What Is Short Run Injection Molding?

Short run injection molding is ideal for producing small-quantities plastic parts. It caters to applications where the demand is not high enough to the costs of high volume injection molding production, such as the new products investment, low-volume manufacturing for niche markets, or custom parts for specific applications or purpose and prototype manufacturing for testing and validation of design and concept and so on.

Sungplastic has a professional team specializing in short run production, which can help your projects come true and maximum the business value. Before carrying out the projects, please read more about this below.

What is Short Run Injection Molding?

Short run injection molding, also known as quick turn injection molding, refers to the manufacturing process of producing plastic parts in relatively low quantities, typically ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand units. It involves injecting molten plastic material into a custom-designed mold, allowing the material to cool and solidify, and then ejecting the finished part from the mold. Short run injection molding can provide a cost-effective and efficient solution for producing small batches of plastic parts with quick turnaround times.

Quick turn injection molding plays a crucial role in various industries and scenarios where low-volume production is required. It allows manufacturers to quickly produce functional prototypes, conduct market testing, meet demand for niche products, and address customization needs. It is particularly valuable for industries such as automotive, aerospace, medical devices, consumer electronics, and industrial equipment, where product iterations, rapid prototyping, and customization are essential.

What Advantages Does Short Run Injection Molding Offer?

• Flexibility in Production Quantities
  Short run injection molding offers flexibility in terms of production quantities. It allows manufacturers to respond quickly to changing market demands and produce parts in the required quantities without the constraints of high-volume production. This flexibility enables companies to adapt to market fluctuations, customer preferences, and design iterations more effectively.
• Faster Turnaround Times
  Compared to high volume injection molding, short run injection molding offers faster turnaround times. The reduced setup and tooling requirements enable manufacturers to initiate production quickly. With shorter lead times, companies can accelerate product development cycles, meet tight project timelines, and respond promptly to customer orders or market opportunities.
• Cost-Effectiveness for Low-Volume Production
  Short run injection molding provides cost advantages for low-volume production. Since it involves smaller quantities, it requires less tooling investment and setup time compared to high volume production. Manufacturers can avoid the high upfront costs associated with large-scale tooling and achieve cost-effective production for smaller batches, making it economically viable for niche markets or specific customer requirements.
• Iterative Design and Prototyping Opportunities
  Short run injection molding facilitates iterative design and prototyping processes. Manufacturers can quickly produce functional prototypes or small production runs to evaluate the design, test functionality, and gather feedback. This iterative approach allows for design refinements, improvements, and validation before committing to mass production, reducing the risk of costly design errors or unsatisfactory products.
• Reduced Inventory and Storage Requirements
  With short run injection molding, manufacturers can produce parts on-demand, minimizing the need for excessive inventory. As a result, inventory costs and storage requirements are significantly reduced. This benefit is particularly valuable for industries with evolving product designs, frequent model changes, or seasonal demand fluctuations, as it helps optimize inventory management and reduce carrying costs.

Where is Short Run Injection Molding Used?

Short run injection molding is used in various industries and applications where low-volume production is required. Some common areas where short run injection molding finds its application include:

• Prototyping and Product Development
  Short run injection molding allows for the quick and cost-effective production of prototypes and proof-of-concept parts. It enables designers and engineers to test and refine their designs before committing to full-scale production.
• Custom and Specialty Manufacturing
  Industries that require customized or specialty parts often rely on short run injection molding. This includes sectors such as automotive, aerospace, electronics, medical devices, consumer goods, and industrial equipment. Short run production enables manufacturers to meet specific requirements and produce parts tailored to their customers’ needs.
• Bridge Production
  Short run injection molding serves as a bridge between initial prototyping and full-scale production. It is used to fill the gap during product launches or for meeting temporary production demands. This allows companies to have a supply of parts while they finalize tooling and manufacturing processes for high-volume production.
• Spare Parts and Replacement Components
  Short run injection molding is used to produce spare parts and replacement components for equipment or machinery that may be out of production or have a limited demand. This enables companies to extend the lifespan of their products and fulfill customer requests for repairs or replacements.
• Limited Edition Products
  Short run injection molding is commonly employed in the production of limited edition products, such as collectibles, promotional items, or niche market products. These items often have a limited market demand and require a smaller production volume.
• Low-Volume Production for Start-ups
  Start-up companies often use short run injection molding to initiate production and bring their products to market quickly and cost-effectively. It allows them to test the market demand, make necessary adjustments, and gradually scale up their production as needed.
• Customized Packaging and Components
  Short run injection molding is utilized for producing customized packaging solutions, including plastic containers, caps, closures, and inserts. It enables companies to create unique packaging designs and meet specific branding or functional requirements.

Short run injection molding is suitable for low-volume production, it may not be the most cost-effective option for large-scale production due to higher per-unit costs. Therefore, its usage is typically focused on applications where flexibility, speed, customization, or limited production quantities are key factors.

Factors Affecting Short Run Injection Molding

• Mold Design and Complexity
  The complexity of the mold design affects the feasibility and cost of short run injection molding. Elaborate or intricate part geometries with challenging features may require more intricate and expensive molds. Simpler designs with fewer undercuts and complex features are generally more suitable for short run production.
• Material Properties and Compatibility
  The selection of materials for short run injection molding is influenced by their properties and compatibility with the injection molding process. Some materials may require specific processing conditions, and their availability in smaller quantities can vary. Material properties such as shrinkage, flow characteristics, and temperature sensitivity should be considered to ensure successful molding.
• Equipment and Machinery Capabilities
  The capabilities of the injection molding equipment and machinery may impact short run production. Factors such as clamping force, shot capacity, and control systems should be assessed to ensure they align with the requirements of the specific parts and production volumes. Adequate equipment capacity is crucial for achieving consistent part quality and performance.
• Cost Considerations for Short Run Production
  Short run injection molding involves different cost considerations compared to high volume production. Tooling costs, although lower than high volume tooling, can still be significant for short runs. Material costs, machine setup costs, and labor costs should also be evaluated to determine the cost-effectiveness of short run production.
• Lead Time and Scheduling Constraints
  Short run production may face time constraints due to shorter lead times and scheduling requirements. It is important to consider the availability of equipment, molds, and materials toensure timely production. Efficient scheduling and coordination of resources are essential to meet customer deadlines and optimize production efficiency. Additionally, any potential delays or bottlenecks in the production process should be addressed proactively to minimize disruptions.

Distinction between High Volume and Short Run Injection Molding

Short run injection molding differs from high volume injection molding primarily in terms of production quantity. High volume injection molding is typically used for large-scale production, often involving tens of thousands or millions of parts. It requires extensive tooling and setup, longer lead times, and higher initial investments. In contrast, short run injection molding caters to lower production volumes, offering greater flexibility, faster turnaround times, and reduced costs for smaller batch sizes.

The distinction between short run and high volume injection molding can be summarized by several factors:

 

• Higher Per-Unit Costs Compared to High Volume Injection Molding
  Short run production typically involves producing a smaller quantity of parts, resulting in higher per-unit costs due to less efficient production processes and economies of scale.
• Limited Economies of Scale
  High volume injection molding allows for economies of scale, where the cost per unit decreases as the volume of production increases. Short run injection molding does not benefit from these economies of scale due to the smaller production quantities.
• Tooling and Mold-Related Expenses
  Injection molding requires the creation of molds and tooling, which can be expensive. High volume production can spread out these costs over a larger number of parts, reducing the impact on per-unit costs. In quick turn injection molding, the tooling and mold-related expenses become a more significant portion of the overall cost.
• Material Availability and Minimum Order Quantities
  Some materials used in injection molding may have limited availability or require minimum order quantities. High volume injection molding can meet these requirements more easily, while short run production may face challenges in sourcing the necessary materials.
• Production Scalability and Capacity Constraints
  High volume injection molding has the advantage of scalability and capacity to meet large production demands. Quick turn injection molding, on the other hand, may have limitations in terms of production scalability and capacity due to the smaller scale of operations.

Comparison of Short Run Injection Molding with Alternative Manufacturing Methods

In addition to Short Run Injection Molding, which is suitable for small batch manufacturing, alternative manufacturing methods often include CNC machining and 3D printing. We will compare short-run injection molding with alternative methods based on the following factors:

• Cost
  Short run injection molding can be more expensive per unit for small quantities, while alternatives like 3D printing or CNC machining may have lower setup costs.
• Lead Time
  Short run injection molding has longer lead times due to tooling and mold creation, while alternative methods can be faster to set up and produce parts.
• Design Flexibility
  Short run injection molding offers high design flexibility, while alternative methods may have limitations in complexity or material options. 3D printing is flexible too.
• Material Selection
  Short run injection molding provides a wide range of material options, while alternatives may have fewer choices. 3D printing has a limited range too.
• Scalability
  Short run injection molding suits small to medium quantities, while alternatives can be easily scalable for both small and large production runs.
• Surface Finish and Quality
  Short run injection molding produces parts with excellent finish and details, while alternatives may require additional steps for comparable results.
• Tooling and Setup
  Injection molding requires molds and tooling, which can be costly and time-consuming. Alternatives like 3D printing or CNC machining have lower setup costs and faster lead times.

Short Run Injection Molding Services from Sungplastic

At Sungplastic, our short run injection molding services caters to the production of small quantities of parts using the injection molding process. Our prototyping services are suitable for projects with low to medium production volumes, typically ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand parts. We provide almost every plastic materials and elastomers for you to choose, comprehensive assistance with optimizing the design of the part for injection molding to ensure manufacturability and cost-effectiveness of your projects, help design and creation of molds and tooling required for the injection molding process, and offer post-processing and finishing services such as trimming excess material, surface treatments, or assembly of components.

If you are considering small batch manufacturing projects, please consult us for more industry information and free quotation.