Author Archives: Woodland Plastics

  1. Using ERP Software for Predictive Maintenance

    Comments Off on Using ERP Software for Predictive Maintenance

    With a commitment to quality, Woodland Plastics leverages technology to improve its overall quality functions. One area of focus is maintaining Predictive Maintenance standards through our manufacturing ERP software. By using a centralized software system to document and schedule predictive maintenance, Woodland reduces potential quality issues before they happen, providing an assurance to customers that tooling will continue to run efficiently and product shipped out to customers will conform to drawing specifications. PMs can include anything from cleaning molds to advanced tooling work or repolishing and chrome plating. (more…)

  2. Using Thermosets in Electrical Components

    Comments Off on Using Thermosets in Electrical Components

    As a performance-based molding material, thermoset plastics are widely used in various electrical component applications. Implementing a molded thermoset into a product design gives the product added protection against challenging electrical environments in which components and part assemblies are at the risk of degradation. Parts such as circuit breakers, electrical enclosures or housings, covers, relays, switches, insulators, and motor components rely on a strong molding material that exhibits strong dielectric properties, thermal shock resistance, corrosion resistance, arc resistance, and electrically insulating properties. (more…)

  3. Heat Resistance in Molded Thermosets

    Comments Off on Heat Resistance in Molded Thermosets

    As engineers and designers continually try and maximize their product application’s performance, thermosets are becoming more attractive to implement into component designs and assemblies. Molding thermoset materials such as a phenolic or bulk molding compound (BMC) polyester or vinyl ester provides an end part with better protection against challenging and aggressive environments including applications exposed to high temperatures and heat. Whereas engineered thermoplastics such as nylon (PA6/ PA66) and ABS may degrade and disfigure when exposed to excessive temperatures, creating an opportunity for product failure in the field, molded thermosets offer heat deflection properties up to 500F and even above in some formulations to protect components from damage or failure. (more…)

  4. Using Thermosets in Electrical Enclosure Applications

    Comments Off on Using Thermosets in Electrical Enclosure Applications

    As a performance-based composite, thermoset plastics are an excellent material choice for applications exposed to aggressive and challenging environments. One of the top emerging applications for thermoset molding is with electrical enclosure applications. Electrical enclosures are used in all kinds of industries and end-markets including Appliance, Energy, Lighting, Industrial, and Utility markets. Implementing a thermoset into your enclosure design not only provides stronger material properties and resistance to aggressive environments but can lightweight your application significantly and reduce overall program costs over a cast aluminum enclosure. (more…)

  5. Thermosets for Applications with UV Exposure

    Comments Off on Thermosets for Applications with UV Exposure

    As a thermoset injection molder, Woodland Plastics partners with a number of customers in different industries and end-markets to manufacture their thermoset parts and components. The physical properties of molded thermosets allow parts to remain dimensionally and chemically stable even when exposed to aggressive and challenging environments. Outdoor applications with high UV exposure are one area where most traditional engineered thermoplastics may discolor or see diminished physical properties over time, potentially harming the integrity of the molded part or assembly. (more…)

  6. Assembly with Thermosets

    Comments Off on Assembly with Thermosets

    In support of Woodland Plastics’ thermoset molding capabilities, we also offer secondary operations and sourcing services as a full turnkey supplier. Aside from thermoset molding, Woodland can source hardware and component items, and assemble finish goods in-house prior to customer shipments. Woodland Plastics understands managing a complex supplier base can be challenging, and as such we offer turn-key services to mitigate pain points in a supply chain for our customers. (more…)

  7. Thermoset Molding Processes: Injection vs. Compression

    Comments Off on Thermoset Molding Processes: Injection vs. Compression

    Choosing the right molding process for your thermoset part may seem daunting, but generally there are indicators in the design and program end-use application that push towards a specific molding process. Like thermoplastics, thermosets can be injection molded or compression molded. Each molding process has its own benefits and disadvantages a thermoset molder and end-customer must understand and balance, before sourcing out a new tool build. Variables such as program annual volumes, material property requirements, part design geometries, and use of molded-in inserts can all affect whether a part is better suited to be thermoset injection molded or manufactured with another molding process. (more…)

  8. Automation with Thermoset Molding

    Comments Off on Automation with Thermoset Molding


    Woodland Plastics is a custom thermoset molder, located in Addison, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Specializing in medium-high volume thermoset molding applications, Woodland Plastics partnered with an automotive OEM to provide thermoset phenolic valve body components for the automaker’s transmission plants. As the program started, it was very labor-intensive, with Woodland operators manually removing the plastic gate by hand using files. Not only was the hand gate removal process labor-intensive, but it also created discomfort for the operators. (more…)

  9. Thermosets in Cold-Weather Applications

    Comments Off on Thermosets in Cold-Weather Applications

    Thermosets, or thermosetting plastics, have always been known in the plastics industry as heat-resistant materials. Many of the end-use applications thermoset components are used in may see high temperatures or excessive heat during application use. While thermosets remain dimensionally stable in high-temperature applications, it is not the only temperature-specific property benefit of using molded thermosets. In addition to heat resistant properties, components molded from thermoset materials such as bulk molding compounds (BMC) and phenolic resins offer excellent material performance in cold and sub-freezing environments just as well as high-temperature environments. (more…)

  10. Chemical Resistance in Thermosets

    Comments Off on Chemical Resistance in Thermosets

    As a custom thermoset phenolic and BMC molder, Woodland Plastics manufactures thermoset components for a variety of customers and end-use applications. Many of our customers’ buyers and engineers are familiar with the heat resistance properties of thermosets, and its ability to remain dimensionally stable within high temperatures. A less common, but just as important material property benefit in using a phenolic or BMC polyester/vinyl ester material in a product design is thermosets’ superior chemical resistance compared to thermoplastics, such as nylons, ABS, or polypropylene. (more…)

PDF ISO 9001:2015 Certification

Site created by Thomas Web Solutions   © 2026 Woodland Plastics Corporation