Scientific molding consists of sequential steps that are followed to establish nominal fill time, injection pressure, gate freeze time, pack pressure, cycle time, and clamp tonnage among other process variables. From there, key process parameters are often tested through the means of a Design of Experiment (DOE) to reach the process window that will be duplicated each production run.

Our team of degreed Plastics Engineers has completed rigorous training in scientific decoupled molding strategies through Penn State’s Plastic Engineering program. This specialized training is essential for successful process optimization and qualification.

Plastikos & Plastikos medical operate around the clock to further minimize downtime / risk to our customer’s supply chain. Due to the extensive engineering & automation techniques, many of our high-volume molding machines can run completely light’s-out at night & weekends. All departments (QC, tool maintenance, material handling, etc.) are staffed to support this 24/7 schedule.

At Plastikos, our engineering and tooling team has developed our own proprietary mold maintenance program ranging from Level I – Level III. The various preventative maintenance levels are proactively scheduled based on the mold’s production volume, cycle count, and the abrasiveness of the raw material. As a result of our rigorous mold maintenance techniques, we have helped clients extend their mold life beyond 10 million cycles (and counting) in many cases.

LEVEL II PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE This is level of PM will build on the first level and we will conduct a deeper dive into the tool. Partial disassembly of the tool will be required as we will lubricate the tool, clean vents, and further inspect for any wear or damage.

We also utilize IQMS throughout our facility to optimize scheduling, production monitoring, and preventative mold maintenance. These combined industry 4.0 efforts have led to a remarkable 99% year-over-year on-time delivery.

Rooted in advanced moldmaking and driven by unparalleled precision molding expertise, nothing defines Micro Mold and Plastikos more than our people. With more RJG Master Molders and degreed Plastic Engineers than any other manufacturer our size–and a vast majority of larger resources as well–you’ll find a tight-knit, technologically advanced workplace that’s brimming with talented, motivated individuals. Committed to innovation, we bring together experts from various disciplines to deliver exceptional products, service and value on every project. It’s a mindset that extends throughout our entire organization and influences our approach as we cultivate future strategic partnerships.

We implement Arburg’s proprietary ALS system through our entire precision molding operation. This plant-wide system is used to store and upload a qualified process to any molding machine and virtually eliminate the chance for operator error during process set up. Key process variables can only be accessed (and changed) by a qualified process engineer, further reducing any chance for variation throughout production.

If you are designing plastic parts and want to collaborate with professionals in plastic manufacturing, Aline Components is an excellent choice. Aline Components is a leading provider of plastic injection molding services located just outside Philadelphia, and we have an extensive range of services available for plastic manufacturing, as well as the different types of plastic and the expert knowledge of their application. If you are designing components for a particular industry we can help you select the appropriate material. Give us a call to discuss the details: (215) 368-0300.

Digitalizing a manufacturing operation remains at the forefront of Industry 4.0. The ability to gather real-time data has become essential when optimizing key elements such as product yields, machine efficiency, product quality, and overall profitability.

As a low-temperature plastic, polylactic acid has a relatively lower melt point than high-performance plastics, and more research into the possibilities of increased temperature resistance is ongoing. In many respects, however, PLA plastic performs well in its dimensional stability and it can be crystallized to achieve more rigidity. While not designed for long life or high temperatures, the low cost and sustainability, combined with its ease of use, contribute to PLA plastic’s popularity.

Industry 4.0 strategies have been implemented plant-wide to provide enhanced data sharing and traceability among molding machinery. This proprietary system ensures only our process engineers can adjust process parameters, which minimizes manual error during production startup.

Our team of degreed Plastics Engineers has completed rigorous training in scientific decoupled molding strategies through Penn State’s Plastic Engineering program along with RJG’s Master Molder program. This specialized training is essential for successful process optimization and qualification.

Two white room molding centers with all-electric high-speed machines ranging from 66T – 220T. All molding machines are equipped with cavity-pressure monitoring software (eDART) and many outfitted with 3-axis robotics for part handling.

Additionally, we highly recommend implementing each precision mold with cavity pressure sensors as a method to further detect any process variation within the cavity. Once a nominal cavity pressure has been established through the process development phase, a master file can be saved. During start-up production, this master file is uploaded and will provide 100% traceability through the production run. Any product that falls outside of the established process window will be automatically discarded at the press with the use of a 3-axis robot. All molding machines at Plastikos are equipped with this cavity pressure monitoring software and tied directly into our molding machines for real-time process monitoring.

The chart below provides a comprehensive list of the precision injection molding equipment that we utilize at Plastikos. All departments are supported by our highly-trained team of processing, tooling, and quality control experts.

Despite its name, Polylactic Acid is in the family of polyesters, composed of two main monomers: lactic acid and the cyclic di-ester, lactide. Widely known as PLA plastic, it is the second most commonly used bioplastic in the world. Formulated with specific attention to the environment, PLA plastic is derived from cornstarch or sugarcane and is designed to degrade back to its constituent components for a relatively benign environmental impact. As a biologically derived polymer, it is highly workable, and useful in situations where gradual dissolution is desirable. PLA plastic is often used for temporary fittings fasteners, plates, and other mechanical parts for the medical industry, and its biodegradable properties also make it useful for food packaging. The proliferation of its use in all types of industries is an indication of its effectiveness.

Our In-house Mold Maintenance Department is staffed with experienced toolmakers—ensuring the longevity of our customers’ injection molds and minimizing downtime due to repair and maintenance issues. All spare steel is assigned a custom detail number and cataloged in our ERP system which will notify us when we need to reorder certain spare cavity & core inserts.

LEVEL I PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE This is level of PM is the most common and will be routinely scheduled during a mold’s production run. Minimal disassembly of the tool is required as we will perform a face cleaning of the cavity & core inserts and inspect for any premature wear.

LEVEL III PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE This is level of PM requires full disassembly of the tool and is scheduled off the mold’s cycle count and production volume. Wear items will be replaced, as needed. Water lines are fully cleaned to prevent scaling and manifolds will be serviced, where applicable.

At Plastikos, we are completely standardized on our precision molding equipment along with our auxiliary equipment (dryers, thermolators, hot runner controllers, and so on). All supporting equipment is directly tied into our molding machines, providing real-time data to our engineering and manufacturing team. This real-time data tracking is used detect a variation in any process variables, machine interruptions, and overall product yield for a specific production run.

Process validation is a critical step in the development cycle before the mold & product can be deemed fit for production. During this process, scientific molding principles should be applied to establish the nominal running conditions for that given mold, material, etc.