's a fair possibility that you're looking at a couple of different molders/mold makers. It cannot be easy to compare quotes precisely to evaluate the best choice.

You can see different mold dimensions, lead times, and costs for any given quotation in basic terms. You may have listed an "8 cavity, 101-mould class" quotation, but you may see a 20% price gap from one quote to another, and you don't understand why. Now we're going to go through some of the "behind the scenes" reasons used to quote injection molds.

Capabilities There are hundreds of small to medium-sized mold shops throughout the country, and no two are the same. The type of machinery, the machine's ability, and the level of experience determine the type of work they can complete and how well they can do so.

4/6

If the chosen injection molding company cannot complete your job, it can outsource those parts, which could result in potential cost and scheduling considerations. The lack of capacity to perform effectively may also be a matter of concern.

If a mold maker lacks the tools or equipment to get work completed efficiently, it can take more hours to finish the job.

Timing A limited number of machine-hours and employees are available at the given shop to finish their jobs and keep on schedule for due dates. Mold builders are continually balancing the machine time available against their obligations to consumers.

The bottom line is, if they're busy, you might get a price that's like that. This expense can reflect extra staff overtime, expedited procurement of supplies, and potentially outsourcing.

Assumptions Mold builders also have to make assumptions about a project before they have all the details. These assumptions shall include cavitation, materials, and timing. We suggest consulting with a mold maker on all project specifics and give them as much input as possible.

Details of design In particular, for long-term molding ventures, the materials and design requirements must correspond to the mold's life expectancy. Specifying the mold class for the project is a good starting point. The mold class determines the life expectancy of the mold and the necessary materials and design standards. The problem with the requirements of the mold class is the diversity of the design.

Each mold is different and is likely to be built in a few different ways while also following the mold class specifications. If there is a considerable price gap between two mold shops, make sure that they both quote the same standard and have the same design specifications listed.

First Run (Sampling) If the mold is finished, it can perform a test run, resulting in molded pieces that complement your print. Not all mold makers, though, provide sampling and post-molding modifications in their quotations. Suppose these operations are not included in the quotation.

In that case, it is necessary to consider the actual expense of conducting the test, the final dimensional changes, and the associated set-up and shipping costs.Providing all these facilities under one roof is where the turn-key concept, the mold construction, and the injection molder benefit.

5/6

Turn-Key Operations While it can be easy to concentrate on short-term costs, it is essential to understand the project's overall long-term costs. E.g., buying a mold from a low-cost country might save upfront costs, but you need to know the specifics of what you're getting. If the mold doesn't fit properly, it's impossible to be worth sending out.

In any case, you're going to be searching for a nearby store to patch the mold and make repairs. For these and many other purposes, it is also better to look at design shops, mold construction, mold maintenance, and injection molding under one roof.

Read More: Common Myths about Injection Molding Service

6/6