Thermoplastic Injection Molding Services
When people think about plastic injection molding, they often associate the process with everyday items like telephones, computers, auto parts, and appliances. However, thermoplastics are also essential for producing highly critical parts with specialized requirements in commercial and manufacturing applications. At Southwest Plastics, we engineer thermoplastic custom parts for demanding industries, including aircraft components, medical and healthcare devices, engines, machinery, electrical, and other OEM applications.
Plastic Injection Molding at Southwest Plastics
Low-, Medium-, or High-Volume Production Parts
Proudly based in the United States, we support OEMs with onshoring initiatives, providing manufacturers with low-, medium-, and high-volume production parts. Using our tooling and design referral support services, we can produce custom molded component parts with single or multi-cavity molds. Whether it's high-volume production for automotive or irrigation industries, or low-volume components for aerospace applications, Southwest Plastics has the injection molding capabilities for your next injection molding project.
Premium Plastic Materials & Resin Compounds for Demanding Applications
We utilize a wide range of plastic resins compounded with additives to achieve specific properties. These additives include reinforcements (like glass and carbon fibers), ultraviolet inhibitors, flame retardants, conductive elements, lubricants, and toughening agents to create the exact materials your application requires. Optimal properties of components molded from engineered plastics can be attained only through proper and precise control of the molding process.
Extensive Experience & Proven Commitment to Quality
For over 45 years, Southwest Plastics' has ensured the highest quality outcomes for our customers' plastic injection molding requirements. Our commitment to quality and state-of-the-art process control equipment means that the custom parts we manufacture for our customers meet the most strict industrial standards. When you choose Southwest Plastics for your injection molding services, you can count on top-quality production capabilities from experienced engineers.
How Does the Thermoplastic Injection Molding Process Work?
Injection molding is a high-production method for producing various thermoplastic parts into shapes ranging from fairly simple to quite complex. Injection mold cavities are fed with the melted plastic material forced under high pressure through a sprue, which feeds a runner system through a gate into the cavity. The material is then cooled to the point that it is solid and then ejected from the mold as a finished part.
The injection molding machine consists of two basic components: the clamp unit and the injection unit. The clamp unit holds and clamps the tool into position while the injection unit plasticizes and injects the material into the mold positioned by the clamp unit. The clamping force must be sufficient to hold the mold closed against the hydraulic pressure of the material being injected under high pressure by the injection unit.
The rule of thumb is that three tons of clamp force must be used for every square inch of cavity projected area in the mold. Both units are coordinated by a computer controller on the machine, which is programmed to efficiently produce high quantities of consistent quality parts on an automated cycle.
Plastic Injection Molding Materials at Southwest Plastics
Thermoplastic Resins
| Acetal (POM) Acrylic (PMMA) Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) Polycarbonate (PC) Polyester (PET) Polyetherether Keystone (PEEK) Polyetherimide (Ultem) (PEI) Polyimide (PA) Polyphenylene Oxide (PPO) |
Polyphenylene Sulfide (Ryton) Thermoplastic Vulcanizate (TPV) (Santoprene) |
Engineered Compounds
Any of the above resins can be tailored to a specific requirement by compounding in additives to enhance properties.
Enhancements (Typical Additives)
Tensile strength (Glass, Carbon fibers)
Toughness (Elastomer)
U.V. resistance (Color Stabilizers)
Flame Retardance (Extinguishing additive)
Conductivity (Carbon, metal flakes)
Lubrication (Teflon, Moly)
Cost-reducing fillers (Mineral)
Need Plastic Injection Molding Services for Custom Parts? Contact Us!
Contact Southwest Plastics today to learn how we can provide you with custom low-, medium, or high-production parts. For pricing estimates on your project, request a quote online. Need other support services, like tooling, assembly, or packaging? We've got you covered. For all your plastic injection molding and part production needs, choose Southwest Plastics.
Ready to take action? Contact Us!
620 W. Foothill Blvd.,
Glendora, CA 91741
Stop by for coffee!
