company news about Cost-Effective for Large-Scale Prototyping and Production

While plastic injection molding is best known for mass production, it is also a surprisingly cost-effective solution for large-scale prototyping and pilot production runs. When a company needs to produce a few thousand units for market testing, a low-volume injection mold can be a much more affordable and realistic option than 3D printing or other prototyping methods, which may not scale well.

A medical device startup needed to produce 5,000 units of a new diagnostic tool for clinical trials. They considered 3D printing, but the cost per unit was too high, and the material properties were not accurate to the final product. They instead opted for a low-cavity aluminum injection mold. While the initial tooling cost was higher than 3D printing, the per-unit cost of the parts was significantly lower. The total cost of the project was 40% less than it would have been with 3D printing, and the parts were made from the actual production material, ensuring the clinical trial results were reliable.

For companies with long-term production plans, a low-volume injection mold can also serve as a bridge to full-scale production. It allows them to test the market, gather customer feedback, and refine the product design before investing in a more expensive, high-cavity steel mold. This phased approach reduces risk and ensures that the final product is a success. The flexibility of injection molding to be used for both small-batch and mass production makes it a versatile and cost-effective solution at every stage of the product lifecycle.