Injection molded component holders
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- Injection molded component holders
What are component holders?
Component holders are specialized containers designed for the transportation and storage of various components, parts, or objects. These custom products are tailored to the exact requirements of a customer, and they perfectly incorporate stored products in so-called nests. Component holders are also called load carriers or workpiece carriers.
What is injection molding?
Injection molding is one of two manufacturing processes we use at Utz and is one of the most important molding processes in plastics processing. It's ideal for mass-producing complex component holders where precision is critical and tolerance deviations are tight, for example in automated processes. Injection molding can also handle a broader spectrum of materials and the production itself is much faster (after molds are set up).
When should you choose injection molding?
We offer injection molded component holders where:
- precision is very important and deviation tolerance is minimal,
- complex shapes, including specific struts and indentations, are needed,
- large quantities of products need to be manufactured,
- special material properties are required (temperature resistant, spring action, abrasion resistant, fiber reinforced, etc.),
- very little weights are needed.
Depending on the client’s exact needs we also offer thermoformed component holders.
Materials
The initial material required to manufacture plastic containers is called granulate. These are small plastic pellets which are often tinted. The granulate is stored in large silos, where it is fed into the injection molding machine. We can also produce component holders using special materials e.g., temperature resistant, spring action, abrasion resistant, fiber reinforced. These are the materials we most commonly use in our production:
- PP - mostly used for logistics and automated processes
- PE - mostly used for logistics where a high impact resistance even at lower temperatures is needed
- ABS - mostly used for high precision and automated applications
- PS - mostly used for automated processes with lower logistical requirements
- POM - mostly used for highly elasticated or abrasion sensitive applications
- PC - mostly used for high temperature and precise requirements
Examples of injection molded component holders
Sometimes, tasks based on individual customer requirements can be solved by the modification of standard containers. However, they often require totally new ideas and solutions.
Looking for a custom solution?
Speak to our expert to discuss your individual needs, we’ll develop a solution matching your requirements.
Request consultationInjection molding production process
A cylinder with a “corkscrew bolt” is an important component of the machine. The granulate is transported inside it to a nozzle, from which the injection molding tool is clamped into the machine. Two stamps press the two halves of the tool together and the viscous plastic is injected into the tool cavities. The two tool halves move apart, and the completed product is removed by a robot.
1. Preparing the injection process
The tool is open and granulate is available.
2. The injection process begins
The tool is closed, the granulate is moved to the spiral.
3. The injection process
Granulate is heated and used as viscous plastic mass injected through a nozzle into the cavities of the closed tool.
4. The injection process is completed
The container cools down.
5. Finished!
The tool moves apart, and the container is removed by a robot.
Medical industry use case
For globally operating pharmaceutical and medical technology companies, Utz has developed trays that run automatically through the entire supply chain. The combination of automated processes significantly reduces the manual workload and enables "real" mass production with high throughput. Upstream suppliers have the trays automatically filled with individual parts of medical devices. After final assembly by the pharmaceutical company, the medical devices are temporarily stored in additional trays before they are automatically removed, packed, and shipped.
Utz washing baskets
Packaging solutions for holistic processes
The core element of the new overall process is a combined cleaning and transport basket in which the components are cleaned and transported to the customer's processing line. With this sequence, the complete functionality can be mapped with a single package in the supply chain without additional handling costs. Our washing basket for cleaning and transporting the parts is the central element in this concept.
