Manufacturing a plastic product

[Stephen Storey]

Hi guys,

I am looking to have a product manufactured from plastic. It is a basic design, a large plastic tray without going into too much details - approximately 45” x 45” with a couple of specific but simply to mould components.

But my question is where is best to get something manufactured from plastic ? Is it most cost efficient to have simple plastic items as mentioned above manufactured in China and shipped to the UK or cheaper to manufacture in UK once shipping costs taken into place?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Mark T Jones]

Many factors to consider,including volumes, frequency and lead times

 

[pentel]

Injection moulded? 45" x 45" x how deep? Even for very shallow parts expect injection moulding tooling to run into 10s of thousands. even from China. The tool would be subject to forces in the order of 2000- 8000 tonnes dependant on material and thickness..

Alternatively you could look at either vacuum forming or rotational moulding both of which will have lower tooling costs but higher unit costs.

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Injection moulded? 45" x 45" x how deep? Even for very shallow parts expect injection moulding tooling to run into 10s of thousands. even from China. The tool would be subject to forces in the order of 2000- 8000 tonnes dependant on material and thickness..

Alternatively you could look at either vacuum forming or rotational moulding both of which will have lower tooling costs but higher unit costs.

Acrylic could be the answer or worth considering, a mold would be easy to make with Silicone and acrylic poured over the mold . have a look at acrylic molding on Youtube videos https://uk.video.search.yahoo.com/y...2fdf5b7401c7c52d7f355c7fa5d491b0&action=click

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Sorry enclosed the wrong video try this for idea's

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music that you love, upload original content and share it all with friends, family and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

 

[pentel]

Acrylic could be the answer or worth considering

This is a very expensive production process with low tool cost. Parts of that size indicated could weigh over 15 kg ( assuming 1cm thick) and would cost in excess of £50 in resin alone.

 

[Nudge]

Hi guys,

I am looking to have a product manufactured from plastic. It is a basic design, a large plastic tray without going into too much details - approximately 45” x 45” with a couple of specific but simply to mould components.

But my question is where is best to get something manufactured from plastic ? Is it most cost efficient to have simple plastic items as mentioned above manufactured in China and shipped to the UK or cheaper to manufacture in UK once shipping costs taken into place?

Thanks in advance.

This is a great question and one that many product developers face. Generally, manufacturing in China can offer lower unit costs due to economies of scale and lower labour costs. However, when considering items like large plastic trays, shipping costs can quickly add up, especially for bulky products, potentially offsetting the savings. Manufacturing in the UK might have higher upfront production costs, but you could benefit from shorter lead times, easier communication, and potentially fewer import/export complications. Local production may also appeal to customers who value sustainability or locally made goods. I’d recommend exploring both options with quotes from manufacturers in the UK and China, factoring in shipping, tariffs, and any additional logistics costs. It may also be worth considering nearby European manufacturers as a middle ground. If your volumes are initially low, UK-based production might make more sense to simplify logistics and reduce upfront risks. For higher volumes, China could still be a competitive option.

 

[MOIC]

I’d recommend exploring both options with quotes from manufacturers in the UK and China, factoring in shipping, tariffs, and any additional logistics costs.

This.