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Plastic Injection Moulding
Plastic Injection Moulding
Plastic injection moulding is a manufacturing process that uses moulds, heated elements, and plastic granules to mass produce parts for numerous different purposes. It is one of the most common processes used to create plastic articles. Plastic injection moulding is a fast, machine-based process that can produce huge quantities of identical plastic items in a short amount of time.
Plastic Injection Moulding Process
Plastic injection moulding requires specially made, industrial machines that vary in size and weight. The first plastic injection moulding machine was patented in 1872, but it wasn’t until the 1940’s that a design similar to the ones used today was patented.
The process begins by feeding plastic granules into the machine’s hopper. From there, the granules flow into a tube that is surrounded by heating elements that melt the plastic.
Within the tube is a reciprocating screw that drives the melted plastic forward, feeding it into a mould. Various gates and runners control the flow of the molten plastic, ensuring that just the right amount reaches the mould to create the unit.
Once the mould is full, cooling elements harden the plastic. Once hardened, the unit will be removed from the mould and extracted from the machine, typically by falling into a collection area below the mould.
There are many different types of plastic that can be used in plastic injection moulding. These include polycarbonate, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and nylon.
Plastic Injection Moulding Products
Plastic injection moulding was originally used to make buttons, combs, and other simple consumer goods. Today it has many, many different uses from consumer goods to industrial components and housings.
Examples of familiar, everyday items created by injection moulding include the housing for power tools, plastic garbage bins, washing-up bowls, car bumpers, and TV cases.
In fact, the products of injection moulding are even more ubiquitous in daily life as they also include parts for trains, buses, planes, and cars, along with countless housings and components for industrial and commercial uses.
A large portion of all plastic articles are created with injection moulding. From very small, to very large parts.
Plastic Injection Moulding at Pekago
At Pekago, we have a range of plastic injection moulding machines. Our smallest machine has a clamp force of 15 tonnes while our largest machine has a clamp force of an impressive 2100 tonnes. The range of our machines allows us to manufacture both small and large components and housings.
In recent years, we have focused on producing parts for the aviation sector, the medical sector, and for high-end analysis and imaging machines. As such, we are certified to very high standards to meet the demanding requirements of the industries we work with.
All of our injection moulding manufacturing takes place at our facilities in Goirle, in the Netherlands. As such, our staff are well-trained, skilled, and attentive to their work. We are careful to foster a positive working environment, which in our experience leads to the best results for our customers.
If you require parts made by plastic injection moulding then take a moment to explore our design guidelines, or simply get in touch with us today to discuss the possibilities.
