Blog: What Is Overmolding? Why Choose This Process?

If you own a manufacturing business, you might have heard about overmolding. What is it and why choose this process for your business? Let us find out here.

Do you own a manufacturing unit? Then, you might have heard about overmolding for sure. But, do you know what is it all about? You are in the right place to gather some basic details about this process and also learn why you should choose this process for your business. An expert in this process – Houchen Medical with experience in other such processes explains it.

What is Overmolding?

Overmolding is nothing but an injection molding process. This process is being used by manufacturing units across the globe for molding one plastic over another component. Here, the former is a rubber-like plastic named TPE, while the latter is referred to as the substrate. The latter is generally an injection-molded plastic part. Nevertheless, other materials are also used as a substrate. In this process, for bonding two substances, chemical bonding is commonly used. However, mechanical bonding is also used at times.

Why Overmolding?

You might have heard about other methods of bringing together different materials in your manufacturing process. So, you might be wondering what makes this process special. With experience in this process, Houchen explains that this method is gaining immense popularity among manufacturing units because of its quick cycle time and reduced production cost. Above all, one of the important reasons for manufacturing units relying on this process is that they can produce aesthetically appealing products when they use this process in their production process. Here are some reasons to consider for choosing this method as against other methods to combine different materials for making a final product:

Improved Product Durability:

In some instances, overmolding is the right choice when it comes to adding a different material on top of any brittle part. In turn, it can absorb impact with ease. As a result, the durability and performance of the entire product will improve. Of course, as a product manufacturer, you will be interested in ensuring that you produce only durable products. This can happen with overmolding process.

Improved Aesthetic Appeal:

Also, you will be interested in creating aesthetically appealing products. You have the option to add varied soft rubbers, materials, and colors on the top of the core material with overmolding. In turn, you can ensure that the aesthetic requirements of your product line are met. As against other processes, using this process will help you achieve the same feel and look but with aesthetic appeal.

Improved Product Performance:

You might be aware that some of the important reasons for the degrading performance of products over time are creep, fatigue, noise, vibration, and shock. In general, products fail because of failure of impact loading or absorbing static loading. With overmolding, any product part with soft material can easily absorb impact. In turn, the overall product performance will improve.

Simplified Flow of Process:

Of course, you can use other methods to produce the same products that you produce using overmolding. However, in other methods, you will have to engage in more than a couple of operations to make a part. But, with overmolding, you can produce the same product within a couple of operations. This is why simplified process flow becomes possible with this method.

Conclusion:

You can expect other benefits like lower manufacturing cost, design flexibility, elimination of adhesives and fasteners, and improved user experience and ergonomics with overmolding. You can choose an expert like Houchen Medical to get this process done for your organization.