Plastic injection molds are a very specific industry, but it is an industry that is thriving. In 2022, the industry produced $10.4 billion in sales. Over the next four years, that is expected to grow by about 20 percent. For those of you not familiar, this is a very expensive process with very expensive equipment, so these business owners will want to ensure the equipment is working properly to maximize profit. With most molds costing somewhere between $1,000 and $5,000 to produce, you clearly do not want to have to replace equipment very often.
Maintenance
These molds are used for just about anything you can think of that is plastic-related, such as water bottles, toys, caps, pens, etc. Rex Plastics stated, “A small and simple single cavity plastic injection mold usually costs between $1,000 and $5,000. Very large or complex molds may cost as much as $80,000 or more. On average, a typical mold that produces a relatively simple part small enough to hold in your hand costs around $12,000.” At these numbers, we surely want to make sure they are properly maintained. Think about that… you are literally paying five figures for something that is only likely to produce an item that will produce only pennies in profit.
Molds typically have very complex shapes and a precision finish. The longer these parts can perform, the higher the return on your investment. This means regular maintenance. When these parts are hand-cleaned, they will sometimes suffer damage that will not occur with ultrasonic cleaning, not to mention the time it takes to clean these parts.
We should also note that hand cleaning also often uses abrasive brushes and chemical solvents, which can also damage the molds (our cleaning agents are water-based, so they are safe for plastics).
More Effective Cleaning
As you can imagine, these plastic molds can have the tiniest of holes in the design. Mechanical scrubbing can not always get into these small areas, not to mention the damage that can be done when using mechanical scrubbers. The cavitation created in ultrasonic cleaners creates microscopic bubbles that carry the cleaning solution to all those hard-to-get-to areas. And best of all, they do it without damaging the parts.
If you are using an ultrasonic cleaner for this purpose, you are likely going to need a personal consultation with a member of our team. The size of the tank will depend on the exact molds you are using, so a consultation with a member of our team is recommended. And remember, if we do not have a “stock” tank for your particular cleaning job, we can custom-build one that will meet your needs.
Give us a call at 888-989-5560 when you are ready to discuss your ultrasonic cleaning options.
