By Steve Erickson
You may not think about it very often, but plastic plays a critical role in the way our society runs and functions. Without the use of plastic products, it would be more difficult for people to conveniently access medical treatment, ship certain materials across state borders, or even make a quick cup of coffee in the morning. Below, you’ll find various ways in which plastic affects our everyday lives, as well as learn about a process called plastic injection molding, which is important to the production of many plastic products.
Plastic Packaging:
Because of its flexibility when it comes to strength, durability, size and shape, plastic makes a quality packaging material that gives products the protection they need. For example, when used for medical purposes, plastic packaging can keep medical instruments and equipment safe from contamination and prevent the spread of infection. Food is often kept in plastic packages to help preserve flavor and provide convenience when storing and transporting.
Building and Construction:
Second only to the packaging industry, the building and construction industry is one of the nation’s largest consumers of plastics. Windows, doors, flooring, gutters, piping, insulation and plumbing fixtures – these are just some of the examples of how plastic is used for constructing both the interior and exterior of homes and buildings. Plastic can be easy to install and transport, making it a cost-effective material that is incredibly welcomed in a troubled economy.
Around the House:
If you take a look around your own home, you will notice that many of the items that you use on a daily basis are made out of plastic. From your desktop computer to your hair dryer, the coffee maker to the can opener, plastic is what keeps your home running smoothly every day. Many toys are made with plastic parts, and the smoke detector that keeps your family safe also consists of plastic materials.
Plastic Injection Molding:
So now that we understand how plastic affects our day-to-day activities, another question remains: How are these plastic materials and items produced? One manufacturing process that is commonly used for creating plastic parts is called plastic injection molding. During the plastic injection molding process, raw plastic material is melted and injected into a mold through an injection molding machine, then cooled and ejected in just a matter of seconds. Injection molding can be used for a wide variety of materials, including acrylic, polycarbonate and polyolefins, to name just a few. From kitchenware to chair seats, automotive housings to cosmetic packaging, plastic injection molding produces many of the plastics that we use every day.
Steve Erickson writes for First American Plastic Molding Enterprise (http://www.firstamericanplastic.com), a custom injection molding company that manufactures a wide range of thermoplastic injection molding products, from food and medical parts to consumer products. Learn more at firstamericanplastic.com.
When a plastic molder is searching for a plastic painting company it is important that they make sure the plastic painting company has the appropriate kinds of paint lines to accomplish the job. Types of paint lines are typically robotic paint lines, open spray paint booths and infra red ovens for short lines and/or quick turnaround jobs.
Don Bolt is the Vice President for Operations at A&K Finishing, Inc. of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
A&K Finishing is known as “First to Finish with Quality” in the automotive, electrical and office furniture businesses.
With 2 plants and over 60,000 sf of space, A&K Finishing employs over 45 skilled non-union painting experts, has 11 state of the art robotic lines, 20 paint booths and 10 paint lines with enough capacity to handle any sized job.
