Our Plastic Molding Processes
High quality, durable, and versatile plastics are an essential material in the manufacturing process for numerous industries, and at Baldwin Manufacturing, we offer our clients a full range of plastic molding solutions. Our experts use state-of-the-art technologies, high quality materials, and a flexible manufacturing infrastructure to offer plastic molding services that are dictated by your design needs. Ready to get started? Find out more about the plastic molding processes we use to create the components and products your business needs.
One of the most common types of plastic molding, injection molding is performed using plastic powder or pellets that are melted down. Then the malleable plastic is injected into a mold and cooled under pressure. Finally, the product is ejected from the mold. The benefits of injection molding include:
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Quick process
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Easily replicated
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Automated for precision
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Very low waste
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From raw material to finished good in one process
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Multiple colors can be molded into the process
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Easily assembled using snap fits, fasteners, adhesives, and welding
Blow Molding
For the production of bottles and other plastic containers, blow molding is often the ideal solution. This process involves a softened plastic tube that is extruded into a mold and inflated, forming a hollow object. Air is blown into the heated plastic until it is expanded over the interior of the mold to create a bottle, container, or other hollow item.
Vacuum Thermoforming
Vacuum thermoforming is a fast and effective way of molding a sheet of plastic. The polymer sheet is heated until it’s softened. Then, it is drawn down onto a single-surface mold using a vacuum to press the malleable material down. In certain cases, additional pressure may be applied to improve small detail work. Common uses for vacuum thermoforming include:
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Product packaging
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Enclosures for medical devices
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Fascia for kiosks
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Engine covers
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Hobbyist uses like masks or model cars
Extrusion
The extrusion process involves forcing malleable plastics through a tooling die, think of this like squeezing toothpaste out of its tube. As the softened plastics are pumped through the die, it is molded into a nearly limitless array of two-dimensional profiles to meet a variety of needs using a range of plastics.
Compression Molding
Compression molding is a process that uses preheated plastics poured into a mold. Then, the mold is closed on all sides with a top plug that compresses the materials until they touch all sides of the mold. Using thermoset composites, we can offer a variety of products that are durable and can withstand high temperatures and stresses. Compression molding is often used to create plastic pallets, rubber boots, and other heavy duty products.
Benefits of Working with Baldwin Manufacturing Company
Many manufacturing companies have a specific infrastructure that your design must be adjusted to fit into. At Baldwin Manufacturing, we think things should be done the other way around. We’ve created a flexible manufacture infrastructure that allows our expert team of manufacturing and engineering professionals to allow your design to dictate or process while still ensuring the services we offer are cost-effective, scalable, and use the highest quality materials.
Baldwin Manufacturing is a completely locally owned and operated U.S. business headquartered in Rosewood City, CA. We partner with world-class manufacturing facilities in California and Nevada to ensure businesses we partner with – like yours – will always receive customized component parts and end products to achieve their company goals. We know there are other manufacturers out there, but we hope you’ll consider partnering with Baldwin Manufacturing. Our knowledgeable team members look forward to exceeding your highest expectations.