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…)
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…)
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…)
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…)
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…)
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…)
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…)
With superior material property performance over thermoplastics, thermosets are an excellent material option for applications exposed to challenging environments. One of the main material benefits molded thermosets exude is strong resistance to corrosion and rust. Whether an application is exposed to outdoor conditions with high humidity or moisture, or used to house electrical components, thermosets offer excellent protection against corrosion. (more…)
Injection molders and OEMs have been using various styles of inserts in their plastic parts and product applications to mechanically fasten separate components together for quite some time. Thermoset molded parts are no different. Depending on the application type, environment the application is used in, and geometries of the molded parts, there are many options to using inserts in a product design. Inserts can be molded-in during the molding cycle or tapped/press-fit into the part after molding. Where a part with complex geometries may have very high tooling costs or a high scrap/fallout rate during molding, inserts can be used to fasten and secure multiple parts together without molding the application into a single part. (more…)
Many potential customers are unsure whether a thermoplastic or thermoset molding material is best for their product application. The answer depends on the material property requirements of the product application. How the product is used, and the environment the product operates in are two of the biggest variables to determine if a thermoset or thermoplastic is best. Using a thermoplastic in an application that requires material performance properties of thermosets could cause product or material failure in the field, so it is important to understand how each material can affect your product and its cost to manufacture. (more…)
