No matter the kind of plastic product you want to buy, you are investing in a piece of equipment that hopefully will give value to your money. Thus, as you narrow down your plastic molding options with return on investment mind, you must weigh the benefits of plastic injection molding versus rotational molding.

Read on to learn more about these manufacturing processes and their individual benefits:

What is Rotomolding?

When it comes to rotomolding, you will immediately think of layers. As manufacturers make a poly-based product using a rotational molding process, the raw material and powdered colorant are poured into the mold. Then, the mold is bolted tight, put in an oven, and rotated at an even speed. This allows the plastic to be laid down in thin layers of even thickness. This is possible whether or not the mold features curves and corners. Once the material is baked, the plastic is allowed to cool down inside the mold, making sure it hardens evenly. Then, the hardened product will be extracted.

What is Injection Molding?

When making injection molded products, manufacturers melt the material and slowly forced it into a stationary mold under high pressure. Such a process can use pressure to distribute the material throughout the mold, ensuring the entire mold shape is covered.  Once completed, the two molds are pulled apart. Then, the plastic is removed and cold.

Which Process is the Best?

The plastic rotomolding process provides distinctive benefits in terms of commercial and industrial applications. For instance, plastic product makers make plastic dumpsters and residential carts for the waste industry. Such products can be abused and exposed to extreme temperatures. As rotational molding ensures the plastic material is more evenly applied, the finished product tends to be flexible and durable. Thus, it is less likely to crack in extreme temperatures or when improperly handled by handlers on their runs. With injection molding, it is not possible to achieve a consistent wall thickness.

Plastic injected molded products are thinner in the corners and cannot provide the same degree of material flexibility. Therefore, they tend to be less forgiving of everyday abuse and may not be able to stand up to extreme heat and cold. However, despite these drawbacks, injection molding also offers benefits. For instance, it can support more complex mold designs and a wider range of materials. Also, this process allows manufacturers to turn out more items on the production line, minimizing their production costs.