A Minute About Us
Providing the Bensenville, IL area with professional plastic injection molding services. Give us a call!
What is plastic injection molding?
If you have ever purchased a mass-produced product that is made primarily of plastic or that includes plastic components, odds are very good that it was made by using plastic injection molding. The process is fairly straightforward. The plastic material is heated to its melting point, which causes it to liquefy. This is referred to as molten. The molten substance is then put into a mold to form the shape. Generally, it is injected into the mold with some degree of force to ensure the entire shape of the mold is filled. This process of plastic injection molding creates consistent results and is an excellent option for mass production or when plastic pieces need to be precise in size and shape.
What are a few of the scientific terms that would be helpful to know to fully understand plastic injection molding?
The term thermoplastic refers to the materials that are used to create the plastic. A thermoplastic is a type of plastic polymer. A plastic polymer is made up of many molecules that when joined together create the material that we know as plastic. When a polymer is heated, the molecules are broken down. This is when the molecules can be molded into a different shape. Then, once the molecules cool, the end result is a plastic product in the shape of the mold. It is during the cooling process that the molten polymer hardens. One of the key characteristics of thermoplastics is that the process of heating to reshape and then cooling to harden the material into that shape can be repeated over and over again to continue to produce different results.
How does the food and beverage industry utilize plastic injection molding?
There are several different prominent industries that depend heavily on plastic injection molding to create useful products for consumers and other businesses to use. One example is the food and beverage industry. This industry uses products made with plastic injection molding perhaps more than any other. For example, many of the components of conveyor systems and other machines include parts made with injection molding, as well as consumer-facing products like beverage containers, beverage lids, and food containers.
Is plastic injection molding used in medical fields?
The medical field and the pharmaceutical industry both rely heavily on plastic materials made through plastic injection molding. In the medical field, standards and technologies are constantly changing. This means that hospitals, doctors’ offices, and other medical facilities need to update all of their equipment and medical supplies on a regular basis. For example, the science behind diagnostic test kits is constantly evolving, as well as the tools and products used to prepare patients for surgeries. When various aspects of the medical field are improved upon, the plastics industry is ready to get to work and provide often life-saving upgrades to the medical equipment, tools, products, and components.
What are some other examples of industries that commonly use products made from plastic injection molding?
There are several more diverse industries that utilize plastic injection molding on a regular basis. One example is the window and door manufacturing industry. This is partly due to the fact that each piece can be molded to meet specific specifications. Plus, this type of manufacturing for the components of doors and windows is more economical than utilizing other materials, such as metal. The telecommunications industry also relies heavily on plastic injection molding. Plastic parts are needed to complete fiber-optic networks, and the demand continues to increase in this growing industry. Transportation is a global market that relies on plastic injection molding to meet the ever-changing and increasing needs of shipping consumer goods. Various parts of the semi-trucks used to ship goods are made of plastic that is created using injection molding.
What would the business-to-consumer industry look like without plastic injection molding?
Plastic injection molding is the bloodline of many business-to-customer products. A great deal of the things that we use in our everyday lives are made of plastic or contain plastic components that have been created using plastic injection molding. In fact, it can be hard to think of an aspect of our lives that is not directly affected, and often made easier, by this process. Just a few examples include simple toiletries like combs, brushes, and mirrors; children’s toys like trucks, building blocks, and dolls; components of musical instruments; many of our kitchen tools; any furniture or mechanical items that contain plastic pieces; packaging materials; pieces of our vehicles, electronics, and appliances; and so many more.
Can your facility handle the increasing needs of my growing business?
At Drummond Industries Inc., we are constantly on the lookout for ways to serve our customers better. Because of this, we have developed a facility that is built for efficiency and that is large enough and productive enough to handle the needs of even large companies. Our facility is 40,000 square feet, and that includes nineteen machines. Most importantly, we run our production, including plastic injection molding, 24 hours a day, five days per week. We absolutely guarantee that we can get your order out for delivery on time, every time. When you partner with us, you never have to worry about losing time and money on late deliveries or defective products.
I have custom needs for my plastic components; can your facility handle that?
We provide a wide variety of customizations for the products we create using plastic injection molding. For example, if you have a great logo that you want included on the final result, we can overlay it for you. Then, we make sure it stays looking great by adding a layer of resin on top. If you need expert assembly after the components of your product are completed, our technicians are fully qualified to complete full assemblies. Sometimes the product being created is particularly delicate and easily damaged. We have you covered with that, as well. We can place your product or components of the product inside a durable casing to keep it safe and well protected.