What Affects the Cost of Injection Moulding Machine Products?

The cost of injection moulding machine products is influenced by several factors. Understanding these helps you optimize your product design and manufacturing strategy for the best value.

Key Cost Factors:

1. Part Design & Size:

• Larger parts require more material and longer cycle times
• Complex geometry increases mould cost
• Tight tolerances require precision tooling
• Surface finish requirements affect mould cost

2. Material Selection:

• Commodity plastics (PP, PE, PS): £1-3/kg
• Engineering plastics (PC, ABS, Nylon): £3-10/kg
• High-performance (PEEK, Ultem): £50-200/kg
• Filled grades cost more than unfilled

3. Production Volume:

• Higher volumes = lower per-part cost
• Fixed costs (tooling, setup) spread across more parts
• Multi-cavity moulds reduce cycle cost at volume

4. Tooling Investment:

• Prototype moulds: £2,500 - £10,000
• Production moulds: £10,000 - £75,000
• Complex multi-cavity: £75,000 - £200,000+

5. Secondary Operations:

• Assembly, printing, painting add cost
• Machining, heat treatment, plating
• Inspection and testing requirements

Example Product Costs:

• Small simple part (5g PP, 1M/year): £0.02-0.05/part
• Medium electronic housing (50g ABS, 100K/year): £0.30-0.80/part
• Complex automotive part (150g PA-GF, 50K/year): £2.00-5.00/part
• Medical device component (25g PC, 25K/year): £1.00-3.00/part