How to find the best injection molder for your project.

15 Must-Ask Questions and Answers When Choosing a Plastic Injection Molder



A guide to selecting the best plastic injection molder for your project




How often do you source an injection molder? If you are like most companies and project managers, not very often. Once you have selected an injection molder to work with you are likely to stay with them for a long time as long as they keep producing quality plastic parts.

There are several scenarios in which the need for an injection molder may arise:-Your company has designed a new product that requires injection molding-Your engineers have re-designed an existing injection molded part-Your current injection molder is no longer meeting your quality requirements-Your business is moving manufacturing closer to home.




So, when you are in the market again, how do you insure you have selected the best plastic injection molder for the job? Well, hopefully this slide presentation will help.

We call it “15 Must Ask Questions for Choosing an Injection Molder.”

We have condensed the top issues into questions and then provided answers to each. By reviewing these questions prior to interviewing an injection molder, you are more likely to get the information you need to make a proper assessment.

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Does the injection molder have a reputation for quality? How long have they been in business?

As with any supplier decision, you want to be sure you are dealing with a reputable company. Here are 5 things that will give you a better understanding of the company’s standards.

#1 – Review their website. Is it clean professional and full of information? Many of your answers can be found on a well written website.

#2 - Google their name. The first page of results will likely contain a lot of company sponsored links and social media information. Look at page 2 for more relevant and unbiased information.

#3 – Ask for testimonials. They may have them posted on their website or on printed material. If not they should be willing to provide you with this information

#4 – Ask about the company’s investment in new technologies and equipment and how this improves their manufacturing processes.

#5 –Check for independent certifications and organizational membership. Reputable companies will want to be a part of their professional community and seek opportunities to be certified by outside authorities.




Does the company have experience in multiple industries?

In some industries, choosing a supplier who specializes in your industry can be advantageous. For instance, you are in search of a specific software solution. Most likely you would benefit from focusing on suppliers with products developed specifically for your industry.

In the world of high-volume injection molding, you want to look for suppliers who have had experience in many industries and with many different product applications. Why? Because diversification leads to advanced design, diagnostic and manufacturing skills.

Do they provide references and samples of their work?

If the molder has a great deal of experience and a strong reputation, they will gladly provide references and relevant samples.




Do they have an experienced in-house design and tool building team?Using an injection molder that has the in-house capabilities to steer your project through from concept to completion has several advantages.

-In the early stages of development, refinements in design are often made. Working with a one-stop-shop molder, these changes can be made, reviewed, and refined within a short timeframe.

-Design engineers are trained to build the best possible design for the project. They have the expertise required to build molds that will produce the highest quantity and quality parts.

-They should utilize the latest in precision EDM machine tool equipment..

In today’s manufacturing environment, it is not enough to check product samples after the job is completed. You should look for a supplier that practices total quality management throughout the manufacturing cycle. This includes in-process monitoring and end-of-cycle quality verification, utilizing advanced diagnostics to insure your parts are defect-free.

Does the company have a quality verification system in place?




Reputable molders are well versed in the types of plastics and additives that are available and how they respond in various applications. They will only use prime material suppliers.

Does the plastic injection molder provide expertise in selecting the best resin?

While you may not require a prototype for your project, it is good to know that one can be supplied if needed. Prototypes can be used to help accelerate a project, build enthusiasm and funding within an organization.

Does the company offer prototyping services?

Who will oversee the project?To be sure you get a quality product; your project should involve a manufacturing team. This team will often consist of a Manufacturing Manager, Design Engineer and Specifications Expert.




To get the most competitive pricing, look for a molder who provides design and build expertise, and offers a range of presses sizes to accommodate various products and molds.

Is their pricing competitive, even with offshore molders?

Does the company offer factory tours?Clean and well maintained manufacturing facilities are a sure sign of the manufacturer’s commitment to producing quality products. Ask for a factory tour and look for signs of debris, oil and clutter. They are also signs that the quality processes used by reputable manufacturers are not in place.

How many molding machines do they have and what are their capabilities?Molders with a greater number of presses will be able to accommodate more projects during a given time period. However, they must also have a wide range of machine sizes. Injection mold machines are measured in terms of pressure or tonnage. Plastic injection machines can run from 40 to 4000 tons. The large machines can accommodate larger molds. However, not all parts run well on large machines. Your molder will determine the best machine to use based on the number and size of the part, as well as the material.




There are many resins suppliers in the marketplace and all are not created equal. The resins can be virgin products or recycled. Based on the application, you want to make sure the resins used are of the highest quality. Many consumer applications such as toys and medical products require meeting stringent guidelines compliant with the FDA, RoHS, REACH and NSF.

Does the molder use only prime sources for resins?

This may not seem to be an obvious benchmark to use to evaluate a company, however companies who work to become better stewards of the environment demonstrate several things:

- A commitment to their local community by minimizing the impact of their facility

- A commitment to improving the overall reputation of the industry.

- A commitment to the long-term viability and growth of their company.

A landfill-free factory looks for partners who can reuse, recycle or regenerate all waste created by the organization.

Is the company a land-fill free facility?




This is an important question to ask. When you work with a Manufacturing team who has designed and built the mold, they should offer guarantees. If slight adjustments need to be made to the mold or repairs, the molder should stand behind their work.

Do they guarantee their molds for the life of a project?

Few standards are as important an ISO certification. This certification is recognized throughout the world. It signifies the company and facility operate under an ISO 9001:2008 certified quality management system.

Last, but not least…Is the plastic injection molder an ISO 9001 certified organization?




About The Rodon Group

The Rodon Group2800 Sterling DriveHatfield, PA 19440Phone: 215-822-5544Website: www.RodonGroup.com

The Rodon Group is an ISO 9001-2008 certified plastic injection molder. In business since 1956, the Rodon Group makes billions of parts each year in its 125,000 square foot facility. With over 106 injection molding presses, Rodon is one of the largest family-owned and operated injection molder in the United States. The Rodon Group serves a diverse group of industries including consumer products, medical, construction, pharmaceutical and toys. Since 1992, Rodon has manufactured over 30 billion parts for the K’NEX building toy system, and is a subsidiary of K’NEX Brands, L.P.

For more information please visit www.rodongroup.com.

http://www.rodongroup.com/

How to find the best injection molder for your project.

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