Glastic, Inc.

Company: Glastic, Inc.
Location: Jefferson, Ohio
Product: Thermoset injection molded products
Annual Sales: $17 million
Number employed: 140
Year founded: 1973

Situation:

Sewing machine giant Singer brought Glastic a new design for a one-piece sewing machine frame to replace a standard two-piece bolted frame. Glastic wanted to confirm the new frame could be molded successfully.

Project:

Using flow analysis, the PTDC assured Glastic that the company's frame mold was functional. PTDC staff also suggested that to improve efficiency, Glastic consider reducing the mold runner from a conventional 5/8" diameter to 7/16" diameter, with a corresponding increase of injection pressure from 900 to 1,800 psi. These changes remained within the rated safety factor of Glastic's molding machines.

Result:

The combination of narrow runner and high injection pressure allows Glastic to decrease molding time. It also creates a material waste savings of .082 pounds per shot, for a cumulative savings of about 4,100 pounds of material a year.

Company Comments from Todd Waddle, Project Engineer:

"The PTDC opened our eyes to an unconventional method of molding that improved the manufacturing process. We've worked with the center on other projects, and have always gotten something of value from it -- even when it's not what we originally expected."