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Custom and short-run
molding Molded-in logos
Custom colors Lightweight and
tough
Uniform wall thickness
Flexible design
Resistant to oil, water, and corrosion
Low cost tooling
Structural integrity
Low maintenance costs
Polyethylene: linear low, medium and high density PVC:
custom formulated and tinted Flame
retardant materials Part diameters
from 6" to 72"
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Rotational
molding is one of the most effective, design-flexible molding processes.
It produces top quality, uniform molded hollow parts.
Rotational molding involves rotating a
mold on two axes so that the material inside evenly coats all interior
surfaces. As the mold rotates, it is heated in an oven, fusing the material
against the inside of the mold and creating the exterior part wall.
Manipulating the material weight produces desired wall thickness.
Once the material has fused, the mold is moved
to a cooling chamber, where it continues to rotate as water spray and air are
applied. After the part has cooled, the part is removed, the mold is re-loaded
with new material and the process begins again.
Because no pressure is involved, rotationally molded parts are virtually
stress-free.
In some applications, multiple interior walls
can formed using blowing agents or combinations of materials. Multi-walled
parts can increase thickness and rigidity, while keeping the part
light-weight.
Examples of
parts made using this process include boats, table tops, seating, crash
attenuation systems, ice chests and more.
Materials typically used are linear low density
polyethylene (LLDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), nylon and polycarbonate
(PC), but
many other material choices are available.
 Rotationally molded products are durable and
resist aging, oil, water, and corrosion. It is very difficult to damage or
dent parts made with resilient polyethylene. Polyethylene has excellent load
bearing properties and resists cracking.
When converting from other materials such as
fiberglass and metals, rotationally molded products can incorporate many parts
into one, reducing the expense of add-on parts and secondary operations. Low
tooling costs also make the rotomolding process a cost effective means for new
projects.
Advantages of rotational molding
- Price - Tooling costs significantly
less for rotational molding than for injection molding. Because of the
savings, tooling changes are also economical. Secondary operations and
inserts are often eliminated with rotational molding. Low and high volume runs
alike are
economical.
- Quality
- The finished look and performance of rotationally molded products is
excellent and long lasting.
- Flexibility
- Rotational molding may be used to manufacture both simple and complex
shapes. Because rotational molding is amenable to small runs, frequent color changes
are easily accommodated. Many design
options are possible: smooth or textured surface finishes, molded-in logos,
threads and inserts, and many material choices.
- Speed
- Tool development for the rotational molding process is fast, which
translates to reduced lead time and speedy market introduction.
- Durability and strength
- Rotationally molded polyethylene is stress-free and naturally
resistant to oil and corrosion. Part thickness and design can be manipulated
to give parts even more strength.
- Rotational molding offers
many more advantages when
compared with alternative materials and processes.
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