Useful information on requesting/ordering plastic products
To get your quote for plastic products please check which of the two main options below applies to you:
1) You have a mould that has already been used for production. In this case, we can use it for further production of your plastic products. Please send us the product information and mould parameters, and we will estimate production costs for you. Estimation may take 1-3 working days depending on the parameters you have requested.
2) 2. You have no mould and you are starting from scratch:
2.1) You already have a 3D model of the product, drawings, plastic specification, scheduled capacity per month/year and other product documentation. In this case, we can quickly offer you the most accurate quote for both the product and the mould.
2.2) You have a sample to copy or modify.
Here, the accuracy of the quote depends on how much information you can provide: minimal accuracy if you send us a photo, and a more accurate quote if you can send us a sample. If possible, please provide information about unit weight, dimensions, type of plastic, consumption per month/year, additives (UV stabilizers, dyes, antioxidants, flame retardants etc.). All this information will speed up the estimation process and we’ll be able to send you a more accurate quote.
2.3) You only have an idea and sketches of the required product.
This is the longest process with lower estimation accuracy. The reason is that the price of a product can only be calculated with an approved final drawing, and at the idea stage the quote cannot be accurate. In some cases, we can offer assistance in development of a product. This service requires prior approval and it isn't free: the average cost of one unit is 150 euros*. (*design development of a product comes only with a contract for ordering a mould, i.e. this work is a part of the project).
Our job is to produce plastic parts, but for the convenience of our customers, we can also provide moulds. However, if you order moulds yourself and you have no experience in this, please bear in mind that the final cost of the product depends on the performance and quality of the mould. If the mould turns out to be considerably slower than scheduled, the price of the production service will increase. As well, warranty or post-warranty events shall be paid for by the owner of the mould. If you order a mould from us, we do not change the approved price of the production service once the project has been launched, and we provide timely service of the mould for the entire period of its operation.
Below are some frequently asked questions:
The cost of a mould depends on several parameters, for example, the complexity of the product design or the capacity required. The higher the capacity, the lower the price of the final product, while the mould would cost more; and vice versa. High capacity will help to quickly recoup the initial investment, but if the project is small, it is better to keep the initial investment as small as possible, too. Speaking of figures, the minimum cost is from 4000 euros + VAT.
How long does it take to make a mould?It all depends a lot on how prepared you are. Do you already have product drawings? Do you know the brand and features of the material? The average production time is 3 months. In some cases (for simple products) it may take 1.5 months.
Who is paying for the mould?
The mould is almost always unique, and it is also a complex and quite expensive piece of equipment. Since this mould is made especially for you, and the product it produces will be sold only to you, then the costs of its production are also covered by you.
Can I bring my own mould?Yes, if you already have a mould, you can bring it to us for further production of items.
What is the size range of the items we can produce?
The minimum recommended weight of an item is 0.3 g, minimum size 3x3 mm. The maximum weight of an item is 1200 g, maximum size 500x700 mm.
Principle of injection moulding of plastic articles:
Thermoplastic (plastic, polymer) articles are produced with injection machines using the method of injection moulding. Plastic (in form of pellets) is loaded in hopper of injection moulding machine.The dosage amount of granules required for one injection, screw is captured and transferred to the material cylinder, externally heated by electrical elements. Moreover, plastic, at first, moves in continuous flow, but after that overflows torpedo and passes through annular space between cylinder and torpedo in thin layer. Because of this, it gets mixed very well and its temperature rises up to the temperature specified by technological mode.
Injection cycle begins in the moment when a mould closing. First of all, moveable part of the mouldmove and touch stationary part of the mould. In this moment, screw under high pressure injects plastic in a mould, which is cooled with water. Since the temperature of mould is lower by 100—160 °С than temperature of molten material, it becomes cold quickly and hardens. In order to avoid shrinking of plastic as a result of quick cooling, screw hold pressure in a mould forsome time after injection. After that, it moves back and the next portion of plastic is passed to cylinder from hopper in the same order.
Plastic is cooled in a mould for some period of time.Waiting period is determined guiding by viscosity of molten material and wall thickness plastic product. After that, a mould is opened. After opening of mould, ejectors start working with the help of hydraulic cylinders of injection machine, and they push an article out of mould.
