You have come up with the product that is going to shake up the market, and be a best seller in the next fiscal year. The problem is that you only have a drawing available. Not just a simple sketch, but you’ve developed the 3D model of your new product. You think you’re ready to get quotes and get right into tooling development. Are you really though? There are a few more things needed to have an injection molding quote completed. Do you know what else you need? If not, we’ll jump right into what you also need to get an accurate injection molding quote for your new development project.
Is Your Design Ready?
You have a 3D model of your new product ready to go, but how detailed is it? Does it include every detail of every surface, thickness of material walls, surface textures, etc.? If not, your new tooling partner may have to make some changes. Your 3D model should be capable of creating 2D prints that can also be used other tooling and dimensional details later on. Having a minimal amount of details into your 3D model will create a gap between what you have and what is needed to complete the quote. That gap is going to cost time and investment money to fill.
Where Will Your Product Be Used?
One important detail for your new product is how and where it will be used. Will it be exposed to extreme temperatures, whether that is hot or cold? Will it be exposed to chemicals that can cause metallic corrosion or degradation? Will it come in contact with oils and other liquids? Or will it be under tension or compression throughout its life? All of these details can affect the design, and how your customers use your product. These answers will help drive the decision of which material should be used to meet your customer expectations and survive how they will use the product.
What Material Should You Select?
After you’ve nailed down the expectations of your customers, you can then start to sift through the thousands of resins available for injection molding. Many engineered resins will be able to withstand extreme temperatures without degradation, can survive under pressure, and can endure impacts. How you narrow that down to a final selection will take some time, and it may be better to allow your tooling partner to refine the search for you. They are the experts in injection molding, and should be able to narrow down the resin selection quickly. Or at least faster than you could if you’re not trained in Materials Science.
How Many Do You Need?
The resin you plan to use will help drive some of the design of the injection mold. Another key item to know before you ask for a quote is how many you need of your product. Is it a few hundred total, a thousand per year, or is it something close to a million per year for at least 10 years. The injection mold material, whether it’s a hardened tool steel or a softer aluminum, will be chosen based on the quantity of parts you need from your marketing plan. The number of parts needed may also require multiple cavities inside the injection mold as an option to produce multiple parts at one instead of one part multiple times. Production costs can be reduced by making multiple parts at once, and it can also reduce your delivery time to your new customers demanding your latest product.
Do You Need Secondary Operations?
Some of the best injection molders available also have secondary operations that can assemble, package, and distribute your product directly to your customers. Think of it as a one-stop-shop. If you need secondary operations, such as ultrasonic welding, laser marking, or general assembly, it is a great idea to add that to your request for a quote. If you have the need for secondary operations, be sure to find a partner that can offer everything your new product needs. It will faster and cheaper overall to find an in-house operation that can injection mold your product, complete any secondary operations needed, then distribute the product to your end-customer.
Bringing products to market is a complex process involving many factors. The global economy is fast-paced, and doing everything yourself is most likely not a viable option. You need to stay focused on the market, not buried in the details of resin selection and tooling design. SEA-LECT Plastics is a turn-key supplier that can handle the intricate details, and is a leader in plastic injection molding with options for assembly and logistics. We can aid with resin selection on a new product, offer turn-key assembly options, and program management to see the complete development cycle through with success. Give us a call at (425) 339-0288 or email us at mattp@sealectplastics.mystagingwebsite.com. We can offer you advice on the best technology to use, the best materials to meet your product demands, and how to navigate through each development stage. At SEA-LECT Plastics, we specialize in military product applications, outdoor adventure gear, musical instruments, supporting the medical parts manufacturing and all kinds of consumer product industries. Our goal is to make your project efficient and cost-effective to manufacture, assemble, and ship no matter how complicated your concept is.
Matthias Poischbeg was born and raised in Hamburg, Germany. Matt moved to Everett, Wash., after finishing his bachelor’s degree in business in 1995 to work for Sea-Dog Corporation, a manufacturer, and distributor of marine and rigging hardware established in 1923.
In 1999, Matt took over the reins at Sea-Lect Plastics Corporation, a sister company of Sea-Dog and a manufacturer of plastic injection molded products with an in-house tool & die shop. Matthias Poischbeg is also a contributor to Grit Daily.