What is Overmolding?
Ever wonder how products like toothbrushes to car bumpers are made? It’s from a process called plastic overmolding, which is an integral part of modern-day manufacturing. But what is this process, exactly? How can it be used to make a variety of products? And, how can this process help you create the product you’re envisioning?
In simple terms, it is a molding process that combines multiple materials to form a single component or a complete product. Typically, this entails one material being partially or fully covered by subsequent materials during the molding process.
In simple terms, it is a molding process that combines multiple materials to form a single component or a complete product. Typically, this entails one material being partially or fully covered by subsequent materials during the molding process.
To perform this process, plastic injection molders need specialized equipment. Specifically, they need unique injection molding machines that are equipped with two or more barrels. This is needed to allow the injection molder to insert two (or more) materials at a time during the molding cycle.
Now you may be wondering why plastic overmolding is performed. The answer is simple — it's done to protect the first material or to reinforce the component or product as a whole. We will discuss this in-depth later on.