Plastic Injection Moulding: a buyer's sourcing guide
Everything a procurement team should know before opening an RFQ for plastic injection moulding: materials, tolerances, certifications and red flags.
Recent RFQs in plastic injection moulding
Overview
Injection moulding melts polymer pellets and injects them into a steel/aluminium mould. Tooling is expensive (€8k–€80k+) but unit cost drops dramatically above 5–10k pcs/year.
When to choose this process
Pick injection when volumes are >5k pcs/year and geometry tolerates 0.5–2° draft and shrinkage compensation.
Typical materials
- ABS
- PP
- PA6/PA66 (+GF)
- POM
- PC
- PEEK (high-end)
Typical tolerances
±0.05–0.2 mm depending on size; mind shrinkage and warpage.
Certifications to ask for
- ISO 9001
- ISO 13485 (medical)
- FDA, EU 10/2011 (food contact)
Frequently asked questions
How much does an injection mould cost?
Single cavity prototype mould €8–15k, 2–4 cavity production mould €25–60k, hot-runner 8+ cavities €70k and up. Steel grade and life cycle drive cost.
Can the mould be supplier-owned?
Yes — many Asian suppliers offer 'free' moulds amortised in piece price with a 2-3 year exclusivity. Read the IP clause carefully.
Sourcing countries covered
Editorial market guide. Supplyria is a marketplace; we don't list private suppliers on this page. Cost ranges and lead times are indicative and based on public industry benchmarks.