Typically, the cost of the mold, also referred to as the tooling cost, is the major cost driver in injection molding. Let’s take a look at some of the elements that influence the price of an injection mold.

When it comes to injection molding prices, basic plastic injection molds might range from $3,000 to $6,000. A big, more sophisticated high-production, cross-cavity mold can cost between $25,000 and $50,000 or more. Although it may seem obvious, several factors contribute to the cost of injection molding.

To increase production efficiency in the 1930s, injection molding was developed. The process involves melting plastic and then injecting it into a predesigned mold. Primary advantages of injection molding include reduced waste, minimal finishing requirements, and recyclability. Unlike extrusion molding, the design capabilities of injection molding allow for the manufacturing of 3D components.  The machines used for injection molding include two core components: the clamping unit and the injection unit. Injection blow molding, or IBM, is a specific type of injection molding process that involves the use of a metal shank or core rod. The process uses a parison that forms the basis for the finished product. The beginning of the IBM process entails transferring the parison/core rod into the blow molding unit of the machine, followed by inflating and cooling the pre-formed part.  After cooling, the core rod is rotated to the ejection position, the mold is opened, and the product is removed. Throughout the process, three sets of core rods are used to facilitate mold injection, blow molding, and the ejection of the formed part.

For IBM, there needs to be a high precision match between both halves of the mold to enable total control over the flow of resin. Most of the work involved in injection molding involves producing the mold. In EBM, there is a higher level of design flexibility between both mold halves since each half forms its own wall shape.

Both injection blow molding and extrusion blow molding processes are integral in many manufacturing applications. These techniques are used to create many disposable and recyclable plastic parts, including products used in medical and research applications. Both processes feature unique functions to produce different results, which is why it’s important to understand each process to determine which is suitable for manufacturing a particular product. To help you better understand the differences between injection blow molding and extrusion blow molding, we’ll go over how each process works so that you can determine which is best for your needs.

The principal difference between IBM and EBM is the type of products they create. IBM is typically used to form more solid parts, which can include medical parts, kitchen parts, and other solid components. Meanwhile, EBM is used for manufacturing more hollow parts like bottles and other containers.  Extrusion Blow Molding can manufacture more complex shapes due to how the product is formed. However, injection molding is able to produce large volumes of quality parts quickly and accurately.

Depending on the needs of the finished products, a broad range of polymers can be utilized for injection molding. The cost involved when you buy plastic injection mold materials varies depending on the material selected. Thermoplastic pellets range in price from $1 to $5 per kilogram.

The simple answer is that plastic injection molds range in price from $100 for a 3D printed injection mold to $100,000 plus for a sophisticated multi-cavity steel mold for greater manufacturing loads, which is typically the most important fixed start-up cost in injection molding. However, because these expenses are spread across hundreds or thousands of components, injection molding is a suitable method for mass-producing plastic parts at a low cost.

To a certain degree, asking for the costs of plastic injection molds cost is similar to questioning how much a car costs. Is your mold going to be a Pinto or a Porsche? Also, keep in mind that the cost of a mold is only the beginning. To calculate complete plastic injection molding costs for any projects, you must also include raw material, operating, and maintenance expenses in the future. These costs are a result of the aforementioned contributing factors.

3D printers can manufacture basic low volume 3D printed molds for as cheap as $100. A metal mold for a mid-volume service life of 1,000-5,000 units costs between $2,000 and $5,000. Mold costs can range from $5,000 to $100,000 for molds with more complicated shapes and prepared for higher production runs of 10,000+ pieces.

Creating more sophisticated molds necessitates technical knowledge. As a result, companies typically outsource specific aspects of injection molding, for instance, mold design and production.

Extrusion blow molding, or EBM, is similar to IBM, but instead of injecting melted plastic into a mold, the material is extruded or expelled into a hollow tube, known as a parison. A mold closes around the parison in order to shape the part while at the blow station.  At the blow station, air is blown into the parison inflating it into the shape of the mold. Once the plastic has cooled, the mold is opened, and the part is extruded. Any excess material is trimmed from the completed part. Because of the EBM process, there is typically a high level of scrap produced.

For injection molding, special-purpose equipment ranging from tiny personal molding machines that enterprises may use in-house to big industrial injection molding equipment primarily handled by providers, contractors, and major manufacturers is utilized.

Injection molding, the major cost driver is generally mold or tooling expenses. Molds for injection molding are typically created in one of three ways:

Material cost is determined by the design of a product, the material utilized, and the quantity of material needed to complete the injection molding process.

Mold manufacturer location: This was also mentioned while researching how mold size may affect your total injection molding expenses. To have your mold wherever it needs to go, an off-site plastic injection mold maker will charge you extra for shipping and handling.

With small desktop injection molding equipment and 3D printed molds, creating modest volumes of components with injection molding is the most cost-effective. Small-scale automated injection molding machines are viable options for medium-series manufacturing of small components.Large industrial injection molding machines can range in price from $50,000 to more than $200,000. These machines also have more strict facility requirements and the need for specialized staff for operations, upkeep, and monitoring. As a result, although injection molding is a core competency, most businesses outsource mass manufacturing to service providers and contract manufacturers, with equipment expenses included in the service prices.

It is important to consider your product when determining whether injection blow molding or extrusion blow molding is right for your needs. At E2Global we can help determine which process is best suited for your application. With our extensive experience manufacturing a variety of bottles, tubes, and other consumables, we are here to help guide you with your packaging need from design to production. Contact us today.

If a plastic injection mold factory has the tools and materials, creating molds in-house may be the most cost-effective option if the technical expertise is also accessible. If the tools required for injection molding are not easily accessible, outsourcing lowers the cost of developing a mold.