Assuming the price of an injection molding machine is $100,000, then the daily machine cost is $100,000 / 5 / 180 = $111. If the injection molding machine works 22 hours per day, the hourly cost is approximately $5. Based on the hourly output of one injection molding machine (related to the layout of the mold and the molding time), the injection molding cost per part can be calculated.

The cost of raw materials depends on the functionality and requirements of the product. Common plastic raw materials include PP, PE, PC, ABS, PBT, and dozens of others. All plastic raw materials are influenced by fluctuations in the price of petroleum raw materials. If the product requires blending or colorants, the costs will be calculated separately.

Employee wages are a relatively easy part to calculate. The wages of employees involved in mold design, mold processing, etc., are calculated as part of the mold cost. However, the wages of employees in the injection molding production workshop are only calculated as part of the company’s operational costs when the customer commissions injection molding production. For example, depending on the characteristics of different products, some products may require workers to be stationed at the injection molding discharge position for processing. Common processing steps include trimming runners, visual inspections, packaging, etc.

Of course, we are also always available to customers with in-house injection molds. In the preliminary stage, we express the expectations, on the day of arrival the molds are installed on the machine and by means of a trial injection the products are presented for approval. We ensure that this transition goes smoothly as if no transfer has taken place. Are you curious what Fleur Plastics can do for you? Feel free to contact us and we will discuss the possibilities!

When the mold is ready for production, it is extensively tested on one of our injection molding machines by means of a trial injection. You then receive the first samples (First Out of Tool) along with a dimensional report. This allows us to ensure that the products meet the product drawing and your requirements. Regardless of where the mold is made, production always takes place at our facility in Boxtel!

If the product needs to be produced in large quantities, it is recommended to develop a mold with multiple cavities. Although the cost of mold development may be relatively higher, the production efficiency will be faster. Additionally, due to large-scale production, the unit price of the product can be reduced. Comparisons based on the number of cavities can be seen in the table below: The number of cavities represents the quantity of products produced at once, with lower costs for higher production quantities. If you are still unsure, just tell the plastic injection molding factory the estimated production volume, and an experienced plastic injection molding factory will help you calculate the most suitable number of mold cavities.

Controlling injection molding costs is a shared responsibility between factories and product designers. The majority of methods to save on injection molding costs come from the injection molding factory. Here are some suggestions for reducing injection molding costs provided to injection molding factories as peers.

Today, we will mainly introduce the cost structure of injection molding factories. If you are a peer in the injection molding industry, you are also welcome to read the latter part of the article about how injection molders can reduce injection molding costs.

The cost composition of injection molding is actually quite transparent in the industry, mainly including: plastic mold costs, molding costs, secondary processing costs, raw material costs, packaging and transportation costs, and factory operation costs.

It is worth mentioning that if the quantity of plastic parts produced is not large, the cost of the mold will account for a relatively large proportion of the total price; if the quantity of plastic parts produced is large enough, many factories may even waive the mold cost.

Factors affecting the cost of plastic molds include: size, complexity, material, expected quantity, and different mold cavity numbers and tolerance requirements also affect cost. For detailed mold costs, please refer to the article “Injection Mold Costs”.

We can calculate the annual injection molding cost based on a 5-year depreciation of the injection molding machine. For example, if the industry’s startup rate for the injection molding machine is 50% (i.e., 180 days per year), divide the annual depreciation of the injection molding machine by 180 days to calculate the daily machine cost.

A more complex example: Assuming the cost of ABS plastic pellets is $1500 per ton. A mold produces parts in a 1-to-4 ratio, with each part weighing 200 grams and the runner material for 1-to-4 being 100 grams. What is the cost of raw materials per part? The calculation method is to account for each part’s weight as 200 grams + 25 grams of runner material, totaling 225 grams, and then calculate the cost as described above.

During this process, a mold must be resistant to clamping forces as high as thousands of tons, for large parts such as crates. During injection, these pressures are released but heat is also generated from the molten plastic. Ideally, we also need the mold to withstand this more than 500,000 times!

Note: If the mold used for injection molding has a cold runner system, there will be residual material in the runners after each injection molding cycle. When calculating, the weight of the runner material should also be included.

Some clients who frequently outsource injection molding production also often feel confused about how to evaluate the cost of plastic injection products, and they may doubt whether the quotations from plastic injection manufacturers are reasonable. This confusion stems from a lack of understanding of the cost structure of plastic injection products, leading to clients spending a lot of time and energy when asking for quotes from manufacturers, and sometimes they have to pay the cost of trial and error to gain experience.

The packaging of plastic injection molded products generally includes plastic bags and cardboard boxes for semi-finished parts. For assembled components, there is the cost of assembly equipment. The more complex the product, the longer the assembly time, which may result in higher costs and affect the overall expense.

When the mold drawing fully meets your and our requirements, the production of the mold will be initiated. Beforehand we have already looked at your budget and based on this we have made a choice for the suitable mold manufacturer, also called toolmaker.We have been working with the same Dutch and Asian toolmakers for many years, where it is possible to make molds from different types of steel. This way we can always guarantee excellent quality.

Some plastic injection molding factories also provide finishing services, including surface treatments such as coating, printing, painting, and electroplating.

For example: Assuming ABS plastic pellets cost $1500 per ton (this is an example, please refer to the actual local price). If the shell weight of a product after injection molding is 200 grams, then the raw material cost of the product is $1500 / 1000000 * 200 = 0.0015 * 200 = $0.3.

The cost of plastic molds, like all products, is “you get what you pay for.” The more complex, precise, and durable the mold, the higher the cost.

Because of these requirements, mold construction is expensive and complex. A mold is made up of mostly separate components manufactured from a high-quality steel. Each component is precisely machined to a tolerance three times smaller than the thickness of a piece of copy paper. These components must then work together in the mold to create your plastic product.

We have previously detailed the costs of injection molds. For product design companies or companies outsourcing plastic part production, they are more likely to commission injection molding factories to provide plastic injection molding services for their products, rather than just commissioning the factory to produce injection molds. After all, the mold is one part of the entire injection molding production process. Therefore, they are more concerned with the injection molding costs.

General-purpose plastic raw materials are relatively inexpensive. If the plastic raw material has high strength and strong chemical resistance, the cost will be higher (including some modified materials).

The more cavities on a mold, the higher the complexity and precision of mold development, and consequently, the mold price will be higher.

If the product structure is simple and the quantity to be produced is small, a one-to-one cavity mold can be used, which will be relatively cheaper.

As for other complex company operational costs, each company will have its own calculation standards. These costs are usually calculated by the factory’s finance department, with a rough formula to distribute the results evenly among each injection molded part.

The cost of plastic injection molding depends on the size of the machine and the molding cycle. There are differences in processing costs, so injection molding costs can also be said to be part of the injection molding machine’s cost. The larger the machine, the more energy it consumes, which can increase the molding cost. Additionally, the shorter the production cycle, the faster the production speed.

The foundation only begin with a good product drawing that complies with the design rules: uniform wall thicknesses, part line, discharges, roundings, position of injection and undercuts, and the position of the injection of the die. No problem, we are happy to help you with the product design.Our first step is to analyze the product drawings and discuss with you the requirements the product must meet. Based on this, we also make an estimate of what the mold must meet and whether it fits within your budget.

If the product drawing meets the various requirements, a mold drawing will be prepared. The mold drawing takes into account all the basic components. Here you can think of the mold cavities, location and geometry of the injection, the partial seam of the mold on the product, the cooling channels, placement of the ejectors and other technical components.

The mold contains the shape of the part and is used in injection molding to inject the molten plastic. When the plastic then cures again, the product is ejected and the process repeats itself.

The volume and weight of the packaged plastic products, as well as the method of transportation, will affect transportation costs.

At the heart of the injection molding process is the mold, or casting mold into which the heated plastic raw material is injected under high pressure. You can provide us with your own molds for injection molding, or our engineer can use CAD software to design a mold for your product.

For example, for a mold with a 1-to-1 layout and a molding time of 60 seconds, only 60 parts can be produced in one hour. So, the machine cost per part is $100,000 / 60 = $0.08.

Regarding the specific cost of raw materials consumed by injection molded products, this part of the raw material cost can be deduced from the weight of the molded shells in injection molding.

The operational costs of a company are very complex and include employee wages, rental costs, electricity bills, administrative expenses, etc.

Common raw material prices: PEEK > PA66 > PC > PA6 > ABS > PS > LDPE > HDPE > PBT > PET. Specific prices can be referenced based on local market prices.

It is also important to note that there is a basic operation time for mold setup and removal. The time required depends on the size and function of the mold. If the order quantity is lower than the cost of changing the mold, there may be additional costs. However, plastic injection molding manufacturers usually clarify the minimum purchase quantity in advance.

Because this process produces semi-finished products that require further processing, there may be an increased risk of defects in the coating process. An economically viable suggestion is, if you want to save costs and achieve a beautiful finish, consider adding colorants directly to the raw material. This eliminates the need for secondary processing while still allowing for the production of products in various colors.

Different products have different tolerance standards, with higher precision leading to higher costs. The cost of a mold with a tolerance of ±0.2mm will certainly differ from that of a mold with a tolerance of ±0.02mm.

Of course, there is also a certain percentage of waste (e.g., 3%) during the injection molding process, but because the proportion is relatively small, it can be ignored when estimating costs.

I am Li Yang. If you are interested in the injection molding service quotation from FirstMold, please click “Injection Molding Service Quotation“.

With the development of digital marketing, the prices of injection molding processes online are becoming more transparent. Understanding the costs of injection molding processes helps product design companies create better products and encourages injection molding factories to adhere to industry standards, creating a positive atmosphere for the injection molding industry.