There are a huge variety of industries and product groups that rely on plastic mold engineering for their manufacturing, and there are several different distinct manufacturing processes within this realm. Two of the most popular, and types that are relatively similar in some ways, are injection molding and blow molding.
At EnviroTech Custom Injection Molders, we’re proud to offer a wide range of custom injection molding and manufacturing services to numerous industries, spanning from medical equipment manufacturing to mining equipment, engineering companies and many more. How do our primary injection molding solutions compare to an area like blow molding, and what are some of the primary differences between them? This two-part blog will go over the basics on both types plus how you can differentiate between them while choosing one for your next project.
Injection Molding Basics and Advantages
As the name suggests, and as we’ve gone over in this space in the past, injection molding is a process of injecting liquid polymers into steel or aluminum casings that are custom-shaped, using high temperatures for the combination. After injection, molds will be given time to cool down, after which they provide completed plastic components.
Injection molding requires strong upfront engineering, as developing tooling and molds is a detailed process. As such, however, it allows for extremely complex tooling and multi-cavity mold options, plus precise and efficient creation of high-volume parts when needed. For mass production centers that require thousands or even hundreds of thousands of the same part, injection molding is a common choice.
This process is also very versatile and flexible. Material and color can both be changed up fairly easily at your discretion, and injection molding comes with low scrap rates and very efficient material use. Certain up-front costs may be on the higher side with Injection molding, but this is well worth it when you consider the long-term quality of parts produced.
Blow Molding Process and Benefits
Blow molding, on the other hand, is somewhat similar to the glass-blowing process for those who have knowledge of it. Like injection molding, it’s designed to create high-volume manufacturing – unlike injection molding, however, it can only create one-piece objects that are hollow.
During blow molding, a plastic tube is heated and filled with air until it reaches a certain point. A mold will then be clamped around the tube, trapping the plastic as air continues to fill the area into the shape you desire for the part. This process is much more limited than injection molding in terms of the parts that can be produced, but those that are possible can be done very efficiently and for a low cost. There is also no need to connect part halves based on one-piece construction, which is ideal for a few distinct project types.
For more on the differences between injection molding and blow molding, or to learn about any of our industrial injection molding services, speak to the staff at EnviroTech Custom Injection Molders today.
