Injection moulding

We receive synthetic material as little beads, delivered by our suppliers, which go into a funnel above a machine. The machine is equipped with a screw that turns the synthetic beads inwards.

In one of the machine’s cylinders, the beads are heated until they become plastic. This mass is then injected into a mould under high pressure until it takes the shape of the product. Now, the mould is cooled so that the synthetic material thickens.

Then, the two parts of the mould open themselves and the formed product is pushed out of the mould. This cycle is repeated with which you can make small or large series. Since the production costs of moulds are high, the injection moulding technique is usually only used in relatively large numbers.

An injection moulding specialty at Smit plastic is the combined production of metal and synthetic material. With the use of automated setting equipment the metal parts are put into the mould where they are then injected. A benefit from this is the series production’s faster reproduction application. In this way the possibility to develop a reliable and functional product is greatly increased. There are many requests for the metal/synthetic material combination, mainly from the automotive industry.

So, who would find extrusion interesting?

• ● packing industry

• ● sweets manufacturers

• ● fishing

• ● swimming pool manufacturers

• ● fruits and vegetables

• ● flower and plant industry

• ● sun protection  

• ● promotional activities

• ● perfumery

The most important benefits of extrusion

• ● no limitation to the production length

• ● a considerable freedom in design

TFS (Thermoplastic Foam Spray-Casting)

TFS is a synthetic material technique that is performed by a small amount of companies in The Netherlands. By melting the granule (synthetic material beads) with gas beads, the granule expands. Because of this, a lower pressure is needed to set the material into the shape of the model. The limitations of high pressure injection moulding do not form a problem with the TFS technique.

Think of:

• ● preventing bursts (the granule/gas combination fills these)

• ● thicker wall widths

• ● differences in wall widths (because of this ribs used for stiffness are not necessary)

• ● greater freedom of design

• ● cost reduction in relation to mould investment

After their realization, the products can be provided with a primer, where a layer of varnish can then be applied if desired.