Nowadays, almost everything we use has plastic in it. Plastic has become one of the most sought after materials to use because of its availability, weight and pliability.

Items made of plastic are cheaper than other materials and metals. Using plastic injection molding, plastic can be molded into any shape or size with great precision. Depending upon what type of product and what amount of finishing is needed, plastic molds are created. Once the molds are checked for quality, it’s decided what type of plastic is needed to give the product its required rigidity, color or flexibility.

Plastic injection molding techniques now allow plastic products to be created with incredible efficiency and precision. Plastic is injected through the hopper in powder or liquid form, into the barrel, which is heated up to the required temperature. Melted material is forced into a mold or dies. The material takes the physical properties of the mold after cooling down. Every plastic product you see today undergoes this process.

Free trade and globalization have encouraged American businesses to move their manufacturing facilities overseas, where they can employ less expensive labor which greatly reduces the cost of manufacturing.

China has advantages when it comes to manufacturing over other Asian countries. One reason for this is the experience and education the country has in delivering products that adhere to the rigorous standards that are required by both western legislation and consumers.

Many retailers are growing less dependent on brand names; this is partly due to their suppliers demanding and receiving good value from Chinese suppliers. When a retailer has two products of equal specifications and one is considerably cheaper, he can provide great value to the end customer by choosing the less-expensive product. Many large, well-known American retailers are thus no longer willing to pay premiums for brand-name products when they can get products of equivalent quality for less money.

China’s low product and labor costs are well known; its advantages in services are often underestimated. Today, when a small or medium-sized importer needs labor-intensive, value-added services, Chinese suppliers and logistics service providers are capable of responding. Since Chinese labor costs a fraction of US labor, it is worth examining whether a particular service can be performed in China.

Regardless of your industry and the injection-molded products you decide to mold in-house, the parameters and rules remain the same. Manufacturing plastic injection molded components in-house as part of a customer’s end product can prove to be a major challenge from an efficiency, quality and cost perspective.

Most companies who successfully outsource plastic injection mold tooling to China have been doing it for many years and although it requires good management control, the total cost reduction is substantial.

Injection molding dies, or injection molds, are the heart of molding process. It’s crucial for buyers to source them from reliable, trusted, quality-driven suppliers. They have a big decision to make: to build their molds in China, or closer to home in the USA. Often, this leads to questions about quality versus cost and delivery. This requires closer consideration, as each option has its own features, benefits, and disadvantages. Let’s explore insourced vs outsourced injection mold die production.
Advantages of Building Injection Molds in China

There are several benefits to working with China for your mold production needs. It should come as no surprise the biggest reason manufacturers choose China is cost savings. China’s lower labor costs and favorable material prices can significantly reduce mold development expenses. Another factor is China’s large manufacturing base – it’s no secret that China boasts a large fabrication industry, which includes injection molding. This gives access to a vast network of molding suppliers with rapid production capabilities. Further, many Chinese mold manufacturers can handle high-volume orders and tighter timelines.

Disadvantages of Building Injection Molds in China
The benefits of cost savings and other advantages we discussed do come at a price. One big challenge is the communication barrier, due to language and cultural differences. This barrier could lead to misunderstandings and project delays. Also, concerns still linger about quality and consistency, which could lead to rework and revisions. This all adds up to unwanted delays and cost increases. Also, as with outsourcing anything, there are intellectual property (IP) risks. IP protection in China can be less robust, increasing the risk of unauthorized duplication or use of your designs. Violations also harder to litigate should something go very wrong. Finally, shipping from overseas adds additional time, expense, and the increased risk of logistical disruptions.