Plastic molding is a versatile manufacturing technique used to produce a wide range of plastic parts and products by shaping molten or softened plastic material into a desired form using a mold. This process is widely applied in industries like automotive, consumer goods, medical devices, and packaging due to its efficiency, precision, and ability to create complex shapes at scale. The core idea involves heating plastic (typically in the form of pellets or resin) until it's pliable, forcing it into a mold cavity, allowing it to cool and solidify, and then ejecting the finished part.
While "plastic molding" is an umbrella term, it encompasses several specific processes, each suited to different applications based on factors like part size, complexity, material properties, and production volume. Below, I'll outline the six most common types: