IN-MOLD DECORATION OFFERS NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRODUCT DESIGNERS

Though injection molding has been around since the 19th century, the efficiency, capacity and quality of the injection molding process has grown by leaps and bounds and the process used by manufacturers today is quite different from its original iteration. One of the more recent advancements to injection molding is the development of in-mold decoration, or IMD. This process allows manufacturers to efficiently and effectively add designs or logos to products in order to boost the aesthetic appeal and durability of a given part. If you’re thinking about using in-mold decoration for your next project, here are a few things to consider.

THE COST OF IN-MOLD DECORATION

As with any decision you make for your business, the matter of cost will likely play into whether you choose in-mold decoration. The first thing you should consider is the upfront cost. If you have a flat component that can be decorated through basic thermoforming, you probably won’t incur significant additional expenses, but decoration for 3D objects can become much more complicated and therefore costly. Beyond this upfront cost, however, you may actually end up saving money. You may be able to save money with in-mold decoration over other methods of decoration such as pad printing as well as improving the final product’s quality.

BENEFITS OF IN-MOLD DECORATION

Once you’ve taken the cost of IMD into account, it’s a good idea to weigh it against the many benefits you have to gain. Improved part appearance and durability are a couple of the big benefits. In addition, in-mold decoration allows much greater creativity. The process itself is fast and won’t significantly increase the manufacturing time of your components. IMD is also notorious for its high level of quality. The colors and patterns that IMD can produce are often more vibrant and bright than the decoration that can be achieved with other processes.

KASO INJECTION MOLDING

Do you have more questions about whether in-mold decoration is right for you? The team here at KASO would be more than happy to help. We can guide you through the IMD process step-by-step and help you determine whether it’s the right choice for your business.

Learn more about film insert molding, an in-mold decoration technique available now at KASO Plastics.