How to Maximize Your Plastic Extrusion Design

Design is one of the most critical aspects of any manufacturing process. A design that has addressed all of the nuances of your product helps ensure a smooth production run, minimizes defects, and in some cases, can even speed up cycle times, which gets your product to market faster.

Port Erie Plastics has solved numerous plastic extrusion design challenges, and there are some best practices we’ve picked up on over the years. Keep this guide in mind as you look to maximize your extrusion design ahead of your next project.

Plastic Extrusion Design Starts With a Focus on the Cross Section

The cross section in any extrusion design is arguably the most critical aspect to get right. Cross sections are what give the final product its shape and require consistency. To ensure the cross sections are in the best shape possible, keep these considerations in mind.

• Keep wall thickness as uniform as possible. When wall thickness is consistent throughout the cross section, unequal flow, differential cooling, bowing, distortion, and other defects are kept in check.
• In tandem with wall thickness consistency, if the thickness has to change, attempt to make it gradual rather than abrupt.
• Rounded corners are preferred compared to sharp corners, as rounded corners are better at limiting notching and cracking.

Carefully Design Hollow Points and Internal Features

There are naturally going to be hollow points inside any extrusion design, and because of that, the potential for defects is much greater than in denser sections. With that in mind, these pointers can be helpful during the design phase.

• Keep hollow sections as simple as possible. The more complex hollow sections and internal features are, the more likely they are to distort during the extrusion process.
• If internal features are necessary for your product’s intended application, consider adding access points such as windows or slots in order for legs, grooves, or other support measures to reach the internal features.

Control Tolerances

Every manufacturer has different levels of tolerances they can provide, so when you have landed on the company that’s going to produce your extruded parts, be sure to have a conversation with their engineering team about tolerances throughout your plastic extrusion design. In general, it’s best to have relaxed tolerances wherever possible. The tighter a tolerance, the more tooling work and costs you’re likely to incur.

Remember, Material Selection Is Part of Design Considerations

Design isn’t just drawing up the blueprint to your product. It’s also having an intimate knowledge of how your component is supposed to function in its environment. While the above tips and considerations are intended to have all of those points in mind, the largest aspect of design that’s impacted by outside influences is the material itself.

Align materials that match the mechanical needs, environmental factors, and regulatory constraints of both the manufacturer and your respective industry, while being extrusion-friendly. This is where your manufacturer’s engineering team can be extremely helpful.

While most extrusion projects can be completed with just a single material source, for more complex jobs, consider blending materials into one uniform product via co-extrusion.

Connect With Port Erie Plastics to Best Enhance Your Plastic Extrusion Design

Port Erie Plastics is your full-service plastic manufacturer with wide-ranging capabilities, including plastic extrusion services. Plastic extrusion design is one of the most critical aspects of the manufacturing process, and getting the design right helps eliminate defects and sets up an easier production cycle.

Our engineering team has worked on numerous extrusion projects over the years, and we continue to work with our customers throughout the process to ensure their designs are set for manufacturing.

Have a question or concern about your plastic extrusion design? Contact Port Erie Plastics today, where we’ll work out the details and create a product that’s built to last.

Applications of HDPE in Plastic Manufacturing

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is one of the most commonly used materials in plastic manufacturing. This specific grade of polymer helps make it possible to continue to expand boundaries in plastic products.

Port Erie Plastics walks through some of the most common applications of HDPE in plastic manufacturing, highlighting where using this material makes the most sense.

Understanding Why HDPE is Applicable for Widespread Usage

Before understanding the best applications of HDPE, it’s critical to understand why this material is so prevalent in plastic manufacturing. Below are some of the top reasons why HDPE is used in millions of plastic products every year.

• HDPE boasts an incredible strength-to-weight ratio in comparison to other polymer materials, offering great structural strength and integrity, while remaining lightweight.
• HDPE is naturally chemical resistant and can fend off contaminants from numerous sources, including acids, bases, alcohols, detergents, and solvents. This is why HDPE is used in many piping and tubing applications.
• HDPE is also a good material for impact and abrasion resistance, particularly at low temperatures.
• Along with all of these benefits, HDPE is easy to work with, which is why it is used in multiple plastic manufacturing applications.

Applications of HDPE by Manufacturing Style

HDPE is used throughout numerous plastic manufacturing styles largely because it is an easy material to work with, but that also means it has to endure different manufacturing processes without losing its product integrity.

Highlighting key manufacturing services where HDPE can be used to make products can best demonstrate the material’s widespread applications.

Plastic Extrusion

• HDPE in extrusion is most commonly used to create pressure pipes and varying types of conduit. Specific products include gas and water piping, telecom ducts, and industrial fluid lines. These products all take advantage of the benefits of HDPE, particularly chemical resistance and strength-to-weight ratio.
• It can also be used to create products like wear panels, marine boards, playground surfaces, cutting boards, food packaging bags, and shopping bags.
• Extrusion manufacturers rely on HDPE because of how easy the material is to work with, and consumers of extruded HDPE products rely on the cost-effectiveness of both the material and the manufacturing method.

Injection Molding

• Applications of HDPE in injection molding primarily feature the manufacturing of caps, closures, and small parts. This can include bottle caps, food containers, crates, trays, bins, and non-load-bearing housings for electronic components.
• HDPE can also be used for the creation of functional products, including turnover boxes, dustbins, and general purpose industrial parts.

Structural Foam Molding

• HDPE is also extensively used in the creation of structural foam molded components. These can range from pallets and crates to large, load-bearing products.

How to Validate When HDPE Usage Makes Sense

While HDPE is a common selection for manufacturers and their customers around the globe, there are a couple of considerations to make ahead of production to ensure that the material is appropriate for your product and its intended application.

• If your part can naturally be opaque and mildly flexible
• If your product will be exposed to harsh chemicals, detergents, or outdoor conditions
• If impact resistance is more important than being able to withstand high temperatures

Learn More About the Applications of HDPE and Partner With Port Erie Plastics Today

Port Erie Plastics works with HDPE every day in our Harborcreek, Pennsylvania, facilities. As a full-service plastic manufacturer with extrusion, injection molding, and structural foam molding capabilities all under one roof, our team are experts in knowing if HDPE is right for your product.

Contact our team today for further questions and to see if your project is the right fit for HDPE.

Identifying the Best Structural Foam Materials to Create Long-Lasting Products

It’s critical to understand your components’ design and intended application when considering structural foam materials. Selecting the right materials can make the difference between a long-lasting, successful product and spending unnecessary funds to correct a mistake.

Port Erie Plastics lays out the foundation for how to identify structural foam materials that lead to the creation of long-lasting products.

Structural Foam Materials Should Include Polyethylene Foam

One of the go-to material selections for structural foam molding services is high-density polyethylene (HDPE) foam. HDPE foam contains key properties that make it a versatile selection, including a high level of chemical resistance that is often relied upon by industries facing exposure to harsh substances.

Key Benefits of HDPE Foam

• Durable and lightweight closed-cell material. Since it’s a closed-cell material, HDPE foam is dense, water-resistant, and a strong insulator.
• HDPE foam is a strong load-bearing material, making it a popular choice for industries where heavy weight and stress are commonplace.
• HDPE foam has shock absorption and vibration-dampening properties, providing reliability throughout the entire molded component.
• Along with chemical-resistant properties, HDPE foam also boasts grease, moisture, and solvent resistance.
• HDPE foam also has design flexibility, making it an easy material to work with. And since low pressure can be used with this material, the potential for warping drops dramatically.

Best Applications of HDPE Foam

• HDPE foam is seen in construction applications, most commonly with large trench drains.
• Aside from trench drains, HDPE foam can be used to create flooring, siding, piping and irrigation systems, and more.
• For lawn and garden applications, HDPE foam can be used to create carts, plastic lawn equipment, and even lawn furniture.
• Pallets of any size, shelving, storage, and other material handling equipment can be made from HDPE foam.

Consider Polypropylene Foam

If HDPE foam doesn’t seem best for your design or product’s application, then consider polypropylene (PP) foam. This specific structural foam material is also a rigid, durable, and closed-cell material. PP foam is often chosen in applications where compression ability and impact resistance are required.

Key Benefits of PP Foam

• PP foam has a high strength-to-weight ratio. This allows for the creation of strong, durable components that are lighter than plastic parts. Additionally, material usage drops when using PP foam compared to plastics.
• This specific foam contains numerous resistant properties, including chemical, moisture, impact, and fatigue. This allows for a wide range of applications.
• PP foam contains strong thermal stability, allowing for parts to remain in shape and minimize defects such as warping.
• When comparing PP foam to substitute materials such as plastic, foam is more cost-effective as it contains many of the same properties and benefits seen in polymers.
• Similar to HDPE foam, PP foam has design flexibility and is easy to work with.

Best Applications of PP Foam

• In automotive applications, PP foam is used to create both interior and exterior parts.
• PP foam can be used in the manufacturing of medical housing equipment because of its thermal properties.
• Material handling is a big industry that relies on PP foam to create pallets, crates, containers, and more.
• Some consumer goods and parts for appliances can be created with PP foam.

Contact Port Erie Plastics for More Structural Foam Materials Insight and Services

Port Erie Plastics are experts in structural foam materials and structural foam molding services. We started off with a single injection molding machine and have since mastered numerous plastic manufacturing capabilities.

Our structural foam molding projects are used all across the country, and our customers trust us to create products that last.

Contact us today to gain further insights into structural foam materials and molding, and to get your project started.

Is High Volume Plastic Injection Molding Right For You? Key Considerations to Make Before Deciding

High volume plastic injection molding services are a cost-effective and productive way to create numerous types of products. But, how do you know if high-volume services are right for you?

Port Erie Plastics lays out the foundation for organizations wondering if they should opt for high volume plastic injection molding services, highlighting key considerations as well as the benefits of injection molding services in general.

Why High Volume Injection Molding Services Can Be Right For You

There are a few indications that high volume services are best for you, your product, and your company. While they won’t all be the same, as every need is different, these points should help gauge if these services are right for you.

• The demand for your product is stable, long-term, and high enough to warrant continuous production. Industries such as automotive, medical, industrial, consumer products, and packaging all would fit under this description.
• Customers who need to make parts consistently in the range of multiple thousands up to millions to fill market demand.
• Material choices that lend themselves to high repeatability, such as thermoplastics that feature tight designs and consistent visual features.
• Customers who have minimal — if any —design changes.

Cost Analysis

If your team has determined that high-volume injection molding is the right approach, the next step is to conduct a thorough cost analysis to confirm that the decision makes financial sense — both for your organization and for the customers relying on these components.

• Gather an assortment of estimates, including a price-per-part breakdown as well as a total sum. By collecting from multiple manufacturers, you’re able to see who lines up best with your financial capabilities.
• Weigh tooling costs. This is one of the most expensive parts of high volume injection molding, as it’s a capital-intensive process that can feature the use of steel, multi-cavity solutions, hot runners, and automation.
• Tooling costs can even out or drop depending on how large-scale a given order is.

Design Considerations

When it comes to design considerations for high volume injection molding services, the most important one is to ensure your product is designed for manufacturability. This allows for a quick transition from design to production and minimizes changes, which can save on costs. But there are a few other notes to make related to design.

• Molds used in high-volume manufacturing are often made from hardened steel to promote longevity. There are also multi-cavity solutions that allow for the creation of multiple parts at the same time, increasing the speed of production without sacrificing quality. These molds must be designed and equipped to handle high pressures and fast cycles.
• Key design components such as gate sizing and location, venting, and cooling layout have to be carefully engineered to avoid systematic defects that could potentially harm and even ruin a large number of components.

Quality Management, Operational Stability, and Company Information

Finding a company that makes sense financially and from a value and capability standpoint matters. It can be difficult to find a company that ties in cost-effectiveness, quality, operational stability, and great customer service. But these points can help determine which manufacturer is right for you.

• Explore website pages and see what industries they serve, including yours or a competing industry. This shows part familiarity and knowledge of what’s required to make your order and components work.
• High-volume injection molding services require presses that feature industrial strength, high-speed injection units, varied clamping forces, and automation throughout the production cycle.
• Automation throughout the production cycle includes the ability to run 24/7 to ensure your order can be created in a timely manner.
• Quality metrics can include certifications, process control, program management, testing services, and more.

Contact Port Erie Plastics For Your High Volume Injection Molding Services

Port Erie Plastics is your full-service plastics manufacturer. We’re equipped for multiple plastic manufacturing capabilities, and provide expertise in injection molding.

Our company started back in 1953 with a single injection molding machine, and we’ve since grown into one of the industry-leading suppliers of injection-molded components.

High volume injection molding services are what we do. With multiple materials at our disposal, 90 different machines with various clamping forces and a maximum shot size of 470 oz, we have the means to produce the components you need.

Contact us today, and let’s take the first step toward your high volume injection molding needs.

Extrusion Applications: 5 Common Industries and Key Benefits

Plastic extrusion services are a cost-effective and reputable way to manufacture a high volume of products that will last. Extrusion applications are seen all throughout our daily lives, and many industries around the world rely on extruded parts to keep operations moving.

Port Erie Plastics dives deep into five industries that rely on extrusion applications while highlighting the overall benefits of this key manufacturing style.

Extrusion Applications in Construction

Construction companies across the globe rely on extruded parts for numerous projects, largely because they can be mass-produced at a cost-effective rate.

Key extruded products in the construction industry include window and door frames, facade elements, roofing and siding profiles, drainage systems, and conduit systems

Extruded products have a consistent cross-section profile while also having tight dimension control, making these types of products desirable in the construction industry

Automotive and General Transportation

Extruded applications in transportation are mostly seen in secondary components in vehicles such as roof rails, seat tracks, trims, seals, and under-the-hood conduit systems.

Extruded parts feature a high strength-to-weight ratio and can survive under varying pressures, making them a strong selection for the automotive industry

Electrical Needs

Extruded components are used in electrical systems, advanced electronics, and the tools used in working with electrical components.

Key products include: heat sinks, LED housings, electrical enclosures, cable trays, and insulated sheathing.

Plastic extruded parts add value in wire insulation, conduit, and protective channels, and provide design flexibility.

Extrusion Applications in Consumer Goods

Plastic components are common in the consumer market, so extrusion applications are certainly widespread here. For industries like packaging, extruded parts can make up film and sheets used in protective shipping.

In consumer goods, straws and tubes are some of the most common examples of extrusion applications. Because of plastic extrusions’ high repeatability and cost-effectiveness, consumer goods utilize extrusion services

Medical, Food, and Agriculture

The medical industry uses plastic extrusion services for a number of healthcare products, including tubing, catheters, and IV drip lines.

Food and agriculture industries rely on extrusion applications for varying needs, such as packaging. But the main advantage of extruded products is that they can be made with biocompatible and food-grade polymers, maintaining safety, compliance, and regulatory requirements.

Benefits of Extrusion Applications

All of these industries rely on plastic extrusion services for specific products, but the benefits are the same across the board.

• High-volume manufacturing
• Cost-effectiveness when broken down into cost per part
• Design freedom and custom capabilities
• Consistent quality
• Lightweight and durable

Learn More About Extrusion Applications With Port Erie Plastics

Port Erie Plastics is a premier plastic manufacturing company, and our capabilities expand year after year. Plastic extrusion services are one of the many manufacturing styles we perform every day.

With decades of experience as a production company and a highly skilled team, we know what it takes to bring high-quality projects to life. We utilize three different extrusion machines, each with its own capabilities, to create products our customers can rely on.

Contact us today to learn more about how we handle extrusion services.

How Low Pressure Structural Foam Molding Leads to Better Parts

There are numerous manufacturing methods for creating a high-quality, long-lasting plastic component. Each production process, including low pressure structural foam molding, has its own unique benefits and applications.

From impacting mechanical performance to lowering stress throughout the component, learn more about how low pressure structural foam molding leads to the creation of better plastic parts from Port Erie.

What Low Pressure Changes During the Process

In low pressure structural foam molding processes, the foam is what does most of the work, expanding to fill the mold as gas is blown into the mold and cavity.

Because of this, clamp tonnage and cavity pressures are greatly reduced compared to injection molding or even standard structural foam molding. Low mechanical loads commonly found with low pressure structural foam molding processes allow for the use of softer metals for the molds, such as aluminum.

Reduced mold wear saves on tooling costs and allows for repeatability, which in turn can make this process extremely cost-effective in the long run when creating a high volume of products.

How Low Pressure Changes Part Performance

Stiffness-to-weight ratio is improved. Components produced through low pressure structural foam molding can see a weight reduction of up to 20 percent, while the stiffness levels increase by around three to four times greater than normal. This makes for a light yet incredibly durable part.

With less pressure inside the cavity of the mold, there is less stress on the part, which leads to improved dimensional stability, less warping or distortion, and improved insulation in components used for housings, panels, or enclosures.

Cost-Effectiveness and Scalability

Low pressure structural foam molding is cost-effective because less material is needed. The process doesn’t require large amounts of heavy materials in order to create strong, lightweight products. Less material means lower-cost tooling, saving potentially thousands of dollars. Energy usage and clamp tonnage are also impacted, which saves both operating and overhead costs.

Scalability is achieved when multiple structural foam molding projects happen at the same time, as manufacturers can add in assemblies and reduce secondary fastening services.

Reductions in Defects and Surface Changes in Low Volume Pressure Structural Foam Molding

The process supports thick ribs and heavy cross-sections, so designers can use complex wall sections without fear of surface changes and defects like sink and voids that are more common in high pressure molding processes.

Additionally, reduced internal stress and a more uniform shrink lower the chances of cracking and long-term creep, even on larger components like trench walls. Reduction in defects relies on proper mold venting and cooling procedures.

Contact Port Erie Plastics for Your Low Pressure Structural Foam Molding Services

Port Erie Plastics has over 70 years of experience in the plastic manufacturing space, and that includes low pressure structural foam molding services.

With decades of experience as a production company and a highly skilled team, we know what it takes to bring high-quality projects to life. Low volume structural foam molding capabilities at Port Erie are highlighted by the ability to create parts up to 7.5 feet in length and shot sizes up to 150 lbs.

Contact us today to learn more about our structural foam molding services.

Why Selecting the Proper Plastic Extrusion Materials is Critical for Success

Material selection is one of the most important parts of any manufacturing process. Selecting the right material requires a deep understanding of your product, its intended application, and how the material will handle the production process.

Port Erie Plastics details why selecting the proper plastic extrusion materials is critical for success by highlighting key considerations ahead of your next project.

Plastic Extrusion Materials Impact Product Performance

Selecting the proper extrusion materials impacts product performance, including factors like strength, flexibility, impact resistance, wear resistance, and chemical resistance.

Proper materials are critical during the manufacturing process as well. Customers and manufacturers should work together to identify the right materials and ensure they can withstand the various operational stresses during both manufacturing and for the part’s intended application.

Know and Understand Your Product’s Application

Knowing and fully understanding your product’s intended application, including factors such as the environment it will serve in, frequency of use, and how long it needs to last, helps you select materials that best fit your needs.

Consider the environment of where your final product is going to be used. Materials for indoor products differ from materials for outdoor products as they have to account for UV exposure and drastic changes in pressure as well as the elements. It’s more than just inside or outside, too. Different materials work better in different climates where moisture and other considerations need to be taken.

Knowing the physical demands of your product is also important to note when selecting the right materials. Does your product need to be light? How durable does the product need to be in order to be effective? Should you make considerations for consistent movement from the extruded component? These are all key questions to ask when it comes time to select materials.

Some components in certain industries have to follow proper industry compliance standards, such as extruded products in the food industry that must be FDA- or NSF-approved. When products fail to follow these compliance measures, they can come with a number of penalties including fines, products pulled from the market, or even temporary suspension from the market if the quantity is large enough.

Long-Term Value and Cost-Effectiveness

Selecting the right plastic extrusion materials greatly increases the long-term value of your products. While material cost could be high upfront, by selecting the right one given the product’s intended application you can avoid the risks of defective components and expensive reworks..

Additionally, selecting the right materials can keep manufacturing costs in check. Once the right plastic extrusion material is selected, based on application and design, there is ideally less waste and lower cycle times.

Select the Right Plastic Extrusion Materials by Partnering with Port Erie Plastics Today

Port Erie Plastics has proudly served the needs of customers since 1953. What started as a small injection molding company has grown into an industry leader offering multiple capabilities.

We want to help you create extruded products that are going to serve you in your industry. The first part of creating a successful run of products is selecting the right plastic extrusion materials. Port Erie knows what working with the proper materials can do.

Reach out to us today for a helping hand in selecting the right materials for your plastic extrusion services, and let’s get to work.

Explaining the Benefits of Custom Plastic Injection Molding

Millions of plastic products are created every year. While most are just standard creations with simple designs, more and more complex custom plastic injection molding projects are taking shape as technology and capabilities continue to develop.

Port Erie Plastics details these advantages and highlights why electing custom plastic injection molding services could be a difference-maker for your company.

Custom Plastic Injection Molding is Cost-Effective

Even as a custom manufacturing service, injection molding is an extremely cost-effective way to produce a high volume of products. It’s important to note that there will be higher upfront costs to account for tooling on potentially complex designs, but costs balance out when ordering medium to high volumes — which is what injection molding services are intended for.

Manufacturing Efficiency

Custom plastic injection molding is an efficient way to create plastic products. This mostly automated manufacturing process has fast cycle times and can produce parts within seconds. Thanks to automation, cycles can run 24/7 as needed with minimal downtime.

Precision and Design Complexity

Custom plastic injection molding services are highly precise and allow for the shaping and making of products with extremely tight part tolerances and unique shapes. Because of this, design can be intricate with multiple angles and shapes.

Customization

Being able to create a custom product brings your vision to life. From material selection and detailed features to the design phase when crafting unique angles and shapes, custom plastic injection molding offers unmatched benefits compared to a standard injection molding run.

It goes beyond just the manufacturing service. Designing and creating a custom product will separate you from the competition, with a product that stands out in the market space and provides brand recognition.

Stringent Quality Control

Since custom injection molding services are highly automated, there are built-in quality control measures throughout the manufacturing process. This results in a precise manufacturing process that delivers high-quality, accurate, consistent components.

Secondary Services Minimized

When customers elect for custom injection molding services, there are ways to avoid having to engage in secondary services. This could include selecting top-shelf material choices in order to give your product more strength and durability, as well as a longer lasting service life

While there still might be some secondary services considered, such as assembly and finishing, with a custom product your needs for more services are greatly diminished.

Need Custom Plastic Injection Molding Services? Contact Port Erie Plastics Today

Port Erie Plastics has been an industry leader for over seven decades in the plastics solutions space — including custom injection molding services. As the needs and demands of our customers continue to grow, so do our capabilities.

Quality is at the core of everything we do in our state-of-the-art facility. With modern machinery and quality checks throughout our manufacturing process, we provide customers with peace of mind for their project.

Our plastic injection molding services are backed by the high-quality standards you expect. We operate up to 90 different injection molding machines in order to maximize our efficiency and create your products on time.

Contact us today to learn more about the difference we can make with your next project.

Common Applications of Structural Foam Molding

Structural foam molding is one of the most cost-effective plastic manufacturing methods on the market. The process involves injecting a liquid resin with an inert gas or a chemical blowing agent. This mixture is then injected into the mold cavity, where the gas or blowing agent expands and forces the resin to fill all areas of the cavity. As the material comes into contact with the walls of the mold, the surface cells collapse, resulting in a smooth and solid surface on the outside molded component.

How do you know if this manufacturing method is right for you and your business?

Port Erie Plastics details a few common applications of structural foam molding to help you determine if it’s right for you.

Structural Foam Molding Serves the Medical Industry

The medical industry is filled with plastic products made from numerous manufacturing methods, including structural foam molding. Products created through this production style can withstand drastic temperature changes often found in the medical industry with donor storage and operating rooms.

• Medical device housings
• Equipment carts
• Structural components of hospital beds
• Patient positioning components
• Protective casings

Consumer Products

Many consumer products found in our homes are made through structural foam molding, including:.

• Backyard storage sheds
• Tool boxes
• Fencing
• Shelving
• Display racks

Industrial and Retail Usages of Structural Foam Molding

Industrial and retail businesses use products made through this manufacturing style when plastic components need to have a high weight-to-strength ratio, be cost-effective, and act as good acoustic and thermal insulators.

• Large equipment covers
• Kiosks
• Enclosures
• Point-of-sale machines

Logistics Solutions Made Easier

Logistics solutions are made easier with products created through this type of plastic production. This manufacturing method provides products that are cost-effective, able to handle massive temperature changes — ideal for logistics, as shipping containers could be poorly insulated — and boast a positive weight-to-strength ratio.

• Plastic pallets
• Storage bins
• Totes

Benefits of Structural Foam Molding

All of these industries utilize structural foam molding as a manufacturing process because of the benefits the components created during manufacturing can provide to the companies and their customers.

Excellent Moldability

Structural foam is highly amenable to molding. It can be used to create parts with walls and other elements in various thicknesses without the risk of warping or deformation from the stress experienced during the molding process.

High Strength-to-Weight Ratio

Structural foam components are generally very lightweight, typically ranging from 2 lbs/ft3 to 55 lbs/ft3, while also remaining strong, durable, and rigid.

Great Thermal Stability

Structural foam exhibits little to no thermal expansion, which makes it ideal for products used in a wide range of temperature conditions.

Good Acoustic and Thermal Insulation Properties

The nature of structural foam makes it perfect for use in products that require acoustic or thermal insulation.

Exceptional Cost-Effectiveness

The structural foam molding process utilizes slower clamping forces and pressures than other molding methods, which allows it to use less durable tools made from less expensive materials, like aluminum.

Trust Port Erie Plastics For Your Structural Foam Molding Needs

Port Erie Plastics has proudly served the needs of customers since 1953. What started as a small injection molding company has grown into an industry leader offering multiple capabilities — including structural foam molding.

We create high-quality foam molding solutions that are built to work and last. Port Erie knows that switching manufacturers can be daunting, and we have experience in transitioning customers from a previous provider.

Reach out to us today for a first-class experience with structural foam molding, and let’s get your project started.

5 Industries That Rely on Extruded Plastic Products

Extruded plastic products are integral to many industries. Without them, these companies would find it much more costly to efficiently and effectively operate. Loaded with benefits beyond cost-effectiveness, such as high-volume production runs and durability, extruded plastic products are commonplace in everyday life.

Port Erie Plastics details five industries that rely on extruded plastic products and some of the products that are made through this manufacturing method.

Extruded Plastic Products Rule in Construction

The construction industry is one of the biggest users of extruded plastic products because plastic extrusion offers a cost-effective way to create a large volume of products that offer flexible designs and durability, and are lightweight. Common products include:

• Window profiles
• Door frames
• Weather stripping
• Siding
• Conduit
• Decking

Automotive

Those in the automotive and transportation industries know how many plastic components go into the making of a vehicle. The automotive industry relies on extruded plastic products because of their cost-effectiveness and ability to have multiple designs while creating a high volume of products. Examples include:

• Trim
• Seals
• Gaskets
• Tubing
• Wire insulation
• Bumper reinforcements
• Turn signals
• Door handles
• Dials
• Meter gauge needles

Healthcare

Professionals in the healthcare and medical industries use extruded plastic products on a daily basis. With ever-changing budgets, hospitals, private practices, and other care centers can rely on the cost-effectiveness and durability that extruded plastic products provide. Common products used in the healthcare industry include:

• Tubing
• Catheters
• IV lines
• Surgical instrument components
• Device seals

Extruded Plastic Products Are Common in Consumer Goods

Consumer goods are another big industry that relies on extruded plastic products. You’ve likely used a product today that was created through this manufacturing process. Key examples that appear in everyday life can include.

• Household appliances
• Sporting goods
• Furniture components
• Toys
• Kitchen ware
• Garden hoses

Material Handling

It’s important to Port Erie Plastics, whether you’re sending your products halfway around the world or are storing unused inventory in a warehouse, that your products are kept safe. Material handling and logistics as a whole rely on extruded plastic products. Common products include:

• Containers
• Totes
• Bins

Connect With Port Erie Plastics For Your Extruded Plastic Product Needs

Port Erie Plastics has been an industry leader for over seven decades in the plastics solutions space — including extrusion services. As the needs and demands of our customers continue to grow, so do our capabilities.

Quality is at the core of everything we do in our state-of-the-art facility. With modern machinery and quality checks throughout our manufacturing process, we provide customers with peace of mind for their project.

Our plastic extrusion services are backed by the high-quality standards you expect. We have multiple extruder machines for enhanced capabilities, along with 80 feet of cooling tanks.

Ready to improve your products with extrusion services? Contact us today to learn more about the difference we can make with your next project.