Plastic Injection Molding

CHOOSING BETWEEN IN-HOUSE OR OUTSOURCED INJECTION MOLDING As your business grows, there are certain adjustments you will have to make to adapt to greater demand. Perhaps you need to hire a few more full-time employees or invest in more sophisticated bookkeeping software. Although these changes may be difficult to get used to at first, they will almost always improve your efficiency and productivity. Below, we’ll help you understand some of the considerations you’ll have as yo

If you have a car, you already know the best way to prevent major issues is to invest in regular care and maintenance. This same principle holds true when it comes to your injection molds. These tools are not only expensive, but will also be used over and over again. Therefore, preventative maintenance on a regular basis will help you get the best use and longevity out of your injection molds. THE BASICS OF INJECTION MOLD MAINTENANCE In a nutshell, injection mold maintenance

First-time product designers, we understand that the first look you get at how much your new product’s injection mold is going to cost can be… impactful. After all, the injection mold is the most expensive element of any new product launch. But why? Why are injection molds so dang expensive? INJECTION MOLD DESIGN AND TOOLING For starters, let’s look at what goes into creating an injection mold in the first place. Injection molds need engineering design to take your initial pr

In our more than 60 years, we've often met people who feel intimidated when it comes time to get started with plastic injection molding. Maybe it’s all the big machines, but--more likely--it’s the high costs often associated with getting started. There are initial upfront investments, of course; these include the design and creation of your injection mold. Yes, it can get spendy. But the good news is, by choosing the right injection molder you can take a lot of the headache o

We know break-ups are painful. But much like that year in high school when you were dating Connie but actually interested in her friend Jessica, there are times when it’s just the right thing to do. THE PAINFUL TRUTH Often companies feel locked in once they’ve selected an injection molder, but the simple fact is your products--and your needs when it comes to your manufacturer--can change over time. And sometimes your injection molder can’t keep up. Don’t get caught singing th

KASO Plastics understands how challenging it can be to find a quality injection molder. To make the decision-making process easier, we’ve provided a list of frequently asked questions we get here at KASO. You can use these questions to evaluate our team or other manufacturers to find the manufacturing partner that's right for you. DOES KASO HAVE AN IN-HOUSE INJECTION MOLD MANAGEMENT PROGRAM? Your injection mold is your most valuable investment. Here at KASO, we ensure that in

Already a $56 billion industry in the United States, the Medical product market shows no signs of slowing in coming years, in particular due to the continued innovation in injection molded medical devices, according to a recent article published in PlasticsNews this month. While the medical market also includes unique challenges for manufacturers--strict FDA regulations, for one, as well as the ever-changing needs of those who are in need of medical products--these challenges

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR INJECTION MOLDING Electronic and electrical connector injection molding is a capability offered by KASO for any of our clients across a wide range of industries, and for good reason. Electronic and electrical connector production requires a very high level of precision to complete the sometimes-intricate components. At KASO, our experienced engineers can assist with part and mold design to ensure close-tolerance parts are produced to meet your requiremen

QUALITY INJECTION MOLDING MACHINES With KASO's new Arburg Vertical Clamp Injection Molding Machine, we are capable of completing precise molding tasks for specific projects and requirements. From PCB encapsulation to weatherproof cable over molding, and connector over molding to custom designs to suit any request. The Arburg 1200 T 1000-400 Vertical Clamp Injection Molding machine utilizes energy saving regulation pumps, precise control technology, high performance hydraulic

KASO’s wide range of plastic injection molding and other contract manufacturing capabilities serve a wide range of industries that includes many industrial markets. We have served the industrial automotive industry for more than 50 years, going back to KASO’s beginnings back in 1962, and our Engineering staff have as many years experience providing expert materials selection to help you find resins that will provide the best combination of high durability and close-tolerance

This past year, the automotive market saw an increase of 4%, the biggest single increase since back in 2002. This is great news for injection molders acting as suppliers for automotive manufacturing, according to a recent article published on plasticsnews.com, and helps explain the 17% increase in sales for automotive molders in 2012. But what else does this mean for companies offering injection molding services for automotive OEMs? To start, it means an increase in hiring as

And that’s good news for the plastics industry across the board, as companies gear up on new capital equipment to meet rising demand for plastic injection molded parts and components in 2014. The new report, filed by a special branch of the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI), provides new data from Q3 2013 that shows an increase of 20% in new shipments of equipment including plastic injection molding, extrusion, blow molding and thermoforming equipment. The figures are a

STRUCTURAL FOAM MOLDING AND AUTOMOTIVE LIGHTWEIGHTING Automotive OEM manufacturers are finding themselves turning to structural foam molding in their continued quest to "lightweight" their automotive parts, hoping to reduce both weight and manufacturing costs via the low pressure traditional plastic injection molding alternative. Automotive manufacturers have been exploring the use of plastic parts in order to replace heavier metal parts that can keep manufacturers from meet

GAS ASSIST INJECTION MOLDING: A VERSATILE MANUFACTURING ALTERNATIVE Gas assist injection molding is one manufacturing technique used at KASO Plastics that can offer real benefits for specific products during their design and manufacturing; it can be a versatile alternative to more traditional injection molding techniques. Traditionally, designs for plastic injection molded products needed to follow tried and true design guidelines for optimal results. INJECTION MOLDING DESIGN

After disappointing numbers in the years following the economic recession, things are starting to look up for the automotive industry. In a recent article posted on Plastic Industry Trade Association SPI’s blog, dismal production figures that dipped down to only 10.6 million units in 2009 have steadily climbed back their way back up—to 12.8 million units closing out 2011 with predictions as high as 13.8 million units for 2012. This increase affects every member of the automo

Results from a recent Winter 2012 Business Forecast Survey presented by the American Mold Builders Association are in... and things are looking good! With almost half of moldmakers who responded expecting an increase in business in 2012, rising employment and increasing profits, all signs seem to predict the positive growth that began in 2011 will continue through 2012. The survey also noted an increase in new equipment purchases for many mold manufacturers in 2012. KASO is a

A November conference held in Livonia, Michigan highlighted a recent shift towards plastics in automotive part design and manufacturing. The move results in large part from growing government and consumer demand for automotive vehicles offering better emissions control and miles per gallon as well as overall product durability. In a recent post from Plasticsnews.com, it was reported that today's automotive design experts are increasingly turning to lighter weight plastics to

Plenty of pivotal moments in history have no doubt been decided over a billiards game but did you know the story of modern injection molding starts here as well? THE HISTORY OF PLASTIC INJECTION MOLDING In 1868, John W. Hyatt patented a process that produced a product he called celluloid, which he used as a replacement for ivory in billiard balls. Just four years later, in 1872, he became the first to inject hot celluloid into a mold. He and his brother Isaiah patented an inj

MEDICAL PLASTICS NEWS At KASO we're always interested in hearing news about new developments in the medical device market. Which is why we were particularly excited when we saw a recent Plasticsnews.com post that Penn State was opening its new Medical Plastics Center of Excellence, a 10,500 square foot facility created to help educate students and assist companies working to develop new medical devices and packaging. Jason Williams, head of the new center, discussed the role