If you have a plastic project and need to find injection molding manufacturers, but don’t know whether to choose the U.S. or Chinese supplier, this article researches the advantages and disadvantages of Chinese and U.S. injection molding manufacturers, you can read this article, which will help you choose the right injection molding suppliers to help you successfully complete your project.
Injection Molding Applications
Plastic injection molding is used to make many things, packaging, bottle caps, auto parts, toys, medical plastic parts, machine parts (including gears), and most other industrial plastic products.
China injection molding companies
Chinese injection molding mainly can produce low-end and mid-end plastic products, such as automotive, consumer, industrial plastic parts, and medical products that are not very strict standards.
US injection molding companies
The US is capable of manufacturing mid-end and high-end plastic products, such as medical, aviation, and high-precision mechanical parts.
In terms of high-precision plastic parts, US injection moulding manufacturers have stronger capabilities, higher standards, and more advanced injection molding machines and equipment. Especially for medical plastic products, there are many companies in the US with clean room production capacity, while only a few custom injection molding companies in China have clean room.
Injection Molding Cost
plastic injection molding cost anywhere between $100 for a 3D printed low-volume injection molding to $100,000+ for a complex multi-cavity steel mold for high-volume production, which generally represents the most significant fixed start-up cost in injection molding. However, as custom injection molding costs get distributed among hundreds or thousands of parts, injection molding is an ideal process to mass-produce plastic parts affordably.
The injection molding tooling cost in China is about 1/2 to 1/4 cheaper than that in the US.
Also for prototype injection molding, China can make low-cost injection molding.
In addition, the DFM for injection molding is also very important, the DFM report in China is generally cheap, 200USD per report. But it will cost at least $1000 per time. Plastic mold manufacturers in china can offer affordable injection molding services.
Injection Molding Timelines
Injection molding manufacturing time varies depending on the complexity of the mold. A simple mold can take 2-4 weeks and a complex mold with small details and undercuts may take 6-8 weeks or longer. Molds can also be made out of aluminum which takes approximately 2 weeks to complete and then another 3 weeks to cure. The ability to make an injection molded part in one month is possible when using plastic injection molds, but it is more difficult than using metal injection molds.
As for choosing custom injection molding services in China or in the US, depending on where you are, If you are local in the US, then you may find a local company in the United States, which may be faster in terms of timeliness, communication is also convenient
But if the price is cheap, then you can live with the cost of communication, choosing injection molding services in China will be better.
conclusion
In conclusion, if you need high-end product accessories manufacturing and are willing to pay more injection molding mold costs, then you can choose US injection mold manufacturers.
If your product requirements are moderate and you want a more economical way to complete your project, then Chinese ones will be your best injection molding companies.
If you need to check more about plastic injection molding manufacturers in China, here is a good article to guide you to select the right one. Contact us for a free quote today!