Automotive Injection Molding

Injection molding has been more and more required by the automotive industry for the production of interior, exterior and under-the-hood plastic components such as fans, door handles, roof modules, bumpers, radiators and so on. Learn more on this page about Idea Stampi service of automotive injection molding.

Relying on plastic molding means improving safety, increasing fuel efficiency and ultimately researching for new materials that decrease environmental impact. So, it is not by mere chance that plastic components made from materials like polystyrene, polypropylene or polycarbonate have taken on an important role in the automotive industry.

What does automotive injection molding refer to?

When we talk about automotive injection molding, we refer to the production process that shapes plastic car components using specific molds. The polymers are injected into the cavity by maintaining high-pressure conditions. Once the mold is filled, the plastic material inside cools down, delivering the final product at the end of the process.

Thanks to new state-of-the-art technologies, automotive injection molding is widespread as it allows manufacturing numerous parts in a limited period of time due to the use of automated machines which have greatly accelerated the production flow.

Why should you choose this method?

It can be applied to the manufacturing of many different car parts.
The final surface finish is smooth, with no imperfections
Automotive injection molding can increase the whole mass-production rate without compromising the quality of every single piece.
It is highly accurate and it significantly reduces energy consumption and waste.

Different parts of the car require indeed different types of plastics according to their chemical and physical properties. The most used in the automotive plastic molding field are:

Polyurethane PU and other polyolefins which can be easily modified with a broad range of chemical modifiers
Polyvinyl Chloride PVC
Polypropylene PP which can be reinforced with fiberglass
ABS, PET and Nylon, mostly used for under-the-hood elements do to their robustness

Depending on your specific needs and wants, we can advise you on what are the most suitable materials for your automotive components.

Interior and exterior automotive injection molding

Plastic molding is undoubtedly useful for producing a wide range of components for cars and other vehicles, whether they are placed on the inside or outside.

Here are some examples.

Exterior plastic components

Fenders, grilles, door panels, bumpers, light housing, splash guards are just some of the plastic components that can be obtained through automotive injection molding. The main reason lies in the fact that the plastics used in the production process are flexible and resistant so as to minimize debris and splashing.

Interior plastic components

Injection molding finds application in the automotive field also for producing interior decorative elements, surfaces, door handles, air vents, dashboard faceplates and various kinds of instrumentation which are resistant and easy to clean and sanitize.

Under-the-hood components

Nowadays, the radiator, the brakes, the cylinder head covers, the oil pans and other under-the-hood components are made from plastic. Basically it is because it is lower-weight than metal and more easily workable.