Tooling transfers in plastic injection molding involve relocating existing molds from one manufacturing facility to another and can be a challenging and overwhelming process. This strategic decision is often driven by the need to reduce costs, enhance product quality, increase production capacity, or establish a more reliable partnership with more demanding customers. When considering a tooling transfer, the knowledgeable and friendly team at Seaway Plastics can help guide you through a seamless transition and build a long-term partnership that allows your business to grow without limitation.
Reasons To Consider Tooling Transfers
There are many motivations behind businesses opting for tooling transfers for plastic injection molding, and the current political climate is providing some additional push. This, in combination with rising operational costs, strategic factors, quality concerns, and industry trends, has led to an increase in inquiries regarding transferring tooling. Some added considerations for injection molding tooling transfers are below.
Cost Reduction: This is the predominant reason that businesses consider transferring their molds to a facility with more efficient operations. Switching injection molding providers can lead to significant savings on the bottom line, especially for high-volume production. As the economic climate evolves, considerations surrounding cost will continue to drive an interest in tooling transfers.
Capacity Expansion: In some instances, a business outgrows its current suppliers and needs to make the switch to allow for expected growth either in volume or product offerings. If current suppliers cannot meet growing demand, moving tooling to a facility like Seaway Plastics, with greater capacity, ensures on-schedule production and supports innovative business growth.
Strategic Relocation: Communication gaps, time zones, and added shipping costs are all reasons to consider shifting production to a more strategic location. Reshoring or repositioning molds closer to your other production lines or distribution network can reduce lead times, lower shipping costs, and improve overall responsiveness throughout the supply chain.
Quality Improvement: Inconsistent part quality, meeting certain industry standards, adhering to quality control systems, or high scrap rates of expensive raw materials may necessitate a move to a facility with advanced equipment and stringent quality controls to achieve better outcomes. Seaway Plastics is an ISO 9001/13485 certified injection molder with added FDA, ITAR, and NADCAP registrations.
How to Transfer Injection Mold Tooling to Seaway Plastics
Tooling transfers do not need to be intimidating or overwhelming, and the helpful professionals at Seaway Plastics are available to assist throughout the process. While the size and scope of certain tooling relocations may alter the process detailed below, the basic step-by-step principles remain the same. Any successful tooling transfer for plastic injection molding involves meticulous planning and execution. The process typically includes:
Step 1: Tooling Assessment
Seaway Plastics understands the many intricacies of injection mold tooling and complete, detailed evaluations of the condition and specifications of existing molds to ensure compatibility with the new facility’s equipment. Additionally, we can identify and complete any necessary modifications to ensure a seamless transition with no gaps in production.
Step 2: Transfer Planning
Seaway will develop a comprehensive plan that covers everything from transfer logistics to production timelines, potential mold modifications, and proper inventory management during the transition to help guarantee your company remains operational without any missteps.
Step 3: Execution and Testing
Transporting and installing the molds at the new facility, followed by test runs to verify part quality and dimensional accuracy. With extensive certifications (ISO 13485, ITAR, FDA, and NADCAP), Seaway Plastics understands the importance of tight tolerances to the medical, aerospace, food production, and defense industries.
Step 4: Full Production
Once validation is complete, the molds will enter full production at one of Seaway Plastics’ production facilities, with ongoing quality assurance inspections and testing that help to maintain consistent quality throughout the production cycles.
Manufacturing New Tooling with In-House Capabilities
Not only will our in-house tooling division refinish and resurface existing molds, but Seaway Plastics’ design and manufacturing capabilities can build new molds that address part changes, tighter tolerances, or the use of new thermoplastics and resins. With everything completely in-house, we can rapidly build all-aluminum molds, aluminum-and-steel combinations, or all-steel molds, ranging from Class 105 to Class 101 for prototyping, production, or as a bridge between the two. Our experienced engineering team selects optimal mold materials based on resin type, anticipated production volume, tolerance requirements, and desired mold lifespan.
With over 15 CNC machines, including 5-axis capabilities, and advanced EDM equipment, Seaway Plastics ensures exceptional precision and efficiency in mold fabrication. Our tool-making and repair facilities enable over 90% of new molds to be manufactured and tested within four to six weeks, expediting the production process and ultimately increasing profitability and throughput for our customers.
Request A Quote & Learn More
If your current injection molding partner is not meeting certain expectations for quality, production times, or costs, a tooling transfer to Seaway Plastics can revitalize and strengthen your production process from start to finish. With decades of experience in managing tooling transfers and optimizing injection molding, combined with in-house capabilities for tooling design and manufacturing, Seaway Plastics ensures a smooth transition with minimal disruption to production. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help move your existing tooling and help solidify your supply chain while maximizing profitability and productivity.