Our Article Library

We explore and research various topics in regards to plastics manufacturing and tool making. If you like to learn more about this industry, check out our in-depth articles.

PPAP process stages

Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)

PPAP is commonly used in the aerospace and automotive supply chain for production processes.

types of tool welding

Tool Welding

Tool Welding is an effective way to make quick changes on tooling without having to redo larger steel parts or inserts. It is also often used for repair.

aisi h13 tool steel

H13 Tool Steel

H13 is widely used for molds and dies due to its resistance to erosion, wear and thermal fatique.

s7 tool steel taxonomy

S7 Tool Steel

S7 is well known for the tool manufacturing industry due to its shock resistance.

p20 tool steel

P20 Tool Steel

P20 steel if often used in mold bases due to its cost and mechanical properties.

sae 1018 tool steel

1018 Tool Steel

AISI SAE 1018 Steel is well known to be a tool steel with various characteristics.

3D printer prints

3D Printing Materials

Nowadays there are several material available for 3D printing applications, from plastics to metals and even wood.

edge gates in injection molding

Injection Molding Gate Types

There are various gate types that can be used in injection molding projects, each has their own benefits and challenges.

injection mold

Mold Steel Selection

One of the first important decisions to take before making a mold, is to select the correct Steel.

transfer molding process setup

Transfer Molding

Transfer molding is hybrid in its nature, as it combines the fundamentals of both injection and compression molding.

vacuum casting pro and cons

Vacuum Casting

Vacuum casting is a good manufacturing technique to produce prototypes and is also often used in small volume production runs.

undercut in part design

Undercuts

Undercuts are a common design feature of many plastic parts. While it creates additional work and complexity, there are several ways to deal with it.

chemical photo etching

Mold Texturing

Plastic parts can have all kinds of surface structures. To achieve those, the mold (steel) needs to be textured.

Ejector pins injection molding

Ejector Pins

Ejection is a crucial part of the injection molding process, in many cases the use of ejector pins gets the job done.

valve gates

Valve Gates

Better surface finishes and reduced gate marks in, injection molding, can be achieved with a valve gate system.

part tolerances

Injection Molding Tolerances

Molding tolerances play a crucial role in the use and acceptance of plastic parts.

screw bosses and screws

Screw Boss Design

Screw bosses are a common design element in injection molding projects which accept inserts, screws, fastening or is used for assembling parts.

hot runner for molds

Hot Runner Systems

Hot runners or cold runners, many molders ask themselves this question. Let's take a look what hot runners are and when to use them.

structural foam molding

Foam Molding

Foam molding is an integral part of plastic manufacturing, yet it often stands in the shadow. Learn more about it here.

thermoset in the polymeric group

Thermoset Plastics

Thermoset plastics are commonly known in every-day products, but how does it differentiate from regular plastics?

vacuum thermoforming

A Guide to Thermoforming

Find out more about thermoforming, how does it work and where is it commonly used?

blow molding types

Blow molding

Products made from blow molding can be seen in every supermarket. Find out about the different blow molding techniques and what makes them special.

in-mold labeling processes

In-mold labeling

In-mold labeling is a common and very effective technique to get labels on your plastic products, during manufacturing.

cnc machining vs 3d printing

CNC manufacturing or 3D printing

CNC manufacturing or 3D printing? There are scenarios where each has its edge.

mold modification flash

Flash

A flash defect is probably the most common injection molding defect on a part. What can be done to avoid and/or fix it?

flowmarks in injection molding

Flow Marks

Flow marks commonly occur as lines or circles and they indicate an uneven material flow.

micro molding characteristics

Insight in Micro Molding

Micro-molding is a very specialized art form of creating parts at a minuscule scale via injection molding.

industrial revolutions manufacturing trends

Innovative Manufacturing Trends in 2024-2025

It’s crucial to have the right technology in place, we discuss the top manufacturing trends that will dominate in 2024-2025.

raw material resin

Raw Material Procurement in Manufacturing

Raw material procurement is the backbone of many manufacturing businesses, what should you know about it?

supply chain risk factors

Supply Chain Risk Management

A supply chain risk management (SCRM) strategy helps businesses to operate more efficiently, and enhance customer service.

global supply chain disruption

Supply Chain Disruption

Disruption in the supply chain can turn out disastrous to any company that does not have a functioning contingency plan in place.

supply chain management stages

Supply Chain Management (SCM)

Successful supply chain management nowadays is crucial for any larger company. Have a look what defines & makes it work.

data processing software for part traceability

Product Traceability

Product traceability does not only provide transparency, but also eliminates risks such as bad batches, counterfreit & more.

traceability system in manufacturing

Traceability in Manufacturing

Traceability helps to determine every aspect of the manufacturing source, to improve quality, efficiency and transparency.

glass filled polyamide types and properties

Glass-filled Nylon in Injection Molding

In this article, we discuss glass-filled nylon properties, their variations, and how it is used in manufacturing.

types of digital manufacturing

Digital Manufacturing

The goal of digital manufacturing is to increase efficiency and flexibility in the manufacturing process. This article is an in-depth and definitive guide to understanding digital manufacturing, its benefits, and use cases.

hard tooling

Soft Tooling vs Hard Tooling

Soft tooling as well as hard tooling are common ways to produce plastic parts via injection molding. When to use which tooling type?

benefits of rapid prototyping

Rapid Prototyping

Rapid prototyping is used to create prototypes quickly during various design and development stages. It has become a standard in product development.

3d printing in plastic manufacturing

Role of 3D Printing in Plastic Manufacturing

3D printing is becoming a regular technique in modern plastic manufacturing. The use cases start from prototyping, customized production to low volume production.

transparent plastic

Clear Plastic Injection Molding

Clear plastic injection molding is more challenging than regular injection molding processes due to its high aesthetic requirements

mold classes

Injection Mold Life Expectancy

The lifespan of an injection mold is affected by various factors, such as steel material, plastic molding material, maintenance and many more.

LDPE versus HDPE linear structure

LDPE vs. HDPE

Polyethylene is one of the most popular plastic materials on the market. LDPE and HDPE are among the most used variantes of it.

vacuum voids in plastic

Vacuum Voids

Vacuum voids are a type of injection molding defect that causes air-trapped bubbles in the plastic part.

thermoplastic elastomer structure

TPE in Injection Molding

Thermoplastic Elastomers are flexible, rubber-like injection molding materials that process like plastic.

TPR monomers

TPR in Injection Molding

Thermoplastic Rubber (TPR) is a type of injection molding material that has a mix of both plastic and rubber-like properties.

PMMA chemical structure

PMMA in Injection Molding

PMMA, also known as Acrylic has become a popular material choice among many different industries.

cost differences offshoring nearshoring onshoring

Offshoring, Nearshoring and Onshoring

Offshoring, Nearshoring and Onshoring are often used and popular among manufacturing companies.

medical grade plastic resin

Medical-grade Plastic Material

The medical device and component field has one of the strictest regulations. Which materials can be used for what kind of application?

pa plastic chemical structure

PA/Nylon in Injection Molding

PA and Nylon are common and very popular plastic injection molding materials that come in various types and properties.

polycarbonate chemical structure

PC in Injection Molding

PC can be used in applications where other materials don't stand a chance, especially its transparency is highly sought after.

Peek chemical structure

PEEK in Injection Molding

PEEK is a great choice of material when chemical resistance and resistance against thermal degradation is needed.

chemical structure homopolymer and copolymer

Homopolymers vs. Copolymers

Homopolymers and Copolymers are the most common plastics that are used in various industries, but what are the differences in structure and application?

vem india entrance

Manufacturing in India

Successfully sourcing or manufacturing in India can be very rewarding for every company.

thermoplast and thermoset

Thermoplastics vs. Thermosets

Have you ever wondered what is the difference between those and how to utilize it for your project?

plastic part with sink mark

Sink Marks

Sinks marks are a common problematic occurence during injection molding, but there are ways to avoid it.

weld line on plastic part

Weld Lines

Weld lines can cause cosmetic or technical problems to a part. Take a look at the causes and solutions.

cleanroom assembly manufacturing

Clean Room Injection Molding

Clean room manufacturing and molding is a complicated topic, that is only for advances molders. Let's shine some light on it.

injection molding machine

Injection Molding for any Project

Do you want to use injection molding as your manufacturing solution? Then take a look.

pom chemical structure

POM in Injection Molding

POM, an engineering thermoplastic has a wide range or applications with it's specific properties.

pp chemical structure

PP in Injection Molding

PP, Polypropylene is a common and often used material in plastic product, check out the details.

plastic warpage phone case

Plastic Warpage

Mold defects are a common topic and especially plastic warpage can have a huge impact on the final part application.

overmolding part

Overmolding - all you need to know

Overmolding and insert molding are common techniques in injection molding. All you need to know about those is here!

ABS plastic monomers

ABS in Injection Molding

ABS is one of the most popular choices in Injection Molding, and there is a good reason for it.

proximity of mexico to usa

Manufacturing in Mexico - End to End

Finding suppliers in Mexico can be tough, but rewarding. Learn how to go about manufacturing in Mexico with this End to End guide.

die spotting in tooling industry

Die Spotting in the Tooling Industry

Die spotting is a process that improves quality and reduces costs when building molds, yet it is not often talked about.

3d printed molding insert

3D printed Inserts for Injection Molding

3D steel printing can significantly lower cycle times in plastic manufacturing. Learn more about its process, quality, reliability and some real case examples.

medical device transfer

Case Study: Medical Device Manufacturing Transfer

Transferring your existing production into another country can be frightening. We have done it successfully and invite you to read about our journey.

manufacturing in thailand

Manufacturing in Thailand

The manufacturing scene in Thailand has been stable and popular for decades. Find out why we decided to have one of our main productions in Thailand.