MOLDING Hadlock Plastics Corporation offers several processes for the molding of reinforced thermoset composites. Our primary processes are compression and liquid composite molding. These methods can support high volume requirements and provide the least expensive, highest quality parts. We also utilize open molding and resin transfer as alternatives for lower volume requirements.

Following is a summary of molding processes offered at Hadlock Plastics Corporation.

Compression (SMC): heated steel mold, parts molded in a press, tooling cost comparable to injection molds, low part cost, best surface quality, 1,000,000+ piece tool life.

Liquid composite (LCM): heated steel mold, tooling cost slightly lower than compression, part cost slightly higher than compression, high quality molded part.

Low pressure compression : heated aluminum or plastic mold, less expensive tool cost, cost higher to compression, shorter tool life if built from aluminum or plastic.

Cold molding (CM): plastic tool, tool cost much lower than compression, molded part must be trimmed and finished, tool life of up to 5,000 parts.

Resin transfer (RTM): plastic mold, parts not molded in a press, tooling less than cold molding, part must be trimmed and finished, able to mold rib/boss detail on either side of the part.

Open mold (OM): plastic mold core or cavity (not both), least expensive tooling cost, highest part price, one side of the part will exhibit glass pattern, can support up to two parts per shift with this process.

Perhaps one of these processes fit your requirements. Some of our customers prefer to start production with Open Mold or Resin Transfer. Parts are provided quickly and with the least tooling cost. While they receive parts from these processes we start to build the steel tooling for compression which has a longer lead time. In this way, we can provide parts in six weeks and also ramp up to higher volumes when the steel tool is completed.