What is Plastic Engineering and How Can It Help Your Project’s Success?

Plastic engineering is the process of designing, developing, and manufacturing plastic products. This process is crucial to the success of your plastic projects as it helps to improve the design of your product and ensures that you are using the right materials for your application. In this blog, our team will explore the plastic engineering process and how your projects can benefit from these services.

What is the Plastic Engineering Process?

The process of plastic engineering begins with the customer presenting the product concept to the plastic engineer and the tooling manager. This allows them to gain a good understanding of your product’s application and what properties it needs to possess. The engineer and the tooling manager will then review the 3D product models and compile advice on how to improve the design for the chosen manufacturing process — injection molding or structural foam molding. As this is done, they will also evaluate if more cost-effective tooling options are appropriate to help lower the costs of your project.

Once the customer approves the design changes, other conversations can occur to improve your plastic molding project. One of the common conversations to be had is about which polymer to use. Typically, the customer will have an idea of what polymer they want to use, but the plastic engineer can help finalize the decision based on the needs of the application. After a plastic is decided on, the manufacturing process can begin.

How Plastic Engineering Can Improve Your Project

There are many ways working with a plastic engineer can improve your projects. Some of the biggest benefits are listed below.

Alternative Resins

With their impressive expertise, your plastic engineer will be able to tell you what resins are most similar to the one you have chosen or which would be best for your application. If something happens where you can’t get your chosen resin, such as increased cost or supply chain shortages, your plastic engineer can help you source an alternative resin that will still meet all of your needs.

Additionally, if there is a failure in production where the plastic does not work, your plastic engineer can assist here as well. They will re-evaluate the plastic used and find a more appropriate fit that still serves your needs.

Tooling Design and Modification

Complex parts and products can be expensive to manufacture and are more susceptible to failure during the production process. Plastic engineers will work to minimize the complexity of the tooling to ensure that the manufacturing process is as efficient as possible while still maintaining the design of your product.

They can also evaluate the existing tooling for your project. Plastic engineers will take a look at the tooling and reduce the complexity of it, reducing your cycle times and lowering your production costs.

Automation and Robotics

Automation and robotics have been gaining traction in nearly every industry, and plastics is no different. There are many processes where these services may benefit you and your project. During your quoting phase, your plastic engineer will discuss implementing automation and/or robotics to your project.

If appropriate for your project, implementing automation and robotics to your projects will cut down on the need for human operators, saving you money on labor and reducing the time of your production. Automation and robotics are significantly more efficient and precise than humans, so they can also improve the repeatability and quality of your products.

Still Have Questions About Plastic Engineering? Trust Port Erie Plastics

When you partner with Port Erie for your plastic injection molding or structural foam molding project, we will pair you with one of our skilled plastic engineers. They will stick with you through the duration of your process, providing you with insight into your design, the plastics you have chosen, your manufacturing process, and more. Your plastic engineer will make sure your projects run smoothly from start to finish and address any issues that may arise quickly to keep your timeline tight.

We offer automated injection molding, custom injection molding, and structural foam molding processes to create the plastic parts and products you require. Our goal is to provide you with quality plastic products, and by utilizing plastic engineering, we can easily make this possible.

Contact us today to get started.