When evaluating the value of a product, quality and price are always the two key considerations. We always hope to get high-quality products at reasonable prices. So, what factors are quietly influencing the final price in the field of custom injection molding? Today, let’s delve into it together.
1. Manufacturing Cost of Injection Molds: The Foundation of Price Structure
The manufacturing cost of injection molds undoubtedly forms the major “chunk” of the price for custom injection molding and is a key factor affecting it. The same set of injection molds, when manufactured by different companies, can have vastly different costs. This is due to a variety of factors at play. Differences in the degree of processing automation, the proportion of manual operations, and the rationality of the production route all contribute to cost fluctuations.
Moreover, the precision of injection molds also varies under different manufacturing methods. As the market’s requirements for product quality continue to rise, so do the demands for the manufacturing level and precision of injection molds. To meet these needs, injection mold factories have to equip themselves with high-precision machine tools, gradually replacing manual operations in mechanical and electrical processing.
The reduction of production costs relies on reasonable process planning, correct processing procedures, and high-standard part utilization rates. Meanwhile, reducing the number and cost of trials is also an important part of cutting production costs. After all, each trial means an investment of time and money. Only by being meticulous in every aspect can companies control the manufacturing cost of injection molds while ensuring quality, thus influencing the final price of custom injection molding.
2. Lead Time: The Time-Price Game Behind Delivery
The lead time for injection molding plays a crucial role in the early market launch of products and has a direct and close relationship with the sales price of injection molds. The shorter the supply time, the more resources – in terms of manpower, materials, and technology – a company needs to invest to speed up production, which undoubtedly increases costs and leads to a higher price for custom injection molding.
To gain a competitive edge in the fierce market, professional plastic molding companies have to rack their brains and find various ways to enhance their professional capabilities, shorten production cycles, update equipment, and improve processing methods. As the market’s demand for rapid delivery continues to grow, the price differences in custom injection molding brought about by shortened lead times will become increasingly prominent, becoming an important consideration in evaluating injection molds.
3. Skill Content: The Technical Added Value in Price
Custom plastic injection molding is a typical technology-intensive product, with high-skill components being an indispensable part. The more difficult the injection mold is, the greater the skill-added value it contains, and the higher the share of high-skill components in the price, approximately 10% – 30% or even higher.
The technical value of injection molds reflects the technical value of high-skill, high-precision custom injection molding. It not only directly affects the development direction of injection mold manufacturing enterprises but also concerns the improvement of enterprises’ skill levels and their competitiveness in the market. A company with advanced technology and highly skilled talents often has an advantage in the field of custom injection molding, and its product prices can better reflect their technical value.
4. Mold Lifespan: The Direct Correlation between Price and Lifespan
In today’s era of constantly updated products, the service life of products determines the planned lifespan of injection molds. From an enterprise’s perspective, it naturally hopes that the lifespan of injection molds is as long as possible. This is because a longer-lasting mold can not only reduce the cost of mold replacement but also improve production efficiency.
The price of custom injection molding is directly related to the expected lifespan of injection molds. Molds with a longer expected lifespan may require more investment in the early stages of R&D and manufacturing. However, in the long run, the cost per unit product will be lower, making the price of custom injection molding more reasonable when considering all factors. Therefore, the lifespan of injection molds is an important factor affecting the price of custom injection molding that cannot be ignored.
In conclusion, the manufacturing cost of injection molds, lead time, skill content, and mold lifespan, these four factors are intertwined and work together, profoundly affecting the price of custom injection molding. When enterprises customize injection-molded products, they need to comprehensively consider these factors and make choices that best suit their own needs and interests.
