5 Benefits of Injection Molding for Automotive Components

automotive components

The average automobile is made up of approximately 30,000 different parts. About 1/3 of those automotive components are made from some form of plastic. This number continues to grow as manufacturing methods continue to develop.

The process of injection molding has proven itself to be a huge benefit to the automotive industry and consumers alike. Here are several of the benefits it brings to the table.

1. Fuel Efficiency

Plastics provide strength at a low weight. the more auto parts made with injection molding the lower the weight of the car will be.

By lowering the weight of the vehicle, the engine becomes more responsive. The car requires less fuel to operate and will produce lower emissions. Manufacturers can drop weight even further with the changeover of interior parts.

2. Safety and Performance

Safety remains the #1 development in the automotive world. Plastics continue to develop alongside that. They are rigid when needed and can give way when needed.

Injection molding is advancing the world of safety very quickly.

Injection molding undergoes extensive testing to determine the qualities of the materials used. This way the molders can match specific polymers to the needs of a manufacturing process. Making the process highly customized.

For example, if a car needs a part for the exterior, the molder will want something with high resistance to UV. Because of their testing, they know exactly which molding material is a perfect match.

This also makes it much easier to test for future needs and to change existing plans if problems arise.

3. Ease of Detail Work

The automotive industry is a world that attention to intricate detail is essential. The smallest error could mean the complete failure of a vehicle. Injection molding addresses that material with a wide range of parts with a far lower % of error.

Because the automotive world depends on a large amount of smaller parts it is a blessing that injection molding has this quality.

A large collection of parts can be delegated to a single or couple of subcontractors at most.

4. Greater Resistance to Pressure

Pressure, stress, and heat. Injection molding has made carbon fiber more affordable, no longer for only the luxury car option as well.

The methods of forming injection molded parts can

They are ideal for use around the engine as they keep their integrity over a large range of temperatures (-40°F to 200°F). This and their ability to work with metal fasteners have made them an integral part of overall automotive systems.

Injection pieces can be precisely molded and fit into tight areas without a loss of load-bearing strength.

5. Cost and Variety

Reduced labor costs through more automation, high-speed production, and minimal waste are only a few of the reasons injection molding stands to be an incredibly cost-effective option.

You can mix pigments into the resins used for manufacturing. This eliminates the step that would come after part formation, painting. Painting each of the parts is time intensive and extremely costly.

However, this doesn’t just help with costs. Preparing coloration in this way has led to the development of new and coloring systems such as:

  • Salt and Pepper blends
  • Liquid color
  • Pre-cooled Resins

Purely Plastic Automotive Components

Incorporating the use of injection molding pushed the industry further into innovation. From cost to safety, from emissions to design. If the past few years have shown us anything, even more exciting developments for automotive components are coming.

Get in touch, see how Nova Stevensville can start a collaboration with your organization, and show how the benefits of plastics can serve you.

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