Molding alternatives

Die cut and fabricated rubber, cork, felt and other nonmetallic

Most tooling is built at an on-site die room at the plant for extra savings and optimum quality. The key to cost savings in die cut parts is found in a supplier with raw materials purchasing clout and we have available a large quantity of stock materials combined with volume buying that yields very competitive part pricing in addition to tooling cost savings.

Lathe-cut rubber and silicone

For washers, flat square gaskets and sleeves, a great alternative to die cutting and molding, especially for nonstandard thickness and specialty compounds. As close as ±.003" tolerance versus ±.015" best die cutting tolerance. An indispensible method for rubber sleeves. Includes multiple methods ranging from lowest-cost extrude/throp cut to mandrel cure and O.D. ground for best precision. Optional bevel cutting adds geometric detail that closely imitates molding without requiring tooling.

Vinyl plastisol components and vinyl dipping and coating

Ranging from standard-size stand alone vinyl caps to coating metallic components. Surprising material versatility from flat black to bright glossy colors and secondary printing, as well as compounds for harsh environments and military specifications.

Consultation, referral and outsourcing

Don't see what you need? Put three generations of manufacturing experience to work solving your problem! We have low cost tooling answers for methods ranging from machining to metal stampings and much more.

We are your parts specialist for molding alternatives that require little-or-no tooling as well as
short-to-medium runs from 1 to 50,000 pcs.

Vacuum and pressure forming

A classic molding alternative with tooling options ranging from economical wood to durable cast aluminum. Finishes range from smooth to textured-look. Secondary machining and routing add details which imitate expensive molding slide and cam detail but often at much reduced cost for tooling.

Cast polyurethane/urethane

An alternative to compression, transfer and injection molding suited mainly for runs from 1 to 1,000 pcs as well as parts too large for conventional molding. Cast urethane has legendary toughness, chemical resistance and weathering properties in modest temperature environments, with better available physical properties than its molded counterparts.

Extruded plastic and rubber

In plastics, all resins are available. In rubber, all compounds as well as methods ranging from autoclave cure to continuous cure. Secondary machining of plastics and rubber secondary cutting and punching and as a molding alternative, splice vulcanizing is available to create finished parts that imitate molding but usually with much lower die and splice mold cost.