Plastic Injection Molding In The Medical Industry

We have five decades of experience but are always looking for new and revolutionary ways for businesses to better utilize their products. For Rex Plastics, one example of this is the use of plastic injection molding by the medical industry. Medical applications for injection molding are numerous; they’ve completely changed the medical landscape — and there are more changes on the way.

The Advantages of Injection Molding

Injection molding brings with it a number of advantages. One is scale; it’s easy to manufacture in volume, since plastic injection molding is easier than the casting and stamping methods often used with surgical steel. The raw materials are less expensive. Compliance is less onerous. The journey from concept to finished product is much faster.

Another consideration, given the rise of drug-resistant infections, is cleanliness. Traditional metal instruments must often be sterilized between uses, and a small slip-up or an instance of neglect can negatively affect patient outcomes and liability alike. Something as simple as a single-use scalpel can have an outsized impact.

The Future of Injection Molding in Medicine

We’d be remiss if we didn’t also look ahead to what’s next in injection molding, especially as it relates to medicine. In many ways, the future isn’t as far off as it seems — and in some ways, it’s already here. We know this because our extensive work with startups reminds us on a near daily basis that the next innovation is often percolating in someone’s mind, just looking for the right processes, plastic prototyping, and tools to become a viable product.

Among the developments we’re keeping an eye on:

• Wearables: Wearable and IoT (Internet of Things) devices are fast-growing segments that give their users near-instant access to vital signs, insulin levels, and fitness. Injection molding has found use here for housings, key components, and more.
• Pharmaceutical Plastics: Certain plastics and polymers aren’t merely relegated to devices. In fact, from prosthetics to implants, injection molding is taking on the capability of internal as well as external use.
• Emerging Processes: Post-molding processes are continuously growing and evolving, and nowhere is this more apparent than in medical applications. We’re also keeping tabs on the emergence of cutting-edge polymers that will allow for a wider range of applications than ever before.

Getting Started With Injection Molding

Given the wide range of available processes, requirements, and applications, each plastic injection molding company brings a different skill set to the table. A telephone consultation with Rex Plastics can help determine if our American-made injection molding is the right fit for your next project. If it is, we will shepherd your project from concept to prototype to finished product — and beyond. Contact us today to get started!