CommunicationShipping & Tariff CostConfidentiality & ITARQualification All in One Place
On-Demand 3D Printing and Plastic Injection Molding Services
Recent Posts
Addressing the Common Design Issues in Injection Molding Plastics
At Elite Mold & Engineering, we try to ensure the success of every injection molding project by addressing any design issues well before production is underway. Our integrated prototyping and product development services bring any potential issues to light, while...
Rapid Injection Molding: An Increasingly Crucial Service for Supply Chain Sustainability
Rapid injection molding is one of the key ways that American manufacturers have risen to the challenges of today’s global supply chain. It’s no secret that most plastic products are made in China. Traditionally, when customers thought of molded plastics, Chinese...
A Guide to STL Files for 3D Printing Projects: STL vs. CAD Models and Other Critical Info
Creating a custom STL file for your parts is one of the crucial early steps in the 3D printing process. Essentially, an STL file is a 3D model that precisely describes the surface geometry of your part as a complex structure built up from interlinked triangles. We’ll...
Rapid Prototyping Techniques Compared: Injection Molding, 3D Printing, and CNC Machined Prototypes
Elite Mold & Engineering specializes in three of the most flexible high-speed prototyping services on the market: rapid injection molding (RIM), 3D printing, and low-volume CNC machining solutions. Each of the three processes comes with its own set of unique...
Speed and flexibility are more crucial than ever throughout the modern manufacturing space, and the injection molding industry is no exception. Due to the rapid turnaround and high level of product customizability expected in many markets, on-demand 3D printing services are increasingly intertwined with plastic injection molding.
In many ways, 3D printing perfectly compliments the injection molding process: today’s additive manufacturing systems offer much simpler setup and lighting-quick turnaround conducive to small runs, custom prototyping, and iterative design. Then, when it comes time to ramp your project up into production, 3D printed part designs typically translate smoothly to injection molding, thus streamlining the entire process.
On-Demand 3D Printing Services for Just-in-Time Manufacturing
The term “on-demand” in the context of 3D printing means that we manufacture your custom parts immediately after receiving and reviewing your product files. Your parts will be printed to your exact specifications and delivered in rapid order, minimizing your lead times along with all logistical complications.
Forget the limitations of traditional manufacturing models where large batches of products are produced in advance and stored in inventory – Elite Mold & Engineering offers a much leaner, more sustainable solution.
Essentially, our on-demand additive manufacturing services are designed to remove all barriers that stand between you and your finished parts or prototypes – including your time and cost commitments.
Combining on-demand additive manufacturing with injection molding gives you:
Minimum Lead Times and Rapid Turnaround – By drastically simplifying the design/development process and producing only the exact number of products you need, our 3D printing services offer much shorter lead times and much quicker turnaround than you can find with most traditional manufacturing methods.
A Streamlined Path to Production – Going further to get your project off the ground as fast as possible, our 3D printing services are integrated seamlessly with our injection molding capabilities. Bringing your product ideas to market has never been simpler – whether you’re transitioning to low-volume injection molding or full-scale, high-volume injection molding.
A Rapid Prototyping Solution – On-demand 3D printing and injection are absolutely ideal for rapid prototyping projects. With additive manufacturing, iterative design is streamlined and condensed, with substantial savings in both cost and time realized with each iteration. In prototype injection molding, we optimize the tooling by fabricating aluminum or softer steels like P20 to produce a low-volume mold as quickly as possible. In both cases, your upfront costs and turnaround time are substantially reduced.
Easy Customization – On-demand 3D printing combined with specialized low-volume injection molding makes it easier to customize your parts throughout the prototyping and product development process. Because our processes are so lean and integrated, we can quickly and easily make design modifications and provide new samples for testing or proof of concept. That means that your final products will be exactly what you want and truly optimized, rather than compromised to accommodate subpar manufacturing methods.
On-Demand Manufacturing Services from Michigan’s Leading Injection Molding Company
Elite Mold & Engineering is Michigan’s leading low-volume injection molding company offering on-demand 3D printing services. Established in 1982, we’re backed by more than 40 years of delivering the rapid response and quick turnaround that gives our customers an edge in their respective markets. Committed to superior American manufacturing quality and customer service, our company is an ISO 9001:2015 certified and ITAR registered manufacturer.
Communication
By utilizing domestic tooling, you can benefit from improved communication with your tooling vendor. No more late-night meetings or waiting days for a response from an overseas vendor. Instead, with both parties in the same or similar time zone, you can ensure timely communication that aligns with your schedule. Moreover, this approach allows you to save valuable time and money on travel expenses for potential tryouts.
Confidentiality & ITAR
When working on a highly confidential or new design, where getting to the market first is crucial, confidentiality becomes an absolute necessity. By partnering with a domestic U.S. supplier that possesses complete in-house mold construction capabilities, you can have greater confidence in the security of your data, knowing that it will not be shared without your knowledge. This is particularly essential for government projects that require ITAR data protection, making the utilization of a domestic tooling vendor a mandatory requirement.
No Additional International Shipping or Tariff Cost
With a domestic tooling supplier, you can avoid additional charges such as international freight, customs, and tariffs. The savings on shipping costs can help offset the price differences between low-cost country tooling and domestically built options. Furthermore, by choosing domestic suppliers, you can avoid delays caused by mold transportation via ocean freight or costly airfreight shipments. Saving both time and money is made possible with a domestic tooling supplier.
Qualification All In One Place
When constructing and qualifying a mold, it is essential to possess prior knowledge of any modifications or tuning that have already been undertaken. By opting for domestic mold construction, your chosen provider can ensure that they possess a comprehensive understanding and documentation of all prior work completed on the mold. This facilitates a more efficient problem-solving process and enables effective troubleshooting of potential flaws.
Let Elite Become Your Preffered Domestic Tooling Partner
Elite Mold & Engineering has been crafting top-notch plastic injection molds domestically in the United States for nearly four decades. Our talented team of experienced designers and skilled professionals in the Tooling Department are dedicated to constructing robust, high-quality, and efficient molds tailored to meet your specific project requirements.
Discover the multitude of benefits when you choose a domestic tooling source. With our expertise, experience, and commitment to quality, we provide a multitude of key advantages that will streamline your operations. Our local presence ensures seamless communication, offering you the convenience of direct and efficient collaboration. Elite’s stringent quality control measures guarantee precision and reliability, delivering top-notch tooling solutions tailored to your specific needs. Also, by choosing a domestic source, you support local businesses and contribute to the growth of your community. Our quick turnaround times ensure that you stay ahead of the competition, enabling you to meet even the tightest project deadlines. Embrace the numerous advantages of a domestic tooling source and watch your productivity soar.