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Plastic Injection molding is a 20th century product with roots going back thousands of years. The earliest “molding” was making
adobe bricks from a form, in effect pressing the material together, using a catalyst such as water to emulsify and unify the
material, and then using heat from the sun to harden the resulting product. Each brick came out the same size using the mold
and thus made for uniform construction.
Today’s plastic parts use feed-stock pellets of plastic that include dyes for coloration, and often include fibers to provide
strength, resilience and durability. The pellets are fed into the machine, heated to a liquid form, and then injected (pressed) into
a mold. When the product cools and sets into the molded part shape it is removed from the mold, and the part is inspected for
uniformity. In this way each part, whether the run is 100 or 100 million, meets specifications.
Plastics and rubber products today are a $200 Billion industry with manufacturing in every corner of the globe. The industry
includes injection molding, as well as sheet plastics and extrusions. The industry is now expanding into composites that include
some “plastics” but also fiberglass, carbon fiber and other exotic blends with specific engineered capabilities.
adobe bricks from a form, in effect pressing the material together, using a catalyst such as water to emulsify and unify the
material, and then using heat from the sun to harden the resulting product. Each brick came out the same size using the mold
and thus made for uniform construction.
Today’s plastic parts use feed-stock pellets of plastic that include dyes for coloration, and often include fibers to provide
strength, resilience and durability. The pellets are fed into the machine, heated to a liquid form, and then injected (pressed) into
a mold. When the product cools and sets into the molded part shape it is removed from the mold, and the part is inspected for
uniformity. In this way each part, whether the run is 100 or 100 million, meets specifications.
Plastics and rubber products today are a $200 Billion industry with manufacturing in every corner of the globe. The industry
includes injection molding, as well as sheet plastics and extrusions. The industry is now expanding into composites that include
some “plastics” but also fiberglass, carbon fiber and other exotic blends with specific engineered capabilities.
In the 1967 movie “The Graduate”, Dustin Hoffman in the starring role, is pulled
aside at his graduation party by a well-meaning friend of the family and is given this
career advice, “I only have one word to tell you, plastics.” Since the mid 60’s the
industry has experienced phenomenal growth, and considerable challenges. One of
the principal components in today’s plastics are hydrocarbons, which flow from the
oil refining process. The oil price shocks in the mid seventies and later, have had a
profound effect on the pricing of materials and end products.
Bioplastics is a growing new technology could add explosive growth to the industry.
Using bioplastic resins some products such as plastic bags can be derived from
plant based sources, and are bio-degradable so the product will eventually dissolve
into its component parts in a landfill. At present some feedstock is recycled material,
though in some applications the customer requires “virgin” material for the product.
Uses for plastics continues to grow. Its durability, light weight, ease of manufacture
and ability to be molded into complex shapes makes it ideal for uses in aircraft,
automobiles, and other consumer products. The use of plastics is increasing in new
home construction with extruded pipe replacing copper, and new types of insulation
and structural applications. New research in plastic-based transistors and organic
light emitting displays are being used in new ways including electronic billboards,
HDTV and flexible laptop computers. Because transistors made from plastics are
cheaper and easier to manufacture this research has exciting implications for future
growth in the industry.
aside at his graduation party by a well-meaning friend of the family and is given this
career advice, “I only have one word to tell you, plastics.” Since the mid 60’s the
industry has experienced phenomenal growth, and considerable challenges. One of
the principal components in today’s plastics are hydrocarbons, which flow from the
oil refining process. The oil price shocks in the mid seventies and later, have had a
profound effect on the pricing of materials and end products.
Bioplastics is a growing new technology could add explosive growth to the industry.
Using bioplastic resins some products such as plastic bags can be derived from
plant based sources, and are bio-degradable so the product will eventually dissolve
into its component parts in a landfill. At present some feedstock is recycled material,
though in some applications the customer requires “virgin” material for the product.
Uses for plastics continues to grow. Its durability, light weight, ease of manufacture
and ability to be molded into complex shapes makes it ideal for uses in aircraft,
automobiles, and other consumer products. The use of plastics is increasing in new
home construction with extruded pipe replacing copper, and new types of insulation
and structural applications. New research in plastic-based transistors and organic
light emitting displays are being used in new ways including electronic billboards,
HDTV and flexible laptop computers. Because transistors made from plastics are
cheaper and easier to manufacture this research has exciting implications for future
growth in the industry.
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| Kansas Plastics Company 32 Clark Avenue Wellington, KS 67152 Phone: 620-326-5007 Fax: 620-326-5601 info@kansasplastics.com |