The majority of manufacturers conduct processes in-house for better control on product quality. A few have mold design expertise.

Mainland China makers of plastic parts for industrial equipment are enhancing further customization capability for high-precision products. Several have acquired mold design know-how to complement in-house mold making, plastic injection molding and surface treatment. A rising number of these enterprises adopt computer systems such as AutoCAD, Pro/E and solutions from CAXA, with some large operations employing integrated CAD, CAE and CAM. In terms of tolerance, suppliers have achieved 0.001mm from 0.005mm in molds, while 0.01 to 0.05mm is typical in finished units.

Sino-Mold Industrial Co. Ltd uses SolidWorks, Unigraphics, Mastercam and Moldflow in addition to AutoCAD and Pro/E. It can realize 0.005mm mold tolerance, and 0.05mm in actual parts. The maker has CNC milling machines from Taiwan and high-speed versions from Switzerland, CNC EDM equipment from these regions and South Korea, and wire-cutting and other milling units from the first area.

Enterprises implement strict QC and use various testing equipment. Shanghai Everskill Material Co. Ltd employs three X-ray detectors, four 3-coordinate measuring machines and 12 other measuring instruments. Sino-Mold has life and optical 3D testing equipment.

The overall market for plastic parts in the mainland is expected to stay healthy in coming years, with about 10 percent annual growth in sales value. The key demand drivers are the electronics and automotive sectors. The home appliances, medical, industrial, aerospace and military fields are the other application bases. Industrial uses represent less than 5 percent of total revenue. These include shells, linings, panels, structural components and wearing parts in machinery, equipment and instruments.

Encouraged by this development, Shanghai Everskill is looking to increase sales value by 10 percent this year and JZY Plastic Mould Ltd by as much as 15 percent. Sino-Mold targets up to 30 percent boost. Manufacturers are expanding production as well. JZY, which owns 22 injection molding machines, will have added two or three more units by now to raise capacity by 7 to 10 percent. Shanghai Everskill has 22 such equipment, which can handle 80 to 800 tons. It uses extrusion besides the widely adopted injection molding. At JZY and Sino-Mold, all plastic parts are based on the latter process.

The mainland is the largest manufacturing base of plastic parts, generating more than 20 percent of global yield. Last year, it churned out 61.9 million tons, climbing 8 percent from 2012. In the first two months of 2014, however, volume dropped to 8.4 million tons or 0.3 percent lower YoY.

There are about 13,700 suppliers of plastic parts in the mainland, with major hubs in Guangdong, Zhejiang, Shandong, Henan and Liaoning provinces. The first two areas are responsible for an estimated 30 percent of the mainland’s aggregate yield.

Various types of plastic used

Mainland suppliers classify their selections by the kind of materials adopted, which are general and engineering plastic, and plastic alloy.

Units based on the first input exhibit good comprehensive performance and general mechanical properties. Such products can withstand temperatures below 100 C. ABS models dominate the category for industrial applications. The last includes machinery gears, impellers, bearings, handles, pipes and panels. The material also finds broad use in the shells, linings and spare parts of TVs, recorders, phones, refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, water dispensers and electric fans. JZY’s releases are mostly made of ABS. There are also products in PE, PP, PVC or PS.

Engineering plastic has enhanced mechanical and heat-resistant attributes, and can replace metal counterparts. Its tensile strength exceeds 50Mpa, bending modulus is above 2Gpa and impact resistance surpasses 60J/m. Such units will maintain their integrity above 100 C. These are widely utilized in engineering, machinery, automotive, electronics, appliances, aviation and aerospace, specifically in bearing and wearing parts. The material choices are nylon, PC, PBT, PPO, POM, PPS and LCP. Sino-Mold turns out mostly engineering plastic models, adopting the first three.

Plastic alloy variants constitute a minor category in the local range. These employ various material combinations such as PC and ABS, nylon and PC, PC and PS, PC and PP, and PET and nylon.

The options in terms of surface treatment are painting, electroplating, thermal transfer and silk-screening. Makers also accept custom materials, finishes, dimensions and tolerance.

Companies usually obtain manufacturing inputs from local providers. They turn to Germany, US, and Japan sources on buyers’ requests. Prices are forecast to stay at current levels, owing to the relatively stable cost of plastic materials.

Related report: In-mold decoration services: Makers target higher product qualification rate

Product gallery

B&E Precision (HK) Ltd (Mainland China)

Model: Mounting Frame Description: PPS+40% fiberglass; steel nut; injection molding, ultrasonic welding; 320 C injection temperature; 1,400kPa gas tightness; 90x58x75mm; for flow meters

JZY Plastic Mould Ltd (Mainland China)

Model: JZY-PP-868 MOQ: 1,000 pieces Delivery: 10 days Description: ABS, copper; injection molding; 70x20x20mm; 60g; for automotive parts

Shanghai Everskill Material Co. Ltd (Mainland China)

Model: ES20140311 MOQ: None Delivery: 30 days Description: ABS+fiberglass; 300x400x200mm; in various colors; for laboratory equipment; UL

Sino-Mold Industrial Co. Ltd (Mainland China)

Model: SM-2013-PF-001 MOQ: 1,000 pieces Delivery: 5 days Description: PVC; custom-made designs, colors accepted