Choosing the right manufacturing process can make all the difference in efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and product quality.

For businesses looking to produce high volumes of plastic parts, plastic injection moulding stands out as the go-to solution.

But how does it compare to other manufacturing processes, and what makes it the ideal choice for your next project?

Let’s explore the unique advantages of plastic injection moulding and why it’s the ultimate manufacturing solution for producing 3D products.

Plastic Injection Moulding vs 3D Printing and CNC Machining

When considering plastic part production, two common processes often come to mind: 3D printing and CNC machining. While both have their merits, they also have significant limitations compared to plastic injection moulding.

3D printing, for example, has gained popularity in recent years due to its ability to create complex geometries and its usefulness in prototyping. However, when it comes to large-scale production, 3D printing often misses the mark.

First off, it’s slow. It struggles with high volumes, has a limited range of material options, and can be time-consuming.

In contrast, plastic injection moulding excels at producing large quantities of identical parts consistently and cost-effectively.

CNC machining, on the other hand, involves cutting away material to create a desired shape. While it offers high precision and works well with metals, it’s less suitable for complex geometries and can be more time-consuming than plastic injection moulding.

Additionally, CNC machining generates more waste material, as it’s a subtractive process.

Plastic Injection Moulding’s Advantages

So, what makes plastic injection moulding the ultimate manufacturing solution? Let’s explore its key advantages:

  1. Cost-Effectiveness: Plastic injection moulding is unbeatable in terms of cost-effectiveness for large production runs. Once the initial mould is created, the cost per part decreases as the volume increases.
  2. Design Freedom: Plastic injection moulding allows for creating complex geometries and details that other processes struggle with.
  3. Material Variety: With a wide range of material options, including thermoplastics and elastomers, plastic injection moulding can cater to various industry requirements, from automotive and medical to consumer goods and electronics.
  4. Consistency and Repeatability: Plastic injection moulding ensures excellent consistency and repeatability. There is virtually no inconsistency across production runs.
  5. Fast Production Cycles: Plastic injection moulding boasts rapid production cycles once the mould is ready.

So, while plastic injection moulding has disadvantages, such as moderately high initial tooling costs and limited design flexibility once the mould is created, these are easily outweighed by the benefits.

BEC Group: Your Trusted Partner for Plastic Injection Moulding

At BEC Group, we are dedicated to providing top-quality plastic injection moulding services to large corporations and small start-ups alike.

Operating out of our well-equipped tooling and moulding facility in New Milton, Hampshire, we can handle projects of all sizes and complexities.

Our services include design advice (particularly a Design For Manufacture), mould tool creation, and final injection moulding production, ensuring a seamless experience from start to finish.

Whether you’re looking to move your production to the UK or need assistance with product design, BEC Group are more than pleased to chat. Contact us here for more information.