Injection molding forces molten plastic into a closed cavity in order to fill the cavity completely. The entrance into the cavity is called a ‘gate’. The gate seems like it should be a pretty easy decision on what shape and size to be, but choosing the wrong gate for your part can hinder production, affect…
In an era of online training, and the ability to get an education without leaving your home, one could question if hands-on training is still a valid course to gain experience and knowledge. For one person, the ability to share knowledge and give education to the next generations, is a daily goal. That one person…
There’s an ever growing population of plastics that are finding their way to landfills, while the growing threat of running out of fossil fuels always seems to be just around the corner. Researchers have been studying what can be done to curb the amount of plastics being thrown away, and a different set of scientists…
For your latest product design, you want to incorporate a company logo and different text and labels on each individual product. For injection molded parts, that could be easy to add into the mold to incorporate the text and logos for every part. The trouble comes when you want to vary the text and designs…
Being able to make the best products in the world only starts with the best designs. Once they reach the prototype and production phases of the project, having the right equipment and processes are keys to ensure a successful launch and day to day efficiency. At SEA-LECT Plastics, we use Milacron equipment for plastic injection…
You’ve thought up the next product in your lineup that will shake up your industry and cause a buzz at the next major trade show. The question is what do you do first, complete the design to the nth degree or start tooling to cut the development time down? The answer may be as…
Technology has continued to change and refine the plastics that are commonly used in every industry. As the global waste crisis continues to become more of a topic of discussion, scientists are finding new ways to recycle plastics and reuse various types of biodegradable materials. Recently researchers from Swansea University discovered a way that black…
If you have had a dream of multiple colors or different textures on your next product, perhaps a variation of multi-material injection molding is the perfect option. Multi-material injection molding (MMM) is the process of molding two or more different materials into one plastic part at one time. Traditional injection molding uses one color at…
Ben Franklin is quoted as saying, “Time is money,” and in business that still rings true. You can’t afford to waste precious time, nor let money slip away, if you plan to stay in business. With injection molding, the largest part of the manufacturing cycle is cooling. The cooling stage accounts for approximately 60% of…
If you’ve been to your local recycling center, you know how much packaging waste is deposited into local recycling centers and the impact you can have as a consumer. Some states charge an initial deposit on glass bottles, plastic containers, and some plastic packaging. You, as the consumer, are then required to recycle those containers…