By definition, Plastic Injection Moulding or PIM is the process by which small plastic pieces are melted and injected into moulds. Once the plastic cools and hardens, it is demoulded to make an entire range of big and small plastic products.
By and large, the technical process has remained approximately unchanged over the years ever since PIM first came into existence in the 19th century. Although plastic was first invented in the 1850s, it was in the 1870s that malleable plastic came into existence. Thanks to the brilliant mind of John Wesley Hyatt, the first Plastic Injection Moulding was invented after he successfully attempted to create a billiard ball made entirely of plastic.
The inventor’s mind had been ignited and John’s inventive streak included the sewing machine and roller ball bearings, along with celluloid plastics. Much later in 1926, Eckert and Ziegler invented the very first plastic moulding machine which boosted the industrial production of PIM.
Although there were several other inventors who did their bit in shaping and redefining Plastic Injection Moulding, it was James Watson Hendry who completely revamped the manufacturing process with his screw injection moulding machine in 1946. Later, he went on to refine his own concept by introducing the gas-assisted screw injection machine. This new invention proved to be more efficient in terms of cost, product quality and finish. Today, an overwhelming majority of plastic moulding manufacturers use screw injection moulding machines. The current version of PIM equipment is completely digital, with computer-controlled mechanisms that enable the mass production of plastic components.
But that’s not all. Plastic production units are properly equipped with modern machinery such as:
Celluloid Plastics That Are Manufactured Today
Plastic Injection Moulding is the most common method that produces a plethora of items that cover a wide range of medical, automotive, commercial, industrial, and personal uses. The popular injection moulded plastic we use in our everyday life includes:
Moulds, machines and methods used by plastic moulding manufacturers today
Computer-Assisted Manufacturing or CAM has effectively replaced the traditional two-plated PIM machine that comprised multiple parts and sections. Today’s high tech moulds are customized to exact specifications. This allows manufacturers to create more complex products.
PIM machines consist of three basic components:
What happens during the manufacturing process? There are basically three steps to making a celluloid plastic product with Plastic Injection Moulding:
Also Read: The basic principles of Plastic Injection Moulding
The future of Plastic Injection Moulding
Plastic Injection Moulding has come a long way and it continues its growth in leaps and bounds. Thanks to the advancements in technology and the perpetual demand for celluloid plastics, there is a constant shift in the plastic industry. The following factors could project, push and shape the future of PIM:
Having been around for 45 years, Techplaastic is one of the leading plastic industries in India. We specialize in producing commodity plastics and engineering plastics for automotive, electrical, and appliance industries, just to name a few. To know more about us, visit our website or call us @ 919840247472.