Plastic Product Manufacturing – The Importance of Thermoplastic Materials

Plastic Product Manufacturing USA

When it comes to plastic prototype development or plastic product manufacturing, it is useful to understand which material to use. Typically, there are two types of plastic materials: thermoplastic and thermosetting resin.

Thermoplastic materials are those that can be melted and cured (hardening the polymer material) again and again. There is, of course, a limit to the number of times such melting and curing processes can be repeated, depending on the type of thermoplastic material. The point, however, is that such thermoplastic materials can be melted a number of times without degrading the material.

Thermosetting materials, on the other hand, are those that can be melted and shaped only once. After a thermosetting material is cured, trying to melt it again would cause the material to burn, rather than melt. Think of a 2-part epoxy to understand a thermosetting material. Before mixing with the hardener, the epoxy resin is in the liquid state. Once the resin is mixed and dried, it is not possible to heat and melt it again.

When it comes to plastic injection molding, it is easy to misjudge the importance of thermoplastic and thermosetting materials. By the way, both thermoplastic and thermosetting materials can be injection molded. The major difference, when using a thermoplastic or thermosetting material, applies after the injection molding cycle when the molded plastic solidifies. During the molding process, plastic is heated and injected into a metal mold. To get to the cavity of the metal mold, however, the molten plastic first needs to pass through an array of entry points and tunnels known as sprues, runners, and gates. The plastic cools within the mold cavity as well as inside the channels that lead to the mold cavity. The plastic that solidifies inside the channels is not the component or part of the final product. It is just a waste.

Now, what happens to the “waste” during plastic injection molding?

Thermoplastic Materials

If a thermoplastic material were used for injection molding, the waste could be recycled and used again. The solid plastic left within the sprues, runners, and gates can be combined with the raw material that goes into the injection molding machine. The same thing can happen with the material from rejected plastic parts. All the waste plastic can be collected and recycled back to the onset of the process. This all sums up into higher efficiency, and eventually means, lower costs of the final product and better margin for the producer.

Thermosetting Materials

If a thermosetting material were used for injection molding, the solid plastic from the sprues, runners, and gates is simply a waste, that has no practical use whatsoever. This means that the cost of the final product will be higher.

To conclude, thermoplastic materials offer some major benefits to plastic product manufacturers, consumers, and even society, as such materials are recyclable. Indeed, when it comes to plastic prototype development or plastic product manufacturing, the manufacturer should choose and use thermoplastic materials.

At GID Development Corporation, along with top-quality product design, rapid prototyping, and product development, we provide high-class plastic product manufacturing services. We are an efficient product development company in California, USA, and provide a comprehensive service so that our clients can take their inventions, to the market easily. To ensure efficient bulk production of novel inventions, which we help create with our product design, product prototyping, and product development services, we employ popular

 

How to Approach a Product Manufacturing Company with Your Product Idea

How to Approach a Product Manufacturing Company - GID Company

Approaching a product manufacturing company with a unique, exclusive, and concept development can be sometimes challenging and irritating.

This is because some product development firms intend to gamble with profits by developing custom, unproven, commercial products, and on the other hand, no business owner would love to see the rejection of his/her product idea.

But, if you are planning to develop your product natively or offshore, there are some important points to consider making sure that you endorse your concept commendably and those producers take your product idea seriously.

How to Approach a Product Manufacturing Company in 2022?


1.   Make Sure Your Product Idea is Original

Always arise with an exceptional product idea. It is recommended to do some investigation / survey to make sure that the product identical to your concept does not exist in the market, and no one owns the copyrights or the pattern rights to it. As a help, you can visit the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) patent database.

2.   Consult a Qualified Engineer

Once you are sure that your product idea is original, consult a skilled product engineer who is proficient in new product design and development. As per the news published on businessweek.com, an experienced product engineer can give you valuable suggestions on manufacturing materials and design possibility. Additionally, he or she can also aid you calculate production costs.

3.   Protect Your Original Product Idea

Never share your product ideas openly with others. First step is to execute a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with engineer/firm which will protect both your Intellectual Property your Proprietary Rights to your new product idea. As the engineer has aided you to solidify and strengthen your product idea, you should consider application for a Provisional U.S. Patent. For detailed information, and to have the appropriate forms and guidelines, please visit the USPTO website.

4.   Create a Computer-Aided Design

After establishing NDA protection and considerations for registering your concept / idea to the USPTO, create a computer-aided design (CAD) model of your product. This 3-D model of the concept will demonstrate all of your product’s dimensions, and will let you share your concept / idea to determine its manufacturability. For this step, you may require the assistance of a qualified graphic designer.

5.   Create a Prototype of Your Design

As you are ready with the 3-D model of your concept, build a prototype under the guidance of a professional prototyping company. While a 3D computer model can provide product development companies an primary impression of what they are dealing with, a well-made, physical prototype of your idea that functions well power a manufacture’s decision in going with your idea / concept.

6.   Develop a Business Plan

After an initial discussion, a product manufacturing company that you hire will ask you about the quantities you want to produce, its distribution channel, and the associated costs. As per BusinessWeek.com, having as a minimum a one page summary that includes all of this related details will thump a serious impression on manufacturer’s mind.

Tips and Warning

Follow this tips for finding a manufacturer for your product. Be professional with your new product idea. Always remember, when you are going to meet a product manufacturing company that is attracted in your product concept/idea, move ahead as politely and skillfully as possible. Hiring an established product manufacturing company will benefit you in getting your idea professionally produced. Be conscious of suspicious patent companies that request large sums of money with no results.

New or custom product design and development are a complicated process. An idea is just an idea until you take the essential steps to make it a reality. Before approaching a product development company with your product ideas, don’t forget to do your study. It has been observed that potential products and merchandise fall flat due to the lack of knowledge, limited resources, and limited budget.

How to approach a manufacturer with your product idea?

Bringing your product idea to life is an exciting journey, and a crucial step in this process is finding the right manufacturer to turn your concept into a tangible reality. GID Company, a Product Development Company with extensive experience in product design and manufacturing, is here to guide you on how to approach a manufacturer with your product idea successfully.

  1. Research and Refine Your Idea:

    • Before approaching any manufacturer, ensure that your product idea is well-researched and refined. Understand your target market, competition, and unique selling points.
    • Define the core features, materials, and specifications for your product to provide manufacturers with a clear understanding of what you need.

  2. Create a Prototype:

    • Develop a prototype or a detailed design of your product. A prototype not only helps manufacturers understand your concept better but also serves as a valuable tool for marketing and testing.
    • GID Company can assist in creating professional prototypes to showcase your idea effectively.

  3. Identify Potential Manufacturers:

    • Research manufacturers that specialize in your product category and have a proven track record.
    • Consider factors such as location, production capabilities, and cost when shortlisting potential manufacturers.

  4. Prepare a Solid Pitch:

    • Craft a compelling pitch that outlines your product’s unique features, market potential, and why it’s worth manufacturing.
    • GID Company can help you prepare a persuasive presentation tailored to manufacturers’ interests.

  5. Protect Your Intellectual Property:

    • Consider patenting or trademarking your idea to protect it from potential intellectual property theft.
    • Consult with legal experts to ensure your product and designs are legally safeguarded.

  6. Reach Out to Manufacturers:

    • Contact the selected manufacturers with a concise and professional email or phone call. Introduce yourself, your product, and your goals.
    • Attach a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) if needed to protect your idea during discussions.

  7. Set Up Meetings or Presentations:

    • Arrange meetings or presentations with the manufacturers who express interest in your idea. Be prepared to discuss details, including design, production, and cost.
    • GID Company can facilitate these discussions, drawing on their expertise in product development.

  8. Evaluate Proposals:

    • Assess the proposals from manufacturers, considering factors such as cost, production capacity, quality standards, and lead times.
    • Seek references and past client experiences to validate the manufacturer’s credibility.

  9. Negotiate Terms and Sign Contracts:

    • Negotiate terms and conditions, including pricing, production schedules, and quality control.
    • Once you are satisfied, work with a legal advisor to draft and sign contracts with the chosen manufacturer.

  10. Collaborate and Monitor Progress:

    • Maintain open communication with your manufacturer throughout the production process.
    • Regularly monitor progress and quality to ensure your product aligns with your vision.

Conclusion: Approaching a manufacturer with your product idea requires careful planning and execution. GID Company, a seasoned Product Development Company, can guide you through this process, from refining your idea to collaborating with the right manufacturer. With dedication, patience, and expertise, your product idea can become a reality that reaches the hands of eager consumers.

For more information on new product development, you can contact GID (a product manufacturing company located in California) at +1714-323-1052 or click on Let’s Chat.

Also, Read Our Other Popular Blogs: 

 

Product Development Cost Estimation – Things You Must Know

Cost Estimation For Product Development

One of the most important things that may not cross your mind when you are thinking about a new product idea is the cost estimation for product development. It is possible that you are thinking about dozens of things and problems your unique and amazing product may solve. But at the same time, it will be beneficial for any individual to realize figure out how deep the pockets are. Knowing your budget will help you focus on why and how you should estimate the cost of the product development process.

Whether you have been in the product development industry for many years or if you are a newcomer thinking of covering the entire market, product design and development cost are the key factors to concentrate your thoughts on. Not only the cost of the product development can seriously affect your business but also it may have a great impact on budget planning. If you are investing your fortune in getting prototype development services, then you will have to face some difficulty if the cost estimation of the overall product development is not appropriately calculated.

Factors To Consider Product Development Cost Estimation

In order to calculate an overall product development cost estimation when we are talking about product development, there are basically some important factors. We can consider the production stages of a new product as different stages or phases of the product development process. Getting a clear idea of all the product development phases will be helpful in guessing the budget required for the product development. Our product development company will make sure to guide you through the entire process. The stages of the product development will involve the following phases:

Design Phase:

In this phase, you will not have a product to showcase but you will have a half-baked idea of how your product should look and function. The choice of material, planning, and designing the product will be the key factors to prioritize in this phase of product designing.

Prototype Phase:

Once the design of the product is finalized, your product moves to the prototyping phase in which a prototype model is developed. The prototyping phase is now a lot easier than before due to the prototyping companies offering new and advanced platforms.

Production Phase:

The production stage comes after the product prototype model is successfully developed and ready. Of course, you can make some minor changes that will help fulfill the needs and requirements of the customers. In this stage, the product is developed finally and you will know the exact cost of the product development.

Distribution Phase:

In this phase, you may have to work with third-party companies to distribute the product. Once you will reach the product distribution phase, you will have a clear vision and goal of the product along with the production and distribution cost estimation.

Hire GID Company – A Leading Product Development Company in California To Develop A New Product

If you are looking for a top-notch product development company in California, USA, then there is no better product design and development company than GID Company. Our expert product developers, engineers, and designers are committed to providing our valued clients exceptional product development services. Want to schedule a free consultation with our highly experienced GID Company professionals? Feel free to give our professional designers and experts a call at +1714-323-1052. Get the latest updates on trending topics and subjects related to product design and development by following us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube. Explore our profile on Clutch , GoodFirms and DesignRush.

Plastic & Metal Product Manufacturing Processes

Plastic & Metal Product Manufacturing Processes

One important aspect that every industrial designer and mechanical engineer should consider is the selection of the right product manufacturing process. For product development, there are many manufacturing processes that engineers can utilize; however, choosing the right one can greatly affect the cost of manufacturing as well as the success of the final product. Here is a brief on some of the most common plastic product manufacturing and metal product manufacturing processes.

Plastic Product Manufacturing Processes

For the sake of this discussion, let us assume that you need to make at least 10,000 parts. For less quantity, rapid prototyping or 3D printing processes are more appropriate and economical.

Here are some plastic manufacturing processes that plastic product manufacturers commonly utilize to mass produce plastic parts and components.

  1. Injection Molding: Plastic injection molding is the most preferred process that produces parts and components with the lowest cost per part. The process is ideal for moderately sized production runs. The production tooling cost is a bit of a concern, especially if you do not have a definitive mold for the plastic part. Nevertheless, you can use aluminum molds until you get the definitive mold design. Once you have the definitive mold design, you can shift to stainless steel molds, which are durable and suitable for a high-volume production.
  2. CNC Machining: Computer numerical control machining or just CNC machining is the process in which computers play a big role in controlling the CNC machines like mills, plasma cutters, drills, etc. CNC machining is an ideal process to employ for small-sized production runs for small parts. The process allows precision and good surface finish too. The drawback of CNC machining is the high costs. Nevertheless, CNC machining offers automation, which eliminates manual labor and errors caused by manual laborers.
  3. Rotational Molding: Rotational molding is an appropriate plastic product manufacturing process to produce soft, rubbery parts. Both simple and complex parts can be produced using rotational molding. It also helps produce several pieces of a single part, which can then be assembled together. This eliminates overall fabrication costs. Rotational molding also eliminates significant wastage of material. The drawback of this process is it does not facilitate precision. And just like plastic injection molding, the production tooling cost is a concern.
  4. Thermoforming: Thermoforming is a suitable process to manufacture large plastic parts. The production tooling cost is lower than other plastic product manufacturing processes. The production time is also lower. The disadvantage of thermoforming is that it does not offer precision. Intricate shapes and good surface finish are also hard to achieve with thermoforming.

Metal Product Manufacturing Processes

Metal product manufacturing is more expensive than plastic product manufacturing because metals are more costly than plastic materials. It is possible to rapid prototype or 3D print some metal parts, but it will prove uneconomical.

Here are some metal manufacturing processes that product manufacturers commonly utilize to mass produce metal parts and components.

  1. CNC Machining: Aside from the plastic parts, with CNC machining, it is possible to produce metal parts. Thanks to computers, playing a role in controlling CNC machines, the process is appropriate for making complex parts. Precision is easy to achieve with CNC machining. The drawback of CNC machining is the high costs, even for producing small parts.
  2. Die Casting: Die casting is a suitable metal product manufacturing process to produce metal parts with high dimensional accuracy and smooth surface finish. The process facilitates rapid production rates. The per part cost is also lower than other metal manufacturing processes. The drawback, however, is the high production tooling cost – perhaps it has the highest tooling cost.
  3. Investment Casting: One of the oldest processes, investment casting is appropriate to manufacture complex parts with a very smooth surface. The process also offers exceptional dimensional accuracy. The drawback, aside from the cost, is the long production-cycle times. For high-volume manufacturing, the process could prove to be expensive and infeasible.
  4. Sand Casting: Sand casting is one of the most popular processes to produce small and complex metal parts. Instead of metal molds, this process utilizes sand molds. This substantially reduces the cost. With sand casting, it is possible to achieve high dimensional accuracy. The process is suitable for low to medium production runs, but for high volumes, it will prove to be infeasible.

Aside from these processes, there are many other plastic product manufacturing processes and metal product manufacturing processes. Choosing the right one will affect the cost of manufacturing and the success of the final product.

Looking for a good plastic product manufacturer in California? Look no further than GID Development Corporation. A product development company, based in California, GID Development Corporation provides exceptional product design, product prototyping, plastic product manufacturing, 3D printing and other services. With their experience and expertise in injection molding, CNC machining and other processes, the professional industrial and mechanical engineers at GID Development Corporation can help you develop exceptional new products.

Have any queries regarding plastic product manufacturing? Just call Jim Grimes at 714-323-1052 between 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM PST, for a FREE 15-minute telephonic conference. He will answer to various questions regarding plastic product manufacturing and rapid prototyping.

Benefits of Plastic Injection Molding

Benefits of Plastic Injection Molding

Partnering with a plastic product manufacturer is a good idea. Partnering with a plastic product manufacturer who specializes in the plastic injection molding process is even a better idea! Plastic injection molding is a remarkably versatile procedure of manufacturing new products and their parts. Most plastic product manufacturers utilize this procedure because it has multiple benefits over other procedures of plastic molding. Plastic injection molding is not only simpler and reliable, but it is also exceptionally efficient. For new product development, utilizing this procedure is worth considering.

Here are the benefits of using plastic injection molding for manufacturing new products and their parts or components:

Design Flexibility

The injection molding process involves high-pressure injection or thrust of raw material, i.e., plastic, metal, rubber, etc. into a mold. Due to the high pressure, the material is pressed harder into the mold. Because the material is pressed harder, it is possible to add considerable details in the design of a part or product.

The high-pressure injection that this process utilizes also enables the creation of complex and tricky shapes. The other methods would fail or prove inefficient and too expensive to create complex-shaped parts or products. Therefore, compared to all other molding methods, plastic injection molding offers better design flexibility.

Efficiency

Once the precise mold has been designed as per the required specification and the injection molding machine set, the actual molding process is swift in contrast to other molding methods. Owing to its swiftness, more parts or components can be manufactured, in less time. This aspect of plastic injection molding makes it a cost-effective and highly efficient option for manufacturing plastic parts and components.

Strength Enhancement

Plastic injection molding allows the use of different fillers in the mold. These fillers, which could be silica, calcium carbonate, clay, glass, mica, alumina trihydrate, or any other minerals, can increase the stiffness and hardness as well as strength and heat resistance of the plastic parts. Other molding methods would not allow the use of such fillers; hence, when there is a need for strong and durable plastic parts, plastic injection molding offers a viable option.

Allows the Simultaneous Use of Different Plastic Types

One remarkable benefit of using plastic injection molding for making parts and components is the ability to use different thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers concurrently. This is possible through co-injection technology. Using different types of polymers together reduces the material cost. It also helps alter the density, elasticity as well as color, texture, and mechanical properties of the plastic parts.

Automated Manufacturing

The process of plastic injection molding is automated. Most of the plastic injection molding processes are carried out by machines and even robots. This eliminates manual labor involvement, and so, significantly reduces mass manufacturing costs. Automated manufacturing also reduces inaccuracies; hence, the waste is reduced, and the quality products are manufactured.

If you are looking for a reliable Plastic product manufacturer in California, who specializes in plastic injection molding and can help you develop new products, the GID Development Corporation is worth considering. A product design company in California, GID Development Corporation provides exceptional product design, product prototyping, product development, plastic product manufacturing, and other product fulfillment services.

Currently, GID Development Corporation is offering a FREE 15-minute telephonic conference, where an industrial expert will answer to various plastic product manufacturing-related questions. Just call Jim Grimes at 714-323-1052 between 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM PST.

The Importance of New Product Design – Manufacturing Cost Perspective

The Importance of New Product Design – Manufacturing Cost Perspective

Introducing a new product into the market is a dream come true for every inventor. Introducing a new product, however, is not easy. While conceiving an idea and outlining it on a piece of paper might be simple, creating a new product from that idea is certainly a challenging task. New product development involves the creation of a constructive new product design, development of alpha and beta prototypes, testing of the prototypes, development of production tooling, mass-manufacturing of the new product, distribution of the new product, and many other crucial processes in between. Each new product development stage is vital, but in this blog, we will shed some light on new product design.

Like every other stage involved in new product development, the stage of new product design is very important. Because it comes in the early stages of new product development, understanding the product design stage demands a bit more attention. Besides, since it is one of the primary stages of new product development, the entire outcome depends on it; hence, more care is needed during this stage – the product design stage.

The success of any product heavily relies on its product design. Product design by definition can be said as, “a process of defining and creating constructive designs for a product, so as to ensure that the new product becomes successful in the market.” New product design addresses numerous things, however. For one, during the product design stage itself, the inventor can get a clear idea whether or not it is possible or feasible to create the new product. Another crucial thing the product design addresses to is the cost of manufacturing the conceived product. Most inventors, often overlook this “new product design and cost of manufacturing” aspect. In fact, some inventors do not even know what the effects of new product design are on the cost of manufacturing the final product.

Product design is not only defining and creating alluring designs for the new product, but it is also about crafting practical, functional, and cost-effective designs for the new product. Aspects such as, how many parts the new product will have, how compact or large the parts will be, what material(s) the parts will be made of, what process will be used in the production of those parts, and many others are also included in product design. After numerous brainstorming sessions, computer analysis results and mock-ups, a perfect new product design, or at least, a near-perfect new product design for a product is realized, which is beautiful, practical, functional, and most importantly, the one that facilitates economical mass-manufacturing.

Developing an efficient new product design is indeed an overwhelming task, and it might be impossible for inventors to develop such efficient designs on their own. Fortunately, there are professional product design companies, like the GID Development Corporation, that specifically deal with creating sensible new product designs and helping inventors develop successful new products at economical costs.

GID Development Corporation, an eminent new product design company in California, USA, has the experience, knowledge, tools and a team that help inventors with constructive product designs for their new product ideas. Utilizing cutting-edge technologies, like 3D EXPERIENCE Platform from Dassault Systèmes, which includes SOLIDWORKS, CATIA V6, and other apps, and their decades of experience, the veterans at GID Development Corporation create definitive product designs that are neat and functional as well as feasible and economical to mass-manufacture. Whether it is creating an efficient product design for electromechanical products, medical device products, products with imbedded software, products with electronics, or any other generic or special-purpose products, GID Development Corporation will “Get It Done!”

Some of the product design principles that GID Development Corporation follows include:

  1. Derive visually-appealing product design that is error-proof to assemble and easy to mass-manufacture with shortened product development cycle time
    • Determine and select cost-effective material(s) and production process
    • Attain a knowledge base of tooling requirements
    • Develop efficient production tooling
  2. Create a modular product design with minimized parts count
  3. Design parts with self-locating features
  4. Design parts with self-fastening features
  5. Emphasize “Top-Down” assemblies
  6. Design for a base part to locate other components
  7. Design for component symmetry for insertion

Adhering to all the above product design principles, and other ubiquitous as well as unique design principles, GID Development Corporation creates exceptional new product designs, which facilitate economical mass-manufacturing.

Along with new product design, GID Development Corporation also helps inventors with new product development, product prototype development, product prototype testing, product pre-tooling development, product mass-manufacturing, product branding, product distribution and many other product fulfillment services.

Learn more about new product design company in California, GID Development Corporation, by visiting https://www.gidcompany.com/.

Currently, GID Development Corporation is offering a free telephonic conference to help answer various product design and development-related questions that inventors may have. Anyone who is interested can just call Jim Grimes, one of the veterans at GID, at 714-323-1052 between 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM PST.