Decoration techniques
Be it to apply images, or be it for technical aspects or to provide critical information, there are many reasons to upgrade or refine, decorate or label the surfaces of moulded parts. Known or conventional techniques such as printing, vaporising, galvanising or painting are fairly costly and time-consuming, and the decoration step of moulded parts has thus been integrated into the injection moulding process for technical, qualitative or economic reasons today.
Several integrated decoration techniques have been established to match the requirements of different fields of application:
- In-Mould Labelling (IML), mainly for high-speed applications,
- In-Mould Decoration (IMD), for high-end flat mouldings,
- Insert Moulding (IM) for precise 3D geometries, and
- In-mould decoration or rear injection for interior fittings, mainly in cars.
All four techniques are designed to apply an appealing surface with defined properties on a stable support or substrate. At the same time, these design techniques allow the processing industry to offer its customers a wider range of customized products through fairly simple processes. In some instances, it may suffice to replace the decor, the label, the film or an insert to customise the appearance of the final product.
Benefits
- High degree of upgrading or refining through simple coating,
- No or little rework only required on the final product,
- Versatile design options and freedom for the designer,
- Designs can be replaced within short intervals (clear time savings),
- Surface defects on the moulded part can be concealed to some extent (e.g. weld lines),
- Special surface properties are feasible (e.g. scratch-resistant, antireflexion coating or similar),
- Recyclate may be added as a substrate material, and
- Straightforward and established technologies.
Typical applications
- Packaging industry (e.g. cups, buckets, containers, cans, covers),
- Automotive industry (e.g. decorative screens, panels, side panelling),
- Telecommunications goods (e.g. cell phone shells, hand-held terminals, telephones),
- IT products (e.g. cases, laptop computer covers, printer chassis),
- High-end household appliances (e.g. designer automatic coffee makers, washing machines), and
- Information components (e.g. nameplates, functions, contents).