Convert to Rotomolding
Did you know parts currently made using materials like fiberglass, steel, and wood can oftentimes be rotomolded? There are several advantages to making the switch.
Make the Switch to Rotational Molding
Elkhart Plastics helps customers improve throughput, save money and improve aesthetics by converting their products from other manufacturing methods to rotational molding. Rotomolding often offers shorter production lead times and has lower mold costs than other molding methods.
Our in-house Design & Engineering department utilizes the design flexibility of rotational molding to adjust your current product design to work for rotomolding. We can also start from scratch to redesign for improved quality and functionality. Your end result will be durable, stress-free parts at a lower production cost. A few examples of our conversion efforts include:
- Fiberglass to Rotationally Molded LLDPE. Rotomolded products can be made to resemble fiberglass with solid color and surface finish. We’ve helped customers in the marine industry reduce costs and increase efficiency by transitioning from fiberglass to plastic.
- Metal to Plastic Diesel Fuel Tanks. Unlike metal, rotationally-molded fuel tanks do not rust and can be shaped and designed to maximize space.
- Stainless Steel to Plastic IBCs. Stainless steel IBCs are expensive. Rotomolded polyethylene construction costs less, has no welds to leak, involves shorter production lead times, and produces higher quality tanks.
- Stainless Steel to Plastic Canopy. A customer brought us a heavy and boxy, steel powder-coated canopy. Servicing the equipment under the canopy was challenging with few small access panels available. When converted to rotomolding, the canopy is lighter, modernly shaped, and hinges up and out of the way for equipment servicing. Rotomolding also prevents rust and allows for solid coloring throughout.
Advantages of Rotomolding
There are several reasons why companies choose to transition to rotomolding from alternative manufacturing methods. The biggest drivers are cost, quality, and design capabilities. Additional advantages include, but are not limited to:
- Parts can have varying wall thicknesses, depending on part specifications
- Parts do not exhibit thin walls in corners and typically have an even wall thickness unless otherwise specified
- Plastic parts can stand up to harsh environmental conditions
- Molds are made quickly and cost-effectively, enabling the customer to do prototypes or short production runs
- Cost benefits over producing the part using fiberglass, steel, or wood
- Can include molded-in features such as handles, recesses, inserts, and more
- Design flexibility allowing complex geometry
- Improved throughput by decreasing labor hours
- Parts offer strength, corrosion resistance, and durability
- Low stress parts
- Short lead times on production
- Potential weight reduction
