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Online injection molding service
Access a wide range of custom services from our specialized network of injection molding service companies. Prototype and production tooling. Upload your parts for a free quote and expert feedback.
Our custom injection molding services
Create parts of all complexities sized from 3 mm (0.12 in) to 2 m (79 in) with Protolabs Network. Lead times are as fast as 10 days, and we offer local or global production options. Our manufacturing partners typically use 20 to 3,000 ton injection machines, depending on part size, complexity, and volume. DIN 16901-130 and tighter tolerances are available on request.
Plastic injection molding
Injection molding is the manufacturing process of injecting high-pressure thermoplastic into a mold. Ideal for high-volume production.
Insert molding
A manufacturing process in which a part is molded around a pre-installed insert in the tooling.
Overmolding
A manufacturing process in which one plastic material is molded over another to create a single component.
Liquid silicone rubber molding
A thermoset process that involves mixing a two-part solution together to produce flexible and durable parts.
Find out more about the timeline. Download our Gantt chart.
Tooling - prototyping vs production
Prototyping
Ideal for rapid prototyping and low-volume production
- Tool shot life – 1k to 100k units
- Fast turnaround and cost-efficient construction
- Aluminum or steel
Production
Longer-lasting tooling for larger volumes
- Tool shot life – 100k to 1M units
- Automated production for cost-efficiency at higher volumes
- Hardened steel for longer life and a scalable unit price
Secondary operations
We offer several secondary operations such as painting or heat tapping inserts. You can specify which secondary operations are needed in the “custom requirements” part of your quote request. Here are some examples of secondary operations we provide:
Gallery of plastic injection molded products
Engels machines
Industry: Agriculture Material: PP Finish: D2
HC groep
Industry: Indoor climate technology Material: ABS Finish: as machined
LEKTRI.CO
Industry: EV charging Material: PC + ABS Finish: VDI33
Injection molding surface finishes
SPI surface finishes
We offer any type of SPI surface finish, such as A-1, D-2 or D-3.
VDI surface finishes
We offer any type of VDI surface finish, such as VDI28, VDI30 or VDI 33.
Injection molding materials
Injection molding uses a huge range of plastics, making it ideal for many applications across nearly every industry. We can source thousands of materials on request. Please contact [email protected] for specific material requests.
Explore our Injection Molding materials
| Materials | Property |
|---|---|
| Impact resistant | ABS, PMMA, PVC, PE, PC |
| Wear-resistant | POM, PEEK, UHMW |
| Dimensional stability | ABS, PBT, HIPS, PPS |
| Chemical resistance | PEEK, PP, PBT, PE, LDPE, PA |
| Rubber like | TPU, TPE, Silicone |
| Cost-efficient | PP, HDPE, LDPE |
| Cosmetic | ABS, PC, HIPS |
The process of our injection molding service
1. Upload your design
Upload your parts to our platform to have your project reviewed by our team
2. Receive a quote
Your account manager will work with our technical team and manufacturing partners to send you a quote within 48 hours
3. DFM & tool approval
Receive extensive Design For Manufacturing analysis to approve before construction of your tool begins
4. Receive T1 samples
We send you a golden sample for approval before starting production
5. Production & delivery
We produce your parts to match the golden sample & deliver them to you
6. Reorder as required
You can easily reorder parts by contacting your account manager
The injection molding timeline
Ready to start the injection molding process? Download our Gantt chart to help keep your injection molding project on schedule, within budget and to spec.
The Protolabs Network Standard - consistent quality, every time
Protolabs Network applies a rigorous set of standards to every custom part, ensuring quality and consistency for injection molded components. We inspect each order dimensionally and visually during and after production.
Tolerances & dimensional accuracy
Learn moreMold finish standards
Learn moreQuality control procedures
Learn moreRead more aboutThe Protolabs Network Standard
Our injection molding team
Manufacturing doesn’t have to be an anonymous process. We have a dedicated team of injection molding project engineers and support staff on the ground to help make sure everything runs smoothly and on time, every time.
“I take care of your parts from start to finish, making sure you receive the parts on time and exactly as you requested.”
“I guarantee that your parts go through an extensive quality control process, so they will always be up to spec.”
“I make sure we always have a manufacturing partner in our network that fits your manufacturing needs.”
“I ensure our customers are constantly updated on the status of the project and guarantee that they experience a smooth ordering process.”
Our manufacturing factory workshop
Our manufacturing factory
Our manufacturing factory
Our manufacturing factory
Our manufacturing factory
Our manufacturing factory
Our manufacturing factory
Our manufacturing factory
The advantages of injection molding with us
Variety of materials
Injection molding offers vast flexibility in material selection. Depending on the mechanical properties your parts require, you can achieve impact- and chemical-resistance, rubber-like elasticity and dimensional stability with molded parts. Our experts can help to manufacture molded parts that are optimized to perform in industrial applications, including parts designed for aerospace, automotive and consumer electronics. We can source thousands of custom materials on request and can advise you on the best choice for your project while minimizing your costs along the way.
Single, multi-cavity, and family molds
No matter the scale of your injection molding project, we can help you to design and build the ideal tooling and mold for cost-efficient production. As well as single molds, we can advise on multi-cavity molds that simultaneously produce multiple identical models – reducing your cost per part and speeding up production. Our manufacturing partners also work with family molds that optimize tooling costs by producing different parts within the same mold. This is ideal for parts or products that have multiple components of the same material but with different geometries.
High quality standards
The injection molding process results in finely tuned parts that are highly accurate and consistent. Protolabs Network guarantees the quality of every part that flows through our manufacturing partner network. Our comprehensive quality management processes ensure your molded parts are always up to spec, and that we only work with thoroughly vetted suppliers. We offer various types of quality documentation and can match your project with a manufacturing partner that has industry-specific certifications when required.
More resources for injection molding
Learn more about how injection molding works and how to design the best parts for this technology.
| Want to learn more about injection molding? |
|---|
- Injection molding guide
- What are the common applications of injection molding and its top benefits?
- How to avoid common defects in injection molding
- What’s the best SPI surface finish for your injection molded part?
- How do you design parts for injection molding?
- What is injection molding?
- Why is draft angle design essential for injection molding?
FAQ's about injection molding service
How much does plastic injection molding cost?
There are many factors that determine the cost of injection molding your custom parts. The three main expenses are tooling, materials and production. Find out how to reduce your manufacturing costs in our injection molding guide.
Who owns the injection mold?
Customers retain ownership of all custom tooling they develop, however, any reusable proprietary components developed by the manufacturing partner (MP) will become the MP’s property. All custom tooling will remain at the MP’s facility for a minimum of two years unless otherwise agreed. If the tooling is inactive after two years, the MP may contact Protolabs Network to determine if the tool must be retained for additional time. Protolabs Network will then contact the customer to make further arrangements. Molds can be transferred to any desired location upon request and at the requester’s expense.
What happens if an injection molding partner leaves our network?
Whenever a manufacturing partner leaves our network, we carry the cost of transferring all molds to another MP in the network, ensuring that your parts get delivered on time.
What is the available capacity/timeline for reorders?
In general, we have the RFQ ready within 24 hours. It takes two days to set up the mold and order and process the materials, and one day for packing and sending the order out to be shipped. The volume of your parts will determine the number of days required for manufacturing.
What ISO certifications do you have?
We work with a network of specialized injection molding companies that have ISO 9001 and ISO/TS16949 certifications. This way you will get the best injection molding service possible.
How long do you store my mold for?
Your injection molding mold is kept at our manufacturing partner facilities for reuse for a minimum of 2 years.
If you would like to reorder from your mold, please contact your account manager or [email protected].
Our other manufacturing capabilities
CNC machining
Milling (3-, 4- & full 5-axis), turning and post-processing
- 50+ metals and plastics & 10 surface finishes
- Tolerances down to ±.0008 in (0.020 mm)
- Lead times from 5 business days
3D printing
FDM, SLA, SLS, MJF
- 25+ plastics & 35+ colors
- ±0.5% dimensional accuracy with a lower limit down to ±0.0059 in (0.15 mm)
- Lead times from 1 business day
Sheet metal fabrication
Laser cutting, bending, post-processing
- 6 metals & 9 surface finishes
- Tolerances down to ±.004 in (0.010 mm)
- Lead times from 5 business days