Mold Making lies at the heart of SEA-LECT, and is where we excel in ensuring your project is completed on time and exactly the way you want it. One way we ensure quality and timing on all projects is to keep an onsite tool & die shop humming with new builds, inserts changes, modifications, maintenance and repairs. Having a steady flow of work through our mold facility by our trained and qualified staff, keeps their skills honed at the top of industry standards and makes the molding process a success.
We have Journeyman and Apprentice teams constantly working on maintenance and upgrades. When they aren’t on a job, they are upgrading their individual skills and also teaching the next generation of tool makers and technicians through apprenticeship opportunities in a great relationship with Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee (AJAC) and other professional organization. This allows us to continually develop solutions to close the skills gap in the US and across the globe.
SEA-LECT’s one-stop shop excels in working with molds provided by customers, or we can design and custom-build injection molds to meet your exact specifications. Following the standards for injection molds issued by the Plastics Industry Association, then working with mold makers in-house, locally, and from China, guarantees the best possible price and quality. We can review your sketch, a supplied 3D model, or just discuss ideas, and then can evaluate the part design with strength and durability in mind.
From the start, we communicate with you every step of the way to develop the best manufacturing strategy for your mold. In prototyping, part design and production quality can be difficult to calculate, especially when time is short.
SEA-LECT takes the extra step in conducting the mold test to confirm the part meets your expectations.
Our staff experts and partner companies stand out in rapid prototyping and customized tooling for injection molding. Using the latest computer-aided design tools, we can receive data in any form. Our CAD capabilities allow us to design molds quickly through our computer-aided manufacturing resources, rapid prototype technologies, and a first-class machine shop. Our seamless, quality-oriented process can produce your parts and molds in record time. SEA-LECT takes the extra step in conducting the thorough mold test to confirm the part meets your expectations and the process parameters are met for optimal cycle time and all other cost factors.
A great mold design is just the beginning of the injection molding process. SEA-LECT pays special attention to ensure that each mold is built to precise specifications and can withstand the high pressures of the process. Depending on your molding needs, SEA-LECT has options selecting hardened tool steel, which can withstand up to million’s of production cycles. Beyond the tool, choosing a resin to match the strength, durability, and color characteristics is a key driver to long-term success. Knowledge of the chosen mold grade and resin is an advantage that our experts have with over 150 years of combined experience, and we can help you navigate through the thousands of options to ensure your part is made from the best resin option with tooling to perform beyond your expectations.
Using the latest computer-aided design tools, we can receive input data in any form. Our CAD capabilities allow us to design molds quickly through our computer-aided manufacturing resources, rapid prototype technologies and a first-class machine shop. Our seamless, quality-oriented process can produce your parts and molds in record time.
Sea-lect Plastics state of the art prototyping capabilities compliment the CAD/CAM department who can optimize die and part production in the early planning stages. By incorporating prototype tooling into the production dies, we can potentially lower costs.
Plastic Industry Association – PIA Mold Building Standards
The PIA Mold Classifications were developed by the U.S. Society of Plastic Engineers (SPE), with the intent of having a simplified definition of the type of injection tool for thermoplastics required for a set production need.
These guidelines are intended to be just a reference that frequently further evolve, on a project by project basis or depending on the customer so that they better reflect what is required of a specific tool.
The different classifications will dictate differences in tool design, construction, materials, and components.
PIA Mold Standards brief overview
- Class 101: Extremely High Volume
Extremely high volume production injection tools built for lifetime cycles exceeding one million. - Class 102: High Volume
Medium to high volume production injection tools built for lifetime cycles not to exceed one million. - Class 103: Medium Volume
Medium volume production injection tools built for lifetime cycles not to exceed 500,000. - Class 104: Low Volume
Low volume production injection tools built for lifetime cycles not to exceed 100,000. - Class 105: Prototype Only
Prototype only tools are built for lifetime cycles not to exceed 500.
PIA Mold Classifications at SEA-LECT Plastics
SEA-LECT provides Plastics Industry Association (Formerly known as Society of Plastics Industry – SPI) mold classifications from class 101 to 105 molds and Injection molding. There are four main factors that determine the class of mold you will need:
- Your budget
- The plastic material you will be molding
- The number of parts you wish to make during the lifetime of the mold
- The complexity of the part you wish to make
Every SEA-LECT Plastics customer receives the same high quality workmanship and standards to satisfy your requirements and expectations of quality, customer service, value, delivery and innovation. We encourage you to request that the mold class be stated on every quote you receive, because that can often times be the difference when comparing pricing and craftsmanship.
Please re-quest our detailed mold specification guide mattp@sealectplastics.com
We have a complete turn-key option for your product, and proper tooling is just the beginning of the adventure. When you’re ready to discuss your current or next project, contact us at info@sealectplastics.com or give us a call at (425) 339-0288.