by Administrator5. December 2016 13:09
We at Thogus find plastic injection molding fascinating and while we recognize that this might not be the case for most, we do think the facts below are pretty interesting. Enjoy!
- The first plastic injection molding machine was patented in the United States in 1872 by John Wesley Hyatt, with help from his brother.
- The original purpose for the injection molding machine was to make billiard balls by injection celluloid into a mold. Celluloid went on to replace ivory in billiard ball production.
- In 1946 the Injection Molding industry was revolutionized by American James Hendry when he updated Hyatt’s design from a plunger to a screw injection molding. To this day most plastic injection molding machines use this technique.
- In the 1970s James Hendry also designed the first gas-assisted injection molding process, allowing for more complex parts to be made.
- Injection molding is the most popular method of plastic processing.
- In 1980 Apple selected the material ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) for personal computers.
- There are over 80,000 different materials available for molding (including 17,000 plastics).
- Injection molded parts can range in size as large as a car bumper or tractor hood down to a part smaller than the eraser on a pencil.
- There are over 8,000 plastic injection molders in the United States including captive molders and contract manufacturers.
- Since 1949 Lego has injection molded over 400 BILLION Lego elements and currently they produce on average 35,000 Lego elements a minute.