Last Updated on May 21, 2022 by Maria James
China’s manufacturing dominance, especially in plastic injection molds, is taking a toll on the global production and supply of these products. With the country exporting over $2.8 billion worth of these products to the US, who imports 80% of its own plastic injection molds from China each year, this article discusses how this shift has affected the global industry.
What is injection molding?
Injection molding is a manufacturing process that uses plastic to create objects. The plastic is injected into a mold, which then shapes the plastic and ejects it from the machine. Injection molding use to create products such as toys, household items, and medical devices.
How does the injection process work?
Plastic injection molding is a manufacturing process where plastic is injected into a mold to create products. The injection process works by using a plunger. Which is pushed down through the mold and forces the plastic into the cavities in the mold.
China Molds
Injection molding is the process of manufacturing parts from plastic by pouring molten plastic into a mold. Then forcing the material out through small orifices. This type of manufacturing use in a variety of industries, including automotive, electronics, and medical.
Recently, however, China has been taking over this industry as well. Injection molding is one of the more labor-intensive processes in manufacturing. Also, China’s low labor costs have made it an attractive option for companies around the world.
China’s takeover of injection molding began with low-cost polypropylene (PP) molds. In the early 2000s, PP was popular in the United States because it was cheap and easy to produce. However, Chinese manufacturers started producing PP molds at a much lower cost. Which led to a decline in demand for American PP molds.
As Chinese companies took over the market for PP molds. They began to produce higher-quality molds made from other materials. Such as aluminum and steel. This shift led to an increase in demand for American aluminum and steel injection molding machines. Which helped to drive innovation and growth in the U.S. industrial sector.
The Impact of Plastic Injection Molds
China is quickly becoming a dominant player in the world of plastic injection molding. The country’s expansive manufacturing base and skilled workforce make it a natural choice for companies looking to produce high volumes of plastics cheaply.
The benefits of using China as a supplier of plastic injection molding equipment and parts are clear: low costs, fast turnaround times, and a large pool of experienced workers. But what are the implications of China’s growing dominance in this market?
The first consequence is that Chinese manufacturers are increasingly able to compete in price with their rivals from other countries. This has led to a decline in the prices of plastic injection molding machines and parts, making them more accessible to smaller businesses and hobbyists.
The second consequence is that Chinese manufacturers are able to shift production from more expensive polycarbonate plastics to cheaper polypropylene materials. This has led to a switch among some plastic surgeons from using polycarbonate surgery kits to using polypropylene equivalents, saving money while providing the same level of safety.
The third consequence is that Chinese manufacturers are able to adopt new technologies more quickly than their international counterparts. This is particularly evident in the field of plastic injection molding, where Chinese companies have been leaders in developing new polypropylene products that are lighter, more flexible, and less expensive than their polycarbonate counterparts. The fourth consequence is that the Chinese companies are able to provide high-quality products at very competitive prices.
Conclusion
Although China’s rise as a world power is often heralded as a good thing – with its growing economy and rising standards of living. It has also brought with it some negative consequences, one of which is the country’s increasing domination of the global market for China injection mold Maker machines. Injection molding is a process that uses hot plastic to create parts or products. Typically in the form of small toys, medical devices, and other consumer goods. According to industry analysts, China now accounts for three-quarters of all global sales in this field.
