Although metal-to-plastic conversion was introduced in the 1950s, with the invention of engineering-grade resins,many manufacturers today are unfamiliar with the advantages of this versatile technique.

As various advanced,cost-efficient plastics are being developed in today’s shifting landscape, many industries are realizing the benefits of replacing metal parts with injection-molded plastic. In fact, most companies can expect metal-to-plastic conversion to result in cost savings of 25-50%.With high strength, consistent reliability, and the ability to be manufactured to the same tight tolerances as metal, plastic parts can offer numerous benefits to companies across all types of industries.

Using Plastic Parts to Cut Costs

As mentioned, plastic-to-metal conversion can result in savings of 25-50%. This is due to several factors: the ability to replace multiple metal parts with one plastic part and the subsequent elimination of fastener and assembly needs, as well as the ability to add colors to plastic melts and the resultant elimination of painting or laser marking processes.

Besides saving on costs, however, using plastic can significantly improve the quality of parts. Plastic can optimize part quality in several ways, including through:

• Ability to reuse plastic materials
• Extended product life
• More diverse design options
• Elimination of time-consuming, costly secondary processes
• Greater product structural strength
• Lighter weight and improved ease of use

Keywords:Plastic Injection Molding, Manufacturing

By Aileen