“In recent years, however, proposed is an in-mold coating formation method (also called an in-mold coating method) which performs resin molding and application of a coating material in the same mold for the purpose of reducing the number of steps in the coating method. According to the in-mold coating formation method, after injection molding of a rein in a mold, the mold is slightly opened to form a space between resin molding formed in the mold and a mold cavity surface. Then, a coating material is injected into the space using a coating material injecting unit, after which the mold is clamped again to thereby uniformly spread the coating material over the molding surface. After that, the coating material is hardened and the molding is coated. “

“According to the in-mold coating formation method, since a thermoplastic resin is molded and coated in the same mold, a cost can be saved because of a simplified process and in addition, any failure rarely occurs due to adhesion of dust in the air to a pre-hardened coating material, and a high-quality product can be provided. Thus, there has been considered the application of the in-mold coating formation method to especially production of many components for use in automobiles such as a bumper, a door mirror cover, and a fender, which require a high-quality appearance.”

[Okahara, US Patent 8,047,827 (11/1/2011)]

Injection Molding
In-Mold Decorating
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