Insert Molding

March 16, 2017

Jennifer Shuttleworth

Proto Labs Inc. (Maple Plain, MN) now offers insert molding service, expanding on the company’s rapid injection molding offerings. The company claims this new capability can produce 25 to 10,000-plus insert-molded parts in 15 days or less. Insert molding is the process of overmolding thermoplastic material around a preformed component (an insert) to create a finished part that incorporates multiple materials. A variety of components are manufactured with insert molding, such as electronic parts, housings, knobs, handles and dials, and are found in several industries, including automotive and consumer products. Product designers and engineers use insert molding for improving part strength while trimming part weight and reducing assembly costs, production time and labor. Visit Booth 2210 at SAE WCX17.