Advantages of blow molding:
- Make hollow parts
- Fast production rates
- Ability to mold complex parts
- Minimal post-processing
Blow molding is a manufacturing process for creating hollow plastic parts and containers. It is a versatile, cost-effective method for producing a wide range of plastic products – from bottles and containers to automotive components and toys.
The key steps involved in the blow molding process include:
- Raw material in granular form is heated to melt the granules and disperse any colorant added to produce a specific color of plastic.
- A molten plastic tube is extruded from the machine head, cut with a hot blade, and then captured by a water-cooled mold.
- A blowing tube is inserted into the mold, allowing pressurized air to blow into the plastic, forcing it to take the shape of the mold.
- Once cooled and solidified, the mold opens, and the shaped plastic is ejected. From there, the plastic travels to remove any excess from the design.
- In some processes, this excess is then conveyed to the beginning of the process, to be ground and reused, wasting almost nothing. This is known as a close-looped system.
The benefits of blow molding include:
- Lightweight
- Seamless and Leak-Proof
- Materials Variety
- Quick Tooling Changes
- Short Lead Times
- Minimal Post-Processing
- Handles can be incorporated into the design.
Markets served by blow molding:
- Packaging
- Material handling
- Manufacturing
- Lawn and garden
- recreational vehicles
- commercial truck parts and products
- outdoor consumer products
- industrial and business equipment
Common Materials Used:
- Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)
- High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
- Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
- Polypropylene (PP)
- Polystyrene (PS)
- Polyurethane (PU)
- Santoprene
- Kostrate
- K-Resin Styrene-Butadiene Copolymer (K-Resin SBC)
FACILITIES, TECHNOLOGY AND TALENT TO DELIVER
- Two facilities minutes apart in the Buffalo/Niagara area
- Facilities account for 215,000 sq. ft of factory, office, and warehousing
- Possess some of the largest blow molding machines in the world – including one that extrudes 145 pounds of material and has a press almost 15 feet in height
- Twenty blow molding lines
- Capacity and capability to produce parts weighing just under one pound up to 100 pounds
- Our location places us within 500 miles of 46% of the US population and 57% of the Canadian population
What we offer
With over 60 years of experience in both prototype and production blow molding, we bring a depth of knowledge to early-part design feedback, material options, and tooling solutions.
