Rotational molding or rotomoulding has revolutionised the plastics manufacturing industry. It has made possible the manufacturing of seamless hollow plastic components with a variety of applications from the storage of liquids to playground equipment and toys. Today, 1.4 million tons of these plastic parts are used worldwide.
Industries ranging from healthcare to toys to the automotive industry use components made with this technique. It helps the manufacturing of small to large parts with precision and uniformity. Some of its practical benefits in various industries are:
Healthcare
A lot of medical components are delicate and sterile. They require enclosures, housings, and casings to keep them safe and sterile. Rotomolding has proven to be a reliable process in manufacturing high-quality enclosures and casings for medical components and devices.
After the creation of the mold, it is permanent, and the manufacture of uniform products is on a turnkey basis with short lead time. This process allows the healthcare device makers to save on costs of stocking large inventory.
Toys and Playground Equipment
The toy industry has been using this method for decades. The process allows low-cost and consistent manufacturing of toys and playground equipment with durability and safety.
Plastic is the preferred metal for children’s products as it is lighter and safer with no risk of rust formation. It allows these products to be seamless and with sweeping curves that other manufacturing processes don’t. The smooth and rounded edges are requisite in this industry.
Automotives
As a simplified manufacturing process in the automotive industry, people use rotomolding to make RV parts, among other things. The appeal is due to the lightweight of the parts over their metal counterparts. Lightweight means less fuel consumption, thus eco-friendly, as they are easier to transport.
Its applications are widespread in the automotive industry. People manufacture lightweight boats, kayaks, farm equipment, truck dashboards, armrests, sun visors, and other similar components using this process.
Containers and Tanks
Due to its versatile nature, this process allows the manufacturing of any shape and size of containers and tanks. Rotomolding allows for flexible designs, low-cost fabrication, minimal wastage, uniform thickness, and fewer stress points.
Such features make the product high-quality and durable. Containers such as refrigerator boxes, combo bins, shipping containers, drums, and barrels are manufactured using this method. Water treatment tanks, oil tanks, septic tanks, and shipping tanks are also produced using this manufacturing technique.
Benefits
There are many advantages to rotational molding. The molds are easy to fabricate. That means shorter lead time and faster time to market. It provides the flexibility of design and can help produce products from a small ball to a large tank. It eliminates the need to paint parts separately by color-matching. It also allows decorative effects to be molded directly into the plastic.
It also allows molding in threads, beads, spouts, recesses, and metal inserts. Also, the graphics in the mold are a permanent way to mark, decorate, and brand plastic products. All these benefits make it the choice manufacturing process for many manufacturers.
Plastic has been replacing metal in a variety of ways and applications. Manufacturing plastic components that are high-quality, consistent, durable, safe, and aesthetically appealing has been made possible through rotomolding. Its applications in many industries make it a versatile manufacturing technique.
