Plastics
Tips & Advice to help you make your decision on Plastics
Plastics are seemingly everywhere these days, from shopping bags to computer keyboards to car parts. The first plastic was introduced in 1856 at the Great International Exposition in London. We've come a long way since then. Today, this product made from petroleum and natural gas, can be found multiple places in most American homes and offices. Plastic comes in a variety of weights, thicknesses and strengths. This compound is inexpensive and useful for making parts, as a throwaway container and in packaging. The uses for plastic are so numerous they are limited really only by your imagination.
Look for a plastic vendor that can get you the raw product you need in an efficient and timely manner. Such a vendor should deliver to your plant or office, offer flexible payment terms that won't break your budget and work with you on returns for the occasional flawed product. When shopping for plastics, it's important to compare the products and services offered by several different vendors. Business.com understands this and offers a large selection of plastic suppliers. Visit the links on the left to learn more about the products and services they offer.
Plastics
Find the plastic products, services and equipment you needBy Marianne Cotter, Freelance writer
Plastics are used to make millions of everyday products. Because of this, many companies depend on plastics manufacturers to provide the plastic products and services necessary to make or market their wares. Thanks to the Internet, finding plastics companies has never been easier.
Plastics companies may provide raw materials or finished plastic products. Many offer specialized products and services, such as injection molded plastics and plastics extrusion. To find the plastic products and processes you need, consider the following:
1. Determine the type of plastic products you need.
2. Use online resources to find plastics materials, suppliers and services.
3. Choose vendors who offer design assistance for your plastic products.
4. Look for plastics companies that offer molding services, including injection molded plastics.
5. Select vendors who provide plastics extrusion services.
Determine the type of plastic products you need
Some of the most popular plastic products used today include polyproylene (food containers), polystyrene (disposable cutlery, CD cases), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (computer equipment cases), polyethylene terephthalate (or PET, commonly used for beverage bottles), polyester (textiles), polyamides (nylons), polyvinyl chloride (PVC pipes), polyurethanes (insulation foams), polycarbonate (CDs, eyeglasses), polyvinylidene chloride (Saran) and polyethylene (grocery bags).
Try:
Use the materials selection tools at Solvay to help narrow down the polymer you want by property, type and/or grade. If your plastic products will come in contact with any chemicals, check the chemical resistance chart at Miller Plastic Products. RPI Reprocessed Plastics offers a variety of environmentally friendly, non-toxic plastics. Find plastics distributors and plastics manufacturers offering a wide variety of plastic products at Business.com.
Use online resources for plastics materials, suppliers and services
The Internet allows you to source plastic products and find plastics manufacturers worldwide.
Try:
MyPlasticsindustry.com is an online marketplace for suppliers and buyers of plastics processing materials, machinery, molds, tools and plastics consulting. 123plastics.com and IndiaMART’s Indian Plastic Portal are both India-based plastics trade resources that connect buyers and sellers worldwide. IDES is a subscriber service featuring a plastic products search engine.
Plastics molding services
Plastics molding is a category that includes many processes, such as injection molded plastics, blow-molding and dip molding.
Try:
To obtain multiple quotes for injection molded plastics jobs, simply email your 3D CAD files along with project specifications to Quickparts.com. ICO Products specializes in rapid mold injection to produce soft-steel injection molds for prototypes and production parts. Try the online cost estimator tool on ICO's homepage. MacRae’s Blue Book lists custom plastics manufacturers and plastics molding services. See Business.com’s molded plastic directory for a variety of molding services and equipment.
Plastics extrusion services
Plastics extrusion is a process by which small beads of thermoplastic materials (often called resin) are fed into a long rotating screw inside a heated barrel where the resin is melted into molten plastic and then passed into a die where it takes its final shape.
Try:
Get multiple quotes for plastics extrusion services and other processes at MFG.com. HPE Extrusion Solutions specializes in complex plastic extrusions. Aero Rubber Company produces industrial rubber products including rubber tubing and rubber cord using extrusion and other processes. Fabricated Extrusion Company offers plastics extrusion processes to produce parts for semi-truck trailers, swimming pools and spas, exercise equipment, office furniture, impact doors, vending machines and construction.
Look for plastics companies that offer product design assistance
Some plastics manufacturers will help design your product based on a simple rendering.
Try:
Sunburst Plastics will work with you from design to finished product, recommending materials and processes, even if all you have is a concept. The design services at Inland Plastics include engineering decisions, tooling options, materials options, production run efficiencies and package alternatives.
- Explore the realm of plastics products, colors and finishes before settling on plastics manufacturers.
- To get accurate bids from plastics companies, send them detailed 3D CAD designs.
- Quantities and size will impact your final cost. Look for plastics manufacturers that specialize in the quantities you need.
Precision Plastic Fabrication. Many Materials. ISO 9001:2000 Certified
Custom Fabrication, Display cases POP Displays, Heat forming
Plastic Fabrication and Machining Quick Turnarounds, Low Minimums.
Custom Industrial Sealing & Plastic Machining Of Rings & Gaskets. RFQ!
Full-Service Wear Technology Co. Wear, Composite, and Fabrication.
