The majority of molded plastic on the market today is called injection molded plastic, where plastic molding companies melt plastic into a liquid and inject it into a mold. From food storage containers to the outside of a bicycle helmet, Americans rely on custom molded plastic in almost all aspects of living.

Producing custom molded plastics can be a lucrative operation. Whether you're looking for plastic molding companies to manufacture plastic parts for your business or you're looking to purchase your own plastic injection molding equipment, consider utilizing the following resources for the most cost-effective purchases:

1. Online directories of plastic molding manufacturers

2. Ready-made molded plastic

3. Companies that sell used plastic forming molds

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Contact several plastic molding manufacturers for the best price quote

Plastic molding suppliers operating in both the U.S. and abroad produce all sorts of products from molds, which means you can easily find plastics for creative, shipping or safety applications. Though some companies boast the lowest possible price, online directories offer the most information when comparing plastic molding prices, experience and service.

I recommend: ThomasNet offers profile information for more than 3,000 plastic manufacturers. You can narrow the selections by state or area. FirstIndex Inc. connects buyers to suppliers for custom manufacturing needs.

Purchase ready-made plastic molded products or custom orders online

Whether you're looking for plastic molding suppliers of containers or quality molded plastics custom-made for your business, find a variety of websites that can cater to your specific needs. For ready-made products, quality is typically apparent from the start. For custom-made products, look for a company with a large client base or for one with a long-standing reputation, and check their references.

I recommend: Plastic Packaging Corporation offers ready-made food and storage containers. Ready-Made offers trays for shipping and storage. MOCAP handles several types of custom-made processes.

Check out used equipment for molding plastic to save cost

If you plan on plastic injection molding specific items, you would likely save by investing in your own equipment. The cheapest way to get started is to buy or lease used injection molding equipment and avoid both the labor charge and shipping charges associated with outsourcing the job to a manufacturer. You would need to invest some time in training a staff how to operate the machinery but with so much repetition, mastering the machinery shouldn't be too difficult.

I recommend: Plastics One Inc. offers used plastic molding equipment for immediate sale. Techsource features pricing, photos and descriptions of their used machines.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you're in a pinch, consider using a plastic molding company that converts 3D computer aided design to molded plastic as a compromise between self-made custom molded plastic and ready-made products. Some companies offer as little as a 24-hour turnaround time.