How Much Does Plastic Injection Cost?

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The plastics industry is demonstrating strong growth in recent years, leading to increasing demand for high-end plastic injection services. However, accurately assessing the injection cost for each product is not simple because it depends on many different factors. This article will provide you with detailed information on plastic injection costs and factors that affect plastic injection costs, and at the same time suggest optimal solutions to save costs during the production process.

1. How Much Does The Cost of Plastic Injection Vary?

Plastic extrusion is an important process in the production of diverse plastic products from plastic pipes, plastic sheets to technical details. There is no fixed number when talking about the cost of plastic extrusion because this cost is influenced by many factors such as size, product shape, plastic material, production quantity, process complexity,... specifically:

  • Material: Plastic material prices vary. PVC plastic usually costs from $1.20/kg - $1.60/kg, ABS plastic has prices ranging from $2.50/kg - $3.00/kg.
  • Volume: Extruding plastic in large quantities will be more cost effective than small quantities.
  • Technology: Using modern technology helps increase performance, but also comes with high investment costs. The initial investment costs for an extrusion machine can range from $50,000 - $150,000. 
  • Complexity: Products with highly technical designs will cost more, ranging from $0.50 to $2.00 per unit.
  • Labor costs: Depends on production location; ranges from $20/hour - $50/hour in developed countries and from $5/hour - $15/hour in developing countries.

Accurate cost estimates for plastic injection products are extremely important to ensure your project is carried out efficiently and economically. Thanks to developments in technology, you can now easily use online plastic extrusion cost estimators to get quick and accurate quotes. Some reputable plastic extrusion cost estimation tools:

2. Types of Costs in Plastic Extrusion

Plastic extrusion is a popular method in the plastic manufacturing industry, investment costs for them can fluctuate significantly depending on size, capacity and features. At the same time, the plastic extrusion process includes many different stages and operations, leading to the emergence of many types of costs that need to be considered to optimize production efficiency. Below are some main types of costs commonly encountered in plastic extrusion: 

2.1. Machinery and Equipment Costs

Extrusion machines play a key role in the extrusion process. This is the largest expense ranging from $50,000 - $150,000 for professional industrial machinery. Machine prices depend on many factors such as capacity, mold size features, control system and brand. In addition, there are costs associated with extrusion machines such as transportation costs, installation costs, training costs for machine operators, and maintenance costs.

Besides, to implement the extrusion plastic processing method, businesses need to be equipped with the following tools:

  • Injection mold: Designed specifically for each product, cost depends on size, complexity and manufacturing materials.
  • Cooling system: Increases cooling and shaping capabilities, cost depends on capacity and cooling efficiency.
  • Control system: Automatically operates machinery accurately and effectively, with cost depending on the level of automation.
  • Auxiliary machinery: Including raw material mixers, tractors, cutters, control systems, etc. The cost of these auxiliary machinery can also range from several tens of millions to several hundred million dong.

Overall, an extruder is an important but expensive investment. Businesses need to carefully consider factors such as production needs, financial capacity and management ability before deciding to buy a machine. Besides, businesses also need to take into account related costs to make the most accurate cost estimates.

2.2. Cost of Raw Material

The cost of plastic raw materials is a factor that directly affects production costs. Some common types of plastic include:

  • PP plastic
  • PVC plastic
  • ABS plastic
  • POM plastic

Different types of plastic have different costs, ranging from $2/pound - $20/pound. The amount of resin used in each extrusion will depend on the size and complexity of the mold. Some factors affecting the price of plastic raw materials when extruding:

  • Temperature
  • Flow
  • Impact ability
  • Gloss/transparency
  • Fire resistance
  • UV resistance
  • Potential contact with food

2.3. Labor Costs

Labor costs in the extrusion process include many different items, from machine setup and configuration to repair,maintenance and production monitoring including wages, insurance, and employee benefits. People operate machinery,maintain equipment, and check product quality. This cost also depends on the skill level, experience of the worker and the production area. Businesses need to carefully consider these factors to make reasonable decisions about whether to produce in-house or outsource injection molding services, ensuring cost optimization and operational efficiency.

3. Other Variables Affect The Cost of Plastic Extrusion

Besides the main cost categories mentioned above, several other variables can also affect the cost of plastic extrusion,specifically:

3.1. Shape and Size

The more complex the shape and size, the higher the extrusion cost because it requires more complex molds, longer production processes and higher technical operations. Typically, simple plastic pipes will cost less than manufacturing parts with complex shapes in cars.

3.2. Surface Quality

A highly finished surface often has a higher cost due to requiring careful processing and the use of high-quality materials.

3.3. Finished Product Tolerance

Tolerance is the degree of the permissible deviation in the size and shape of the finished product compared to the design.Tight tolerances will come with high extrusion costs because it requires high precision in the creation process of finished products and quality control.

3.4. Production Volume

Large production volumes will help optimize production efficiency and reduce unit costs. Adopting high-volume production methods can result in significant cost savings.

4. Affordability Costs Plastics for Extrusion

Choosing the right type of plastic at a reasonable cost is an important factor affecting economic efficiency in extrusion production. Below are some popular plastics with competitive prices, suitable for extrusion applications:

4.1. Polyvinyl Chloride

PVC plastic is cheap, highly durable, easy to process, possesses good fire resistance and can be recycled. PVC plastic is often used to produce water pipes, plumbing accessories, windows, doors, floors, furniture, etc. The price of PVC plastic fluctuates around $1.20/pound - $1.60/pound.

4.2. High-Density Polyethylene

HDPE plastic is often used to produce air pipes, water pipes, bottles, containers, children's toys, etc. The price of HDPE plastic fluctuates around $1.30/pound - $1.70/pound.

4.3. Polypropylene

PP plastic is highly durable, heat resistant, food safe and recyclable. PP plastic is often used to produce pipes, auto parts,food packaging, furniture, etc. PP plastic prices fluctuate around $1.40/pound - $1.80/pound.

4.4. Low-Density Polyethylene

LDPE plastic has high toughness, is easy to process, waterproof and can be recycled. LDPE plastic is often used to produce plastic bags, food wrap, electrical wires, children's toys, etc. The price of LDPE plastic fluctuates around $1.50/pound - $1.90/pound.

4.5. Polystyrene

PS plastic has good hardness, is transparent, easy to process and can be recycled. PS plastic is often used to produce food containers, electronic boxes, children's toys, stationery, etc. PS plastic prices fluctuate around $1.60/pound - $2.0/pound.

5. Conclusion

In general, the cost of plastic extrusion depends on many different variables, requiring businesses to carefully analyze and evaluate these factors to come up with a reasonable production strategy, optimize costs and increase efficiency. In addition, businesses should update market information, raw material prices and the latest production technology to adjust extrusion costs accordingly. Effectively tracking and managing costs throughout the production process plays an important role in ensuring profitability and competitiveness for businesses.

6. About EuroPlas

EuroPlas is the leading reputable and professional plastic extrusion solution provider in Vietnam, the choice of more than 95 countries around the world, EuroPlas is committed to bringing customers high quality products at affordable prices and perfect customer service. Contact EuroPlas immediately or fill out the form to receive free consultation and receive a preferential quote.

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