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The manufacturing industry shapes the world that we live in today; whether it be homes, vehicles, packaging, electronics, furniture, or sports equipment, the manufacturing industry is the reason for everything we use in day-to-day life.
With that being said, let’s explore how plastics are shaping the manufacturing industry…
There are many different manufacturing processes used to produce all the things around us, from extrusion to moulding and thermoforming.
What is Extrusion?
Extrusion is the process of melting raw plastic materials and then forcing them through a piece of equipment, called a die, to create a specific shape or profile. To read all about the extrusion process, have a read of our blog here.
The extrusion process can be used to create a range of different products, including pipes, fencing, railings, gutters, wires, window frames, plastic films, coatings and sheeting, which are found in the majority of UK households.
What is Moulding?
The term moulding can be separated into 4 different types of plastic moulding:
Injection moulding – This is the process of raw plastic materials being melted down and then injected into a mould to produce specific shapes and profiles.
Blow moulding – This is the process where a heated plastic tube is clamped into a mould and inflated with compressed air, causing it to expand into the shape of the mould, resulting in a hollow plastic shape. This is used to create products like bottles or containers.
Compression moulding – This is the process of a measured-out piece of plastic being reheated and placed into a form of a desired shape. It is then pressed into this mould to produce the desired shape. This is most commonly used to create parts for cars, kitchen appliances, electrical components and medical equipment.
Rotational moulding – This is the process where the melted plastic material is placed into a mould and rotated until the material covers all areas and is left to cool. This process is used to create hollow products like automotive parts, sporting equipment, toys and containers.
What is Thermoforming?
Thermoforming is the process where a sheet of plastic material is heated and moulded over an engineered shape through vacuuming or compression. This process creates products like car parts, trays, components for machinery, furniture and toys.
The applications of plastic are endless and as the plastic manufacturing industry evolves as does the processes. Here at Rayda, we used plastic extrusion to create bespoke plastic products. If you have any general enquiries about Plastic, please contact our team today!
For more information on How plastics are shaping manufacturing – Extrusion, Moulding, and Thermoforming talk to Rayda Plastics Ltd