SPONSORED: Plastic injection molding – Maximizing manufacturing profits

Cognito2. PHOTO: LBE

The following is sponsored content from Leister Blake Enterprises (LBE).

Plastic Injection Molding – Form follows function

Once the creative industrialist has determined there is a need and a natural demand for a new product, there is a process to bring it to market. The most challenging stage of the process occurs early when the new or revised product design must prove it can be actually and efficiently manufactured.

We call this early-stage consideration DFM, design for manufacture. It sounds simple, but as anyone involved in industrial design knows, a great idea is a long way from being wrestled into existence. The most valuable assets in the designer toolbox at this stage are imagination, recognition of the obstacles to be overcome, and the ability to collaborate with trusted experts in the field of plastic injection molding (PIM).

DFM is its own segment of expertise and LBE has been helping customers for over 30 years by heading off problems in the plastic injection molding process before they cost customers unnecessary time and expense. It’s a clear added value.

Collaboration

In order to reach the highest potential of our initiatives, it is almost always beneficial to collaborate with others — experts who share a purpose and a goal in common with our own. Robert Blake is a professional collaborator. He brings value and diversity to problem-solving and cost savings opportunities to his customers.

When you speak with Robert you will quickly realize he listens and brings useful ideas to the design process. He sees obstacles ahead of the process and helps inventors and industrial designers achieve their objectives while enjoying efficiencies and cost savings along the way.

Plastic injection molding (PIM) is a process where the costs are front-end loaded. Producing the mold determines the form of your end-product and it is critical to how your product will be seen by the market and the world. It needs to be created correctly and with great attention to detail.

Once a mold is created, the cost to create it is on the books. There is no turning back. This is the underlying importance of DFM, knowing before money is spent that the parts being molded will be able to be assembled and function as anticipated by their design. This is where working with a representative like LBE is most valuable. We are a collaborator who is not only invested in the success of your product, but someone who has the closest working relationship with the PIM process and understands how to reliably and efficiently deliver results for your investment.

Pathway connectivity solutions – Cognito2

A recent example of a PIM product delivered through LBE is the Cognito2 (TM); – a lighting console designed and manufactured by Pathway Connectivity Solutions. Pathway Connectivity Solutions is a leading data communications company in the entertainment lighting industry.

LBE will deliver exactly what the customer needs. Creative industrial designers challenge their suppliers with highly functional new product designs which must also achieve their form objectives. The plastic injection molding industry brings your technology products into form, and Rob Blake and his team at LBE are highly capable suppliers for technology manufacturers.

Gate location

Everyone understands the importance of customer perception. Your customers will critique your product by early hands-on feel and appearance. It cannot be overstated how important a product feels in your customers’ hands when they are making a purchase decision. Again, you will want to work with a PIM supplier who takes into consideration such a seemingly small detail as the placement of gate location.

Gate location is the placement of the plastic injectors in the mold, where the small, tell-tale marks will appear when the finished product comes out of the mold. Your PIM specialist at LBE will always be sure this small detail is considered at the beginning of the mold engineering process and monitored throughout preparation to ensure your customer perceives the highest quality possible from your product.

No minimum order quantity

As mentioned earlier, the cost of PIM production is front-end heavy with the required engineering time to refine a suitable mold for the injection process, the selection and preparation of materials to the most appropriate temperatures, and tuning of pressure for proper flow among other things like test runs. Because of this amount of critical and resource-consuming work on the front end, before first-off production, many companies in the PIM business will accept only very large production runs.

Leister Blake Enterprises will accept your order for any quantity

The cost per part will be higher for smaller quantity runs, of course, but LBE understands and accommodates some company’s small run requirements. Contact Robert to discuss your requirements, or to ask any other questions you may have specific to your needs. Keep his contact information handy.

Call Leister Blake Enterprises today, or at any time to discuss your plastic injection molding ideas, plans and requirements. They are always happy to hear from a new customer and to get to work on a new PIM project.

Also, bookmark the LBE website. There is more information on the processes, and you can discover the other custom products and services useful to manufacturers.

Since 1989 Robert Blake and his company LBE have been delivering valuable expertise, industry insights and quality components to Canadian manufacturers.

Robert and his team at LBE are forward thinking industry collaborators. They continually adapt and have grown for over 30 years because they understand the creative nature of industry. With careful attention and true expertise, they help their customers in the manufacturing sector save time and money.