Plastic Injection Molding

1. Mold/material selected (design/mold/material)
2. Mold placed in machine with plastic resin and color (mixing material blend)
3. Raw material mixed and super-heated (heating phase)
4. Material blend is injected into the mold (injection)
5. Material is allowed to cool and take shape (cooling and recovery)
6. Finished part or component is ejected (cycle time complete)

Plastic injection molds are typically created using oversized blocks of steel or aluminum with a core side and a cavity side. The molds operate by opening and closing each side. A 3D void is created on the inside of the mold and the finished product is created when the mold is clamped together using an injection molding machine and molten thermoplastic resin is injected to fill the void. Chilled water lines integral to each specific mold allow the finished product to cool and solidify.

Molds can be simple single cavity designs that produce one part per cycle, or they can be multi-cavity with complex pieces that create more detailed product features like attachment points, air vents or handles. Each mold gets a rating for clamp tonnage that corresponds to the size of injection molding machine or press required. 

Machines come in a wide range of sizes and types including electric and hydraulic. As a general rule, small tonnage machines make smaller parts by size and weight. Conversely, larger tonnage machines make larger parts. SPF Groups currently offers 300-1800 ton machines for medium to large molds but we are always looking for flagship partners to expand our capability.

Despite the challenges that the world experiences in terms of recycling methods and rates, many plastic applications are undeniably the most cost-effective and sustainable options available. Plastics describe a wide range of thermoplastic and engineered resins that provide lightweight and durable parts or components for products used across the globe. Major industries like automotive, food & beverage, medical increasingly use plastic injection molded parts to develop solutions for the circular economy. Depending on the material selected for any given application, injection molding produces solutions that are easily reusable, returnable and recyclable.

1. Convenient location 
2. machine sizes
3. Resin silos
4. Pneumatic resin handling
5. Overhead crane
6. QC process
7. Safety protocols
8. In-house mold repair
9. Inventory space
10. Shipping
11. Design
12. Prototypes
13. Testing
14. Reprocessing
15. Recycling

Contract injection molding refers to customers who already own specific plastic injection molds and outsource the part production. These customers look for a quality molder in the best location to establish a flagship partnership. 

Custom injection molding refers to customers who engage a plastic injection molder to assist in the design, development, prototyping, testing and manufacture of new or custom plastic solutions. Custom molding includes the new product development process

SPF Groups is both a contract & custom plastic injection molder conveniently located in Byron, GA off I-75 serving the Southeast United States, North America and the Caribbean. 

SPF Groups manufactures reusable, returnable and recyclable plastic supply chain packaging solutions including products like baskets, bins, carts, crates, components, displays, dollies, lugs, pails, pallets, racks, RPC’s, shells, top frames, totes and trays of all types. Our sustainable packaging focus hinges on identifying closed loop distribution opportunities whereby our customers can benefit from reusable packaging.  

SPF Groups now serves over 100 customers in the agriculture, ASRS automation, automotive, bakery, beverage, construction, dairy, grocery, foodservice, material handling, meat, poultry, produce, retail and waste management spaces. Our business model targets a 50/50 balance of customer specific projects and SPF market initiatives.

Industry Needs or Challenges: Outsourcing. Innovation. Cost reduction. Machine downtime. Shipping proximity. Demand planning. Mold repairs. Seasonal back-up. Individual customers and plastic molders of all types need reliable primary or contingency injection molding services in a highly capital-intensive business.

SPF Solutions: Yes. It’s true that SPF offers large tonnage machine capacity in the heart of the Southeast United States serving customers of all types throughout the United States of America The States We Serve: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, and across the globe.

However, in addition to our impressive list of capabilities, our simple, low overhead approach to manufacturing is the real benefit. SPF believes that success is dependent on just the right balance of people, process and purpose to keep our injection molding customers coming back year after year. 

Customer Value: As an SPF partner, our customers set the expectations and SPF takes care of the rest. Every SPF customer enjoys full transparency and dedicated customer service just when you need it the most.

That’s why we say, “Let SPF Handle It!”