Injection molding is broadly in various industries and plays an essential role in the medical industry. Injection molding comes with multiple benefits and advantages as it is applicable in most ways.
Medical-grade plastics insert molding comes in handy for medical components, devices, laboratories, equipment for medical facilities, and more. Amongst the significant benefits of injection molding, one is the ability to fulfill all of the specifications and needs of the medical industry. In this read, we will be discussing the applications of injection molding in the medical industry.
Uses Of Injection Molding
Medical suppliers came to know that plastic injection molding medical parts and devices are one of the most cost-effective ways of getting quality while fulfilling all the company’s specifications more efficiently and at the best prices. Medical industries use this manufacturing process for:
- Implantable components
- Test tubes, beakers, and all types of containers
- Casings, housings for laboratories
- Surgical items and components
- Drug delivery equipment
- Orthopedics
These are some of how medical device plastic injection mold can help the medical industry. This plastic injection molding can help in most of the areas where you need sterilization, durable parts. It helps to produce a considerable amount of products with exponential precision.
When implementing this process, medical industry suppliers are provided with the chance to access various advantages and get the best materials accessible. The following discusses the benefits of medical plastic insert injection molding.
Control & Reliability
The process of plastic injection molding has been here for more than 100 years. In other words, the advancement in time and technology has amplified and improved this process to the extent that it is now highly essential and reliable.
The design and engineering put into the injection molding help in the production of the highest quality devices. There is an advanced software accessible that does most of the guesswork out of tool design. The digital implementation and innovation in injection molding machines can also help us get optimal performance and reduce production time. It also reduces the cost of medical devices.
High Production
All injection molding projects, along with the medical ones, are executed with an injection molding tool and dyes. For making the complicated shapes with equally complex tools, there is a need for the initial product design. Along with the product design, the development investment also needs to be considered before making a medical device.
But after the approval, companies can make thousands of duplicate medical parts economically and quickly. Due to the lower price per part, larger products tend to recoup the tooling cost over time.
This is why injection molding is the best choice for generic devices such as containers, disposables, or tubes. It is also beneficial for single-use medical products such as syringes. The injection molding process comes with solutions for all medical needs.
Ideal For Enclosures
This process is highly essential for manufacturing cases and enclosures. It is possible to use another process for making boxes, such as CNC machines or casting for vacuum. There are various good reasons why injection molding is the best choice for making these medical products.
The other methods for producing these can take time and consume more raw materials, increasing manufacturing costs. For this reason, a different production process is better only for low-volume or custom jobs when companies do not want to invest in tools.
Injection molding consists of faster production time, lower manufacturing costs, and takes the help of medical-grade plastics, making it ideal for enclosures and cases.
Some enclosures come in all sizes and shapes. Some are not complicated components, such as tool holding trays, sensor housings, or pill dispensers. Large plastic housings are highly beneficial for sophisticated medical equipment.
Not only does plastic weigh less and is durable and less costly than other materials, but it also does not interfere with the electromagnetic energy as it could happen in CAT scans, MRIs, and X-rays. Also, some plastic resins do not get affected by radiation. Injection molding is amongst the most critical and beneficial production methods.
Versatility
There are countless plastic resins that you can choose from manufacturing that are accessible on the commercial market. Fortunately, there are most of the resins suitable for medical devices.
These come with mechanical and chemical properties. You will not have a hard time using it once you understand them. It is one of the most appropriate for its end use and environment.
Resins are heat stable, strong, lightweight, chemically resistant, biocompatible, and also biodegradable. Plastic is becoming more and more popular for prosthetics, replacement joints, or other medical products. With the accessibility of the plastic for injection molding method, you are bound to get the product that will fit according to your medical needs.
Considerations For Plastic Injection Molding
Take the following things into account during the design, manufacturing, and planning process.
FDA regulations for cleanliness are one of the significant considerations for the medical components. Both in terms of manufacturing process and supply. You should also ensure that the material you choose adheres to the standards and your manufacturing partner can pass the audit or other requirements for medical-grade approval.
The material chosen for the medical components must display some physical properties to become suitable for these applications. Also, ensure that the product you choose has the following:
- Sterilization Ability
It is the minimum need for all types of components. Whether it is equipment housing in a facility or a device part interacting with the human body, materials should be contaminant-resistant to prevent harm to the body.
- Durability
Those materials that are prone to breakage are not practical in the medical sector. Breakable materials are dangerous and inconvenient. Moreover, Select the material that provides shatter and breakage resistance.
Conclusion
The injection molding process is becoming more popular in the medical industry as it can provide various innovations that make it stand out from other methods. It is essential to choose the best material and fulfill the necessary formalities to avoid any complications.
