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Tag Archives: blow molding

Polycarbonate Packaging – It’s only the beginning

Polycarbonate water dispenser blow moldingAre you in need of a material for your new invention or updated product that has the look and feel of glass and is also strong, durable and bioinert? Do you need the material to be injection molded or blow molded? Polycarbonate plastic meets all of these requirements and more. Polycarbonate packaging is quickly replacing glass containers because of it’s durability, light weight, heat resistance and biologically inert properties.

Physical Benefits of Polycarbonate :

  • high transparency
  • glass like feel
  • good electrical insulator
  • heat resistant
  • flame retardant
  • high impact resistant
  • low scratch resistant
  • dimensional stability
  • lightweight (as opposed to glass)
  • strong
  • durable
  • biologically inert

Because polycarbonate is highly transparent to visible light with a better light transmission than many kinds of glass it is highly sought out for use in food packaging. An example of a polycarbonate packaging solution is a mid-Michigan company that specializes in bulk coffee for sale. Blow molded polycarbonate cylinders dispense coffee beans in self-serve stations in grocery stores throughout the Great Lakes region and the midwest. The ability to provide a container that is impact resistant, transparent, and safe for food storage is key when it will be used in high traffic areas and contain food goods.

As high of an appeal the transparency factor and FDA food grade polycarbonate is polycarbonate food packaging is just one use for this versatile plastic. Many industries and products that utilize molded plastic rely on the special qualities polycarbonate offers. Polycarbonate can be used in medical applications because of it’s ability to be sterilized using steam at 240 degree. Also niche applications like eyewear protect from UV light

From construction materials and automotive accessories to sunglasses, industrial grade polycarbonate is a highly versatile material that can also be extruded through blow molding processes, injection molding processes and more transformational techniques.

blow molded exterior lamp shade

Light Cover (lens)

Industry Served with Polycarbonate Packaging:

  • Furniture – stadium seating lighting,
  • Appliance – refrigerator shelving, washer dryer parts
  • Automotive Industry – dome lights, headlamp lenses, lighting lenses, windscreens, visors for ATV’s and
  • Consumer Goods – drinking glasses, luggage, dishes,
  • Food and Beverage Industry – water bottles, liquids, condiments, etc.
  • Technology – Data Storage, DVDs, compact discs, and BluRay® discs
  • Electronic Components – e-readers, telecommunications, smart phones
  • Construction Industry – noise barrier walls, green house sheeting,
  • Lawn and Garden Industries – tables, water fountains..
  • Medical Applications – sterile pharmaceutical packaging and utensils

These days plastic, Blow molding, and Injection Molding news is often centered around the PET bottles and the great value polycarbonate, brings to packaging but it’s uses truly seem to be limited only by our imaginations. From safety glass panels, UV protected eyewear, automotive interior parts, and drinking glasses at your favorite brew pub, the varied applications polycarbonite lends itself to offer more opportunities to manufacturers in all industries in Michigan, the mid-west and throughout the United States.

Innovative blow molding polycarbonate packaging received rave reviews at this year’s plastics industry awards. Details of the winning designs are covered in this issue of Plastic News.

Give SPI Blow Molding or SPI Industries Injection Molding a call today to see if polycarbonate is the best solution for your newly designed product. Our rates are competitive and our quality can’t be beat.

Click for a quick quote on your blow molding project or injection molding project.

3d printer plastic prototype a type of prototype for your plastic part

Benefits of 3D Printers for Plastic Prototypes

3d printer plastic prototype for plastic manufacturingDo you have a product invention that you think is ready to go to market? Whether you are an established company or a start-up entrepreneur manufacturing plastic prototypes can be costly and time consuming. Historically many new product design concepts never hit the market because of the time and expense involved in creating the prototype to prove the value to investors or stockholders.

Most of the product inventors on Shark Tank would never be able to step foot on stage if they had to rely on traditional plastic manufacturing methods to make their first product prototype! Fortunately the techies have come to rescue to reduce plastic prototype manufacturing costs. Whether your product prototype will be used in the furniture, agricultural, lawn and garden or even appliance or automotive industry a 3-D printer can be a game changer. Inventors and companies with new product lines can now have detailed prototypes without the expense and time commitment of a full production.

Benefits of a 3D Printer for Plastic Prototypes:

  • considerably less cost
  • considerably less time to produce
  • no need to secure factory space
  • no production line set up
  • no jigs or fixtures or expensive dies required
  • low cost for supplies / prototype material
  • reduce or eliminate shipping and procurement cost
  • plastic prototypes can be created in less than a day

The 3D printer specifications for SPI Blow Molding and SPI Injection molding can be found here. A 3D printer can be the solution for many inventions or newly revised plastic parts. Whether the finished part or finished product will require blow molding or injection molding, SPI can provide a quick and inexpensive prototype in your hands within days. All that’s needed are the specifications for the plastic part or plastic product you want to manufacture. SPI will create a design based on your specifications and develop it for the 3D printer and you will have a prototype.

Once a 3D plastic prototype part is tested fine tuning can be done to the design until a final prototype is approved for manufacturing. Production of plastic parts and products can be handled through the SPI Injection Molding plant or SPI Blow Molding plant depending on the product design.

Inventors and designers rejoice – you don’t have to break the bank to get your new product to market when a 3D printer and plastic prototypes allow you to create mock ups inexpensively and quickly until you achieve the perfect product you envisioned.

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