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Story Behind the Award-Winning Blow Molded Product The Pickup Tuck cargo organizer

Award-Winning Blow Molded Product

By John Doster, president, and owner
SPI Blow Molding LLC

Originally published in the August 2019 issues of The Journal of Blow Molding, a Publication of SPE

Back in 2011, a small group of former automotive engineers and designers came together to bring one specific, innovative idea to life. Last year, 2018, that product – dubbed the Pickup Tuck – earned multiple honors from SPE. It took first place in the Auto/Transportation category of the SPE Blow Molding Division’s Industrial Awards and first place in the Industrial Division Awards, as well as the People’s Choice Award in the Industrial Category. This strong showing qualified it for entry in the ANTEC Plastics for Life Parts competition in Detroit in March, where it won the contest’s Quality of Life Award. This is the story of how that concept came to life, from its invention by automotive engineers, through its design by experts — including consultants from 99Studio Inc. and Garrett Engineering Services — to its manufacture by SPI Blow Molding

Award-Winning Blow Molded Product – An Innovative Idea

Former automotive engineer Jim Todd mocked up a “truck trunk” designed to prevent loose items from sliding to the front of his pickup truck’s bed. Todd made his initial prototypes out of wood and PE sheet and made copies of his invention for interested friends. With help from colleagues, Carl Powell and Russ Sheehan, Todd modified his concept, creating a portable truck-bed barrier made up of plastic panels that can be folded flat and stored in the truck cab when not in use. The panels stretch out across the back of the truck, from the passenger’s side to the driver’s side. To take it to market, in early 2012, the three formed a new company, TSP Enterprises. Powell serves as president and CEO, while Sheehan became VP of prototype and manufacturing engineering and Todd is VP of product concept engineering. Todd’s portable cargo organizer is different from cargo boxes that were already on the market because it is a temporary “trunk” that can be installed and taken down in a matter of minutes without any tools. With the tailgate forming one side, the panels create a box, covering and protecting contents from the elements. The panels corral loose items near the tailgate, preventing them from sliding around the truck bed and making it easy to reach them without having to climb into the bed. If the tailgate is locked, the contents also are secured against theft. Todd, Sheehan, and Powell helped make the prototypes, and TSP worked toward larger volume production of the panels. An award-winning blow molded product is the result.

Looking for the Right Partners

In May 2017, TSP approached SPI Blow Molding, a small custom blow molding company, to get a quote to see if manufacturing the product was feasible. TSP’s challenge was to determine the right manufacturing process and partner to help it build the tools, manufacture the parts and assemble the components cost-effectively. It looked at injection molding, rotational molding and thermoforming before concluding that extrusion blow molding (EBM) would provide the best shot at success. TSP determined that EBM was the right fit because the expected volume would quickly surpass the ability of rotomolding to produce parts cost-effectively. Injection molding would have resulted in parts that had one show side and a lot of structural ribs on the other. Meanwhile, thermoforming didn’t provide the required structural strength. EBM presents the perfect balance of part weight, cycle time, tooling costs and finished part appearance. SPI’s management team recognized the product’s utility and potential, and TSP chose SPI because of the manufacturer’s technical expertise in blow molding flat panels and willingness to partner and provide additional leadership and capital. As part of the companies’ deal, SPI holds an equity position in TSP.

Getting the Manufacturer Involved Early

A key to TSP’s success was getting SPI involved early in the process. The blow molder employs about 32 full-time employees and operates on a 24-hour, five-day-a-week production schedule. It runs a wide variety of resins on 13 EBM machines that can handle shot sizes ranging from 1 pound to 42 pounds. Its portfolio includes products for the agriculture, automotive aftermarket, food and beverage, industrial, marine, medical, military, pet supply, and transportation industries. SPI has also been recognized by SPE for other award-winning blow molded products, including the HDPE Buzz Ball Football game table.

In addition to its blow molded parts, the Pickup Tuck has one injection molded component — a part that’s made by SPI Industries LLC, South Bend, Ind., the custom injection molding division of SPI.

SPI Blow Molding, LLC Continues to Improve Productivity with Purchase of New Blow Molding Machine

spi new blow molding machine

The AH 550-100 Blow Molding Machine placed in production at SPI Blow Molding’s Coloma, Michigan plant is manufactured by Pet All Manufacturing Inc. The machine has a 20 lb. shot size with a part takeout and will be used to produce various industrial parts suitable for blow molding.

Blow Molding Machine Component Main Features:

  • The mold head is designed for high-quality parison and quick color changes.
  • The extrusion system uses a completely new machine-barrel screw design with a high level of adaptability to a wide range of raw materials.
  • Energy efficient for low energy consumption.
  • The mold-closing unit is a double-pull-rod structure, providing a large space to access the mold, facilitating easier and quicker setups.
  • The control system that integrates the PLC control with the servo control of the parison wall thickness is compact and has excellent reliability.
  • The part take-out provides improved consistency, faster cycle times and overall better productivity.
  • This new blow molding machine from Pet All Mfg will help SPI Blow Molding to increase production volume, increase part quality, reduce cycle and deliver overall better efficiency and productivity.

About SPI Blow Molding LLC. SPI Blow Molding is a custom blow molding company located in the southwestern Michigan town of Coloma. We boast a deep understanding of the blow molding process and possess a unique ability to blow mold a wide range of materials and part sizes. We manufacture our proprietary line of bulk food gravity dispensers under the Best Bins name. (www.bestbins.com.) Other industries served include agriculture, automotive accessories, furniture manufacturing, medical, RV, and safety equipment. SPI Blow Molding is committed to improving equipment and capabilities in support of their belief that every customer deserves Quality Parts, on Time and a Fair Price.

Pet All Manufacturing Inc. offers a full range of blow molding equipment of very high quality to the Americas and Europe. Our blow molding machines are conceived and engineered in North America by experienced engineers, then integrated at our 2 North American locations (Markham, Ontario and Paynesville, MN) to offer the best return on investment in the plastics bottle molding machine industries in the USA.

SPI Industries Offers Vertically Integrated Manufacturing

Ready-to-use Quality Parts on Time,

at a Fair Price 

Benefits of Vertically Integrated ManufacturingSPI has adopted vertically integrated manufacturing solutions to ensure our customers receive high value and on-time delivery. By managing the entire supply chain of each plastic part, our customers enjoy cost savings, maximized efficiency and value along with consistency throughout their product line.

Vertically integrated manufacturing includes multiple phases of plastic parts development.

Managing each step of the development process allows SPI to deliver a full-service solution to customers. Integrating the entire process from concept to delivery helps maintain the integrity of each product and allows for delivery of ready-to-use quality parts on time, at a fair price.

Examples of SPI Industries vertical integration capabilities:

cnc machine for plastic part manufacturingProduct Design Support and Development
• CAD design support

Engineering
• Dye / Mold engineering

Plastic Mold Making
• Mold Testing

Material Sourcing

Plastic Mold Production
• Blow molding
• Injection molding
• ThermoformingCMM - Coordinate measuring machine (photo is of CMM Mitutoyo BN715) to identify different types of measurements

Assembly

Packaging / Pack Out

Labeling / Branding

Product Package and Insert Design Support

Distribution

Delivery

Warehousing

Sales and Marketing

SPI works with OEM’s of all sizes. From small start-up companies to large corporations, we consistently hear how challenging it is to get a product to market.

When your plastic part or plastic product has to be ready, you don’t have time to research multiple manufacturing blow molders, injection molders or thermoforming — let alone attempt to integrate all of their schedules. Vertical integration manufacturing from SPI Industries streamlines each phase while reducing costs, delays, and errors.

Examples of how Vertically integrated manufacturing practices benefit customers of SPI Industries:

A new customer came to SPI Industries with a new product that required blow molding, injection molding, and assembly. With SPI’s vertical integration the customer was able to achieve cost benefits with design support, tooling, manufacturing, and shipping. The cost and time benefit allowed the new customer to increase market share by offering a new product to the market with shorter lead time and a lower cost.

A current blow molding customer was having a delivery issue with their current thermoforming supplier. SPI Industries thru vertical integration was able to mold the components at one plant and CNC trim the components at another. This integration of manufacturing allowed SPI to help their customer meet current demands and avoid the loss of orders.

Benefits of Vertically Integrated Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management:

Cost Savings – cutting costs also lowers the price of each product
Sustainability – Less impact on the environment (reduced travel, packaging, etc.)
Increased communication – work with the same project lead instead of multiple managers in different locations
Maximized Value – Keeping Manufacturing in the United States and Great Lakes Region – Supporting local economy helps your community and also increases sustainability
More consistency – using the same molds, staff, and equipment assures each part is the same overtime
Increased flexibility and Customization – Each process affects the next. When a change is considered all project heads or engineers can be brought up to speed together and concerns can be addresses
Reliability – when one company is handling each step of your project they have a buy into the success of your product (they have a lot to lose too!)
Maximized Efficiency – Increased communication, consistent points of contact, No concerns of delayed shipping

Manufacturing demands increase daily and we are all tasked with finding ways to increase efficiency and maximize value. SPI Industries wants to remove the headache and unforeseen costs from your product development. Give us a call today. We will review your current supply chain and offer suggestions so you can have ready-to-use quality parts on time, at a fair price

Tips-for-Transfer-Tooling

What Are the Steps to Take to Transfer Tooling to a New Vendor?

Tips for transfer toolingIs transferring tooling on your to-do list? What would you do if your current blow molding supplier announced they were going out of business next month? How would you find a qualified replacement in a short time frame? The transfer of your tooling assets to a new vendor is mission critical and most OEMs are not prepared for such an unexpected undertaking. Starting from scratch with new tooling is not an option. Locating a company who accepts transfer tooling, has the capacity to meet your production while maintaining quality control standards is like finding a unicorn.

Here in the Midwest where we are heavy on automotive, furniture, medical devices, and plastics packaging, the economic crisis resulted in a high percentage of bankruptcies. SPI has become adept at receiving molds that had not been maintained to our standards. We learned quickly that transferring tooling from one company to another required a disciplined and coordinated effort. To that end, establishing clear communication, defined expectations, along with an inbound tooling documentation process are necessary for best results.

At SPI Blow Molding we’ve had customers transfer tooling to us for a variety of reasons. In some cases, the OEM’s current supplier had gone out of business. In other instances, their product demand had outgrown the capabilities or capacity of their current supplier, while others were seeking turnkey solutions that addressed their need to focus time and energy managing and growing their business. Our Experience working closely with the OEMs, setting strategic plans and reviewing industry journals helped implement the following transfer tooling guidelines.

Steps for Transferring Tooling:

Contractual Agreement: A Non-Disclosure Agreement along with part prints, quality requirements and production requirements would be included in the contractual agreement. This will outline the responsibilities and expectations of each party and can be as simple or as detailed as needed depending on the organizational and project needs. Outlining any legal partnership agreements between the two business entities is a requirement for a government or corporate compliance.

Conducting an on-site tool assessment: While performing an assessment while the tool is in production will usually produce the necessary information to facilitate a seamless tool transfer, it is very rarely a viable option. There is an enormous value when SPI’s experienced technicians can see the mold in use and talk with the engineers and operators who are part of the actual production procedures. Quite often, there are workarounds or shortcuts the current production team has adopted that may not have been documented, yet are necessary to achieve the production goal. A great deal of time and money can be saved if this tribal knowledge is shared in advance.

Safety Stock: The safety stock produced would allow time for the tool and support equipment to be transferred and validated. SPI Blow Molding suggests allowing six to eight weeks for complete transfer and validation.

Tool Transfer: It is important to conduct a thorough tool & fixture evaluation upon receipt of your assets. We evaluate, document and report any areas of concern prior to sampling the tool.

Tool Validation: SPI’s Engineers, Production and Quality Staff will collaborate with the OEM’s key staff to validate tooling capability. We will also review for potential improvements to facilitate better quality and lower cost production parts.

Quality Standards: Quality parts come first, then comes quantity. We will verify all quality specifications against supplied part prints and fully document these requirements along with any necessary testing, gaging or secondary assembly.

Production: Once the tools have been validated and quality standards documented, we will work very hard to meet, or exceed, both your immediate and long-term production requirements. We look forward to becoming a valued blow molding supplier.

However, there are situations when 6-8 weeks are not available. At these times, it’s even more critical to be working with a supplier that has appropriate capacity and experience to give the immediate and necessary attention to the myriad of details required to achieve the quality and production standards to ensure your success and ultimately YOUR customer’s satisfaction.

At SPI we believe in Quality Parts, On Time at a Fair Price – even for transfer tooling assets.  If you would like to learn more about how SPI can manage your transfer tooling process please visit our website. Make sure to check our company’s equipment list consisting of three dual head presses and ten single head presses ranging in tonnage from 5 tons to 200 tons of clamp force with shot capacities up to 42# and our broad range of material capabilities. SPI is ready to work with you and your partners in providing the ease of the transfer tooling process. Please give us a call today at 269-849-3200 or complete the inquiry form to connect with an SPI blow molding specialist.

Portable-Safety-Products-Online-shop

Find Portable Safety Products to Bulk Food Bins [for People and Pets!] in Our Online Shop

Portable Safety Products Online shop The Boys Safety barriers

Sorry product inventors and CAD engineers, we are not selling pre-made plastic molds in our online shop! What we are selling in the online shop is a variety of finished blow molded plastic products. Our online store includes portable safety products for safety at work, commercial bulk food bins for stores and markets and a large pet feeding and storage station, plus more to come. All of the products for sale on the SPI online shop were designated and made entirely in the USA.

All of the plastic molded products we feature in our online store are products SPI Industry manufactures. SPI Blow Molding has developed  and supported design of all the plastic part molds and has taken each item from concept to delivery. Online and brick and mortar retail outlets, including Amazon and Quality Elevator, carry some of our products. However, creating the online shop here on the moldedparts.com website just made sense for us. The online shop allows us to reach a larger audience who need these items. With the shop, the products can get into our customer’s hands more quickly. Current customers appreciate knowing they’ll get the quality and trust they expect from us and also enjoy hassle-free fulfillment. Orders are shipped within 1-2 business days of purchase.

Find Work and School Portable Safety Products on the SPI Online Shop

One of our most popular portable safety products includes The Boys Portable Safety Barricades. The Boys safety barricades are used in manufacturing, education, and any variety of public space that has occasion for collapsible safety barricades. Many manufacturing plants, office buildings, museums, zoos, and schools use “The Boys” to block off areas quickly and efficiently. The bright yellow plastic work man design has a friendly yet cautionary appearance especially suited to block kids safely away from unsafe areas.

Food Safe Plastic Bulk Bins and Dispensers

Two other popular products available in the SPI online shop include the Best Bins line of food safe, high quality, durable bulk food dispensers. From four gallon to eight-gallon sizes SPI’s Best Bin line is convenient and reliable bulk food dispensers used in retail specialty markets and grocery stores throughout the world.

SPI’s Pet Silo is currently only available for purchase here on the SPI online store. (also available on Amazon) The Pet Silo is a convenient animal food storage and dispenser used to hold 40 plus pounds of animal food. The design of the Pet Silo keeps other critters out and helps keep pets and animals food fresh. For homes, barns, chicken coops or backyard bird feeders, the Pet Silo is a neat and handy solution for the often messy job of pet food storage and dispensing.

Visit the SPI Online Store Today

We hope you find that our online store supports our mission to deliver ready-to-use quality parts on time at a fair price. SPI honors product inventors and enjoys supporting our customers by sharing these new inventions. If you have suggestions on ways we to enhance our online shop for your convenience, please contact us with your suggestions.

Thanks for stopping by SPI please contact us for all of your plastic injection moldings and blow molding needs.

Enter or mention PROMO CODE SAVE5 for a Special Introductory Discount. Expires 2/01/2018. Exclusions apply.
SPI Full service manufacturing boxes in warehouse with forklift great lakes region

Full Service Manufacturing of Plastic Parts

SPI Full service manufacturing boxes in warehouse with forklift great lakes region

SPI Injection Molding and SPI Blow Molding offer full service manufacturing of plastic components and finished goods. As a full service manufacturing source in the Great Lakes region, SPI can handle all aspects of manufacturing for your product that contains injection or blow molded plastic parts. From design and tooling, to quality control and assembly, to packing and fulfillment, SPI supports your success by delivering quality parts on time, at a fair price.

From concept to completion

In this competitive market, companies seek every opportunity for cost savings. Maintaining high levels of quality while meeting increased demands for faster turn offers a competitive edge. Working with one experienced plastic molding company instead of working with multiple companies at different stages of the manufacturing process ensures consistency and accuracy for your plastic parts. Selecting full service manufacturing from SPI Industries helps you breathe easy.

Benefits of Full Service Manufacturing of Plastic Parts

Shorter production times

Keeping all phases of the plastic part manufacturing process with one company, reduces production time. Once production begins, each step in the process is set and scheduled. With full service manufacturing, all communication and coordination is streamlined into a proven system and managed by a team of professionals. Each part moves smoothly from tooling to delivery.

Reduced plastic part manufacturing costs

At our full service manufacturing facilities, engineers, designers, and manufacturers work together on each project. The close proximity of the departments allows them to communicate quickly and efficiently. If there are adjustments needed throughout the manufacturing phase they will be identified and addressed at each step. This level of quality control can’t be obtained when each phase of production is outsourced to different companies.

Streamline communication

Working with one company decreases errors caused by inefficient communication. We’ve all encountered issues when changes have not been explained accurately or in a timely fashion. Whether in business, or in our personal lives, limiting the amount of people involved in a process reduces the chance for miscommunication. With full service manufacturing you contact one team. There is no need to schedule meetings with multiple teams or determine logistics for communicating across different time zones.

Time is money.

Each step in the manufacturing process that can be eliminated saves time and money. Because a full-service manufacturing provider is accountable for all aspects of a project, often a higher level of personalized service will result. The buck stops with the full service manufacturing provider. There is no blaming other vendors. Ensuring all processes are correct in the very beginning helps projects move smoothly through each stage. Additional cost savings are returned through discounted rates offered by many full-service manufacturers that niche companies do not offer.

Keeping everything under one roof also eliminates the need to allocate additional funds for packaging and transportation between manufacturing facilities. Staff training, estimating, billing, reports, and correspondence is streamlined when all phases of a product are completed by one company.

Would you like to learn more about how SPI Industries could serve as your full service manufacturing source in the Great Lakes region?  SPI Industries’ processing technologies include blow molded and injection molded ready-to-use plastic parts. Give us a call today or complete the inquiry form to connect with an SPI product specialist. Certified to ISO 9001:2015 standards and compliant for food-grade parts, SPI will design and build your mold and deliver ready-to-use quality parts on time, at a fair price.

Accurate Estimate for Plastic Molded Parts

How To Get an Accurate Estimate for Plastic Molded Parts

Accurate Estimate for Plastic Molded Parts

Are you a developer, designer or inventor of products that requires blow molded or injection molded plastic parts? Do you think you are ready to bring your new idea to market? Are you looking for a price quote for blow molding or injection molding for your new product?

SPI is regularly contacted by developers, designers and inventors, who’s products are at varying stages of development. More sophisticated and experienced customers may have 3D CAD files or prototype molds built before calling us. Some customers may have 2D drawings or a homemade prototype mocked up. While, still others bring only sketches or concepts. We have examples of each maturing into successful product launches.

While the appearance of the product or the visible parts may be well thought out, the function, material and plastic molded part design requires a great deal of exploration. Below, we discuss some of the design questions we consider to deliver Quality Parts at a Fair Price.

We have specific questions that need answers before SPI can provide an accurate estimate on part pricing. We look at ways to help design for ease of manufacture at both the part design as well as the tool design. Producing a clear and thorough estimate for plastic molded parts design and development requires a great deal of communication and expertise.

Before you are ready to manufacture your idea, these questions are important to consider:

What is the end use of your product?

  • Will the part be exposed to chemicals?
    If a product is going to be exposed to bleach, or ammonia or other chemicals, there are specific resins that we will recommend to used that will ensure the integrity of the plastic part over time and use.
  • Will your product hold food or beverages for human consumption?
    There are specific guidelines required for food safe storage products. Because of the stringent guidelines, not all injection molding or blow molding companies offer food safe plastic solutions.
  • Will your part be exposed to extreme temperatures or other environmental conditions?
    These considerations will allow your molder to offer recommendations of resins and special additives that may be used to allow your part to function under extreme conditions.

Specific Design Elements will determine best processing technology for Plastic Molded Parts

  • What are the dimensions of your plastic molded parts?
    The size and annual demand of your part will dictate which plastic molding process is required. SPI can help you determine the best processing technology for your product. Typically, small, complex parts such as handles for tools or pens are ideal for injection molding. Hollow objects such as bottle and beverage containers are best suited for blow molding. Where does your product fit? We can help.
  • How complex is your part? Will your part need to be flexible?
    Is your part a simple rectangle with one notch that will connect with another part? Does your part have multiple levels, notches, clips or bellows? Does your part start large and get progressively smaller? Do any elements of your part need to move or be removable? Is a portion hard, while another component pliable such as a clip that must be squeezed into a hole to later expand? The complexity of the design will dictate the type of material, time needed for the mold development and tooling.

What materials are best for your plastic molded part design?

  • Which polymers or resins are best for your product?
    If you are not familiar with the many types of plastic materials on the market, a qualified plastic molder can help you make the best selection. Once a molding engineer knows the end use of your product, the size, quantity, and processing technology, they should be able to offer options for the best material selection for your plastic molded parts.

As you can discern from the many questions posed above, there are many variables that will determine the best solution to manufacture, assemble and deliver your product. The manufacturing company you choose should be a partner in the success of your product. Give SPI Blow Molding or SPI Injection Molding a call, we look forward to partnering with you to help launch your new product. We will support your success by delivering Quality Parts, On Time at a Fair Price.

New press for full service plastic parts manufacturer

SPI Industries Blow Molding Division Invests In New Equipment To Increase Capacity And Processing Capabilities

New press for full service plastic parts manufacturer

Leading Michigan | Indiana molder and full service plastics parts manufacturer, SPI Industries, has increased its capabilities significantly and upgraded its technology for prototypes and production with the purchase of a new press.

spi-blow-molding-pressThe new Impco B30 Press has been installed at SPI Industries’ manufacturing facility in Coloma, Michigan, and will provide an increase to capacity along with an increase in production speed. The installation of the new press with 5 lb accumulator, twin 2.5 lb heads, with manual and auto controller is part of SPI Industries 2014 major expansion project. Since the completion of a constructed 6,000 sq ft warehouse, SPI Blow Molding has stabilized and grown.  With increased demand for plastic manufacturing in Michigan and Indiana and throughout the Great Lakes Region, installation of the new press will allow SPI to keep up with increased demand.

From product and tool design, to shipment of finished goods, SPI is a full service plastic parts manufacturer poised for continued growth. By increasing its press production capacity, SPI’s customers will benefit from faster turn arounds and increased production quantities. From small runs to high volume injection or blow molding, SPI continues to be a good fit for a large variety of product developers.

SPI Blow Molding Engineer, Nick Kraus, said “By investing in the latest technology we are increasing our flexibility and production capabilities, along with automation for larger quantities. The new machine will work alongside SPI’s existing machines on the production line to significantly increase our volume and capacity”.

SPI Industries is a leading full service plastic parts manufacturer with blow molding and injection molding capabilities.  SPI processes basic polypropylenes and ethylenes to the increasingly popular, and difficult to master, clear polycarbonates. Providing high quality manufacturing services including prototype and pre-production of molds, product assembly, storage, and shipping, makes SPI the complete solution for plastic parts and products. The company designs and assembles molds for a wide range of customers in many industries including appliance, outdoor, recreation, hardware, healthcare, agricultural, furniture, safety and food storage.

For more information on how SPI Industries can help you as a top choice, full service plastic parts manufacturer and product fulfillment experts, visit moldedparts.com or call SPI Blow Molding at 269-849-3200 or for Injection Molding call 574-272-3733.

Plastic Product Manufacturing Michigan and Indiana

plastic-product-manufacturing-michigan-and-indiana

SPI Industries has been a leader in the Midwest custom molding and plastic product manufacturing scene since the 1950s. Our beginnings revolved around injection molding and high quality tool design and building. Over time we have expanded our capabilities to include custom blow molding, product assembly and customer fulfillment in South west Michigan. We are equipped to handle the entire manufacturing process from start to finish. It begins by working closely with customers to define the part specifications of our clients, based on the product requirements. We pride ourselves in delivering our customers Quality Parts.

Our experience in a wide range of plastic product manufacturing processes, helps reduce time and money spent generating designs and test prototypes. We can help facilitate the design and manufacturing of your product from concept to delivery. We pride ourselves in delivering our customers Quality Parts, On Time.

SPI has a long history of being a “Go To” custom blow molder in southern Michigan and custom injection molder in northern Indiana. Our experience as custom molders, has given us a broad knowledge base with many resins and processes that most other blow molders and injection molders wouldn’t even consider. This allows us to succeed at projects where others have failed. SPI can also let you know when there may be a better approach that we simply do not have the capability to provide. We pride ourselves on delivering our custom molding customers Quality Parts, On Time, At a Fair Price.

Why Choose Injection Molding?

Injection molding is the most commonly used type of plastic product manufacturing in use today.  The process can be used to manufacture items that consist of over 18,000 different types of plastic materials, such as thermoplastics and some types of thermosets and elastomers.

The injection molding process has existed since 1872; the first products manufactured by this process were billiard balls made by John and Isaiah Hyatt. However, injection molding can be used to manufacture almost any solid or open-ended object, from hair combs to the dashboards of cars.  The plastic injection molding process consists of injecting a molten plastic material into a metal mold and letting it cool and dry.  Designing molds for injection molding requires a lot of expertise; a mold must be designed so that the part will be of uniform thickness and allow it to be easily ejected from the mold.  SPI Industries is experienced in designing molds for injection molding. We will sample the mold and make minor adjustments until they are just right for manufacturing before we begin mass producing your products.

Often creating prototype parts will help in both part design as well as tool design. Having a prototype part for more complicated designs will generally help to reduce the amount of adjustments during the sampling process.

Why Choose Blow Molding?

In contrast to injection molding, blow molding is the process used for making hollow plastic parts.  It is also required when making items that vary in thickness in different parts of the object, such as gas tanks.  Blow Molding is commonly used for higher volume parts that are currently being roto-molded, due to a faster cycle time when compared to roto-molding. However, the nature of blow molding usually has longer cycle times and more processing variation than injection molding.

The SPI Industries Difference

Here are some reasons why SPI Industries should be your first choice for plastic molding manufacturing in the Great Lakes region

  • We can handle all steps of the design and manufacturing process, which will save you time and money.
  • We are equipped for both injection molding and blow molding.
  • We have decades of experience and keep up with the latest technological advances in plastic product manufacturing.
  • We are familiar with the requirements for plastic products in many different industries.
  • We can do small runs of products, large runs, or anything in between.
  • Because of the amount and variety of equipment we have in house, we can help bring your ideas to fruition in a relatively short time frame.

Quality Parts. On Time. At a Fair Price.

Temporary Plastic Safety Barricades

plastic safety barricades - the boys

Plastic safety barricades are used to block off areas from automotive or pedestrian traffic. From a single barricade to a continuous, obstruction free, fencing system, safety barricades provide clear guidance through work zones. Highly visible barricades prevent people from entering dangerous work zones.

Plastic safety barricades have increased in popularity

Safety barricades are used in emergencies and in situations when accidents have occurred or have the potential to occur. To ensure timely response, safety barricades that are lightweight, easily assembled, and easy to break down and store are very popular. Using plastic safety barricades meet these demands.

Plastic safety barricade uses

Plastic safety barricades are used heavily in road construction. Those of us in the midwest know orange barrel season all too well! The ever present orange plastic cones used to keep people in their driving lanes and out of off-limit areas are universal indicators of caution.

Most A-frame barricades traditionally constructed of wood are now entirely constructed of plastic. From the A-frame sides to the 2 x 4 rails with reflective caution stripes, these temporary plastic safety barricades are weather resistant, easy to install, break down, stack, and store until they are needed again.

Plastic safety systems also include temporary barricades for use inside buildings. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration offers guidelines for proper placement of barricades for protection of employees in all circumstances. From blocking off spills in cafeterias, closing off construction areas, blocking areas with limited access, warning of wet paint or wet floors, and many other precautionary instances, plastic safety barricades are in demand.

Benefits of Plastic Safety Barricades:

  • lightweight
  • durable
  • weather proof
  • damage resistant
  • color can be added during manufacturing process
  • stickers / labels can be applied
  • reusable – recyclable

free standing barricade -the boysSPI Blow Molding manufactures plastic safety barricades in a product for both interior and exterior safety situations called, “The Boys”. The Boys are a unique plastic safety barricade. Each ‘boy’ is all one piece and is 80% larger than the standard tent sign at 31” wide by 41” high. There is no set up time or any additional parts needed for use. If the area requires sectioning off, multiple boys can be used to form a temporary, solid wall, maintenance barricade by joining them at the hands. The unique ‘boy’ shape is 1,271 square inches of bright yellow plastic.

Each boy has ‘Caution: Out of Order’ emblazoned across the chest and a stop sign on the helmet. Quick deployment of the wire stand on the back of each boy allows it to be free-standing. The wire doesn’t get in the way when multiple boys are joined together to form a solid pedestrian barricade. Once the area is secure again the lightweight ‘boy’ folds flat for convenient storage.

Use of ‘The Boys’ and other plastic safety barricades in manufacturing plants, schools, offices, shopping centers and stores help keep visitors, children, personnel, contractors, and everyone in the facility safe. If you, or your organization, are looking for plastic safety barricades to alert people of hazardous situations with maximum visibility, ‘The Boys’ may be a good solution. As the manufacturer of ‘The Boys’ SPI is presenting them for purchase and delivery. Contact us today with any questions.

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