Key Takeaways from SPE's 2023 National Week of Injection Molding

SPE’s National Week of Injection Molding, which took place online from July 31-August 4 and was organized and hosted by SPE’s Injection Molding Technical Division, drew over 100 attendees, including prominent representatives from industry giants like Cargill, Motorola, Clorox, Caterpillar, Estee Lauder, Burt’s Bees, Ford Motor Company, and many others. This week-long event served as a gateway for participants to understand the potential of injection molding for a range of applications.

Injection molding, as one of the more versatile molding options available, caters to a diverse range of products, spanning from automotive components to consumer goods, electronics, medical devices, packaging materials, and beyond. The series of presentations throughout the week focused on the numerous benefits and innovations that the injection molding process brings to the table.

“The National Week of Injection Molding was a huge success,” said Erick Foltz, Chair, Week of Injection Molding. “Over the five days, we were able to provide our audience of SPE members and non-SPE members practical talks where they could take information that they can use today to find solutions and extend the opportunities for injection molding. It was clear through the online Q&A the audience found the information highly relevant and engaging.” 

Highlights

One of the major highlights of the event was the day-by-day focus on specific injection molding trends, providing attendees with in-depth knowledge and insights. Here's a brief overview of what each day’s topics entailed:

Sustainability: The injection molding industry is aware of the importance of sustainability in today's world. Participants learned about eco-friendly practices, such as the use of recycled plastic materials and how manufacturers are adopting greener approaches to minimize their carbon footprint. As environmental concerns continue to gain momentum, it was evident that the industry is actively exploring ways to contribute to a more sustainable future.

New Technologies: The injection molding landscape is continuously evolving with groundbreaking technologies. This session explored the latest advancements, offering attendees a glimpse into how cutting-edge machinery, innovative materials, and automation are helping to enhance the injection molding process. By embracing new technologies, manufacturers can boost efficiency, precision, and overall production capabilities.

Additive Injection Molding: The integration of additive manufacturing into injection molding has opened up many possibilities. Participants learned how additive injection molding enables the creation of intricate designs, customizations, and rapid prototyping. 

Tooling: Tooling optimization is a key aspect of injection molding, impacting product quality and production efficiency. During this session, experts shared strategies to optimize tool designs and maintenance, reduce costs, and minimize production downtime. With an emphasis on precision and reliability, participants gained insights into maximizing the potential of their tooling investments.

Process Control: Successful injection molding lies in maintaining meticulous process control. Attendees learned how to monitor and manage various parameters, ensuring consistent and repeatable results. Process control is essential to meeting strict quality standards, reducing defects, and ultimately enhancing customer satisfaction.

“Because of the online format, we were able to cover a wide range of topics but, at the same time, keep the information digestible for the audience. I look forward to what we will be putting together for next year,” said Foltz.

Click here for more information about SPE's 2023 National Week of Injection Molding and to purchase recorded presentations from the event.