Bringing Manufacturing Back to the United States

Since the 1970’s, the globalization and offshoring of domestic manufacturing & production processes has been a popular means for businesses to attempt to lower labor costs and maximize profits but in a post-pandemic world, this decades-long dependence on overseas manufacturing is no longer viable.

According to Shale Crescent USA, a 2022 study names the United States as the most profitable place to manufacture plastics products.  This news has narrowed the gap between the offshore market and the domestic United States prompting companies to bring tooling, manufacturing & production processes back from overseas, also known as reshoring, thanks to the supply-chain issues that have resulted from the COVID-19 global pandemic. 

The Tipping Point

Although there are many injection molding facilities located offshore who will entice companies with offers of lower-cost labor and production, when choosing an injection molder, there are a few factors that should be considered long term, such as the in-bound/out-bound shipping and delivery fees of materials and parts, lead times on the production process, the level of customer service, and most importantly – quality standards.

There are more factors to consider than simply dollars and cents such as risk management, strategic direction, and overhead just to name a few. Offshore manufacturing, production and tooling options ultimately result in more headaches & higher costs overall for everyone involved due to quality & consistency issues in the production process.  

The long-held belief that it is cheaper to import goods from overseas no longer holds true as the current surging costs to import containers is still over triple that of pre-pandemic costs. Adding insult to injury, the freight industry has been upended by uncertain lead times and delays at overwhelmed ports. 

Now more than ever, reshoring plastic injection molding and tooling domestically is the right choice in combatting these added costs.

Security Over Cost

The COVID-19 Global Pandemic brought the vulnerability of our global supply chain to the main stage.

In 2022, The New York Times reported moves by major automotive, tech & retail manufacturers to invest in reshoring their manufacturing & production operations back to the United States to reduce the effects of supply-chain issues on the sale of their products.

At York Imperial Plastics, our manufacturing facility is conveniently located within a short flight or drive from New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Washington, DC. Our convenient location to these major cities results in seamless access to raw materials, labor, and our customers without the headache of the overseas shipping delays and rising freight costs. By being close to our customers, we can ensure that our finished products arrive on time.

Be sure to check out York Imperial’s social media channels to peek inside life at #YIP

Made in America

In today’s post-pandemic world, consumers have shown that they prefer and will pay more for American-made products that create American jobs.  Nearly three-quarters of respondents to a 2022 study conducted by The Harris Poll stated they seek out and intentionally purchase American-made products specifically labeled “Made in America.”

York Imperial Plastics’ injection molds are provided with Life of Program Tool Warranties.  All molds constructed by York Imperial Plastics and built to our standards for longevity are warranted for the life of your program, as long as your products are manufactured in our facility.

After your products have been manufactured at York Imperial Plastics, our team can assemble, test, and package your product for sale.  Many of the products we manufacture ship “retail ready,” and never touch our customers hands. In addition, our shipping & receiving department prepares direct shipments to major retailers across North America placing your finished product directly in the hands of consumers.

Let’s manufacture something together!

We at York Imperial Plastics invite you to learn more about our injection molding capabilities by taking a tour of our family owned and operated state-of-the-art injection molding facility in York, PA to experience our day-to-day operations first hand and learn how we’ve been making ideas a reality since 1985.

We recognize that the average person may not have the same level of experience as we do when it comes to injection molding.  In fact, you may be considering the idea of contracting injection molding services for the very first time. With over 34 years of injection molding experience, we at York Imperial Plastics would like to take this opportunity to share with you some things to look for when deciding where to injection mold your custom plastic parts.

Our industry runs the gamut of everything from high and medium volume molders to low volume and prototype molders. At York Imperial Plastics, we want to make sure you know the questions to ask in order to make an informed and educated decision, wherever you choose to manufacture your plastic parts.  Below are a few of the things that are important to consider when selecting an injection molder.

What is the cost of a mold?

When it comes to frequently asked questions, “how much will this cost me,” (as with most services) perhaps is the most commonly asked question, and understandably so as it is one of the most important purchasing decisions a customer will make.

Since custom injection molds are designed to withstand the duration of a product’s life cycle, the cost of a mold is the most significant upfront expense a customer will experience when choosing the injection mold process.  From tolerances and durability to internal and external thread configurations, hot runners, stack and vertical molds, core-pulls and actions, thin wall construction and collapsible core technology, quality injection molds are crafted from the highest quality steel and intended to last for many years.

At York Imperial Plastics, our strong partnership with both domestic and off-shore mold builders allows us to offer a variety of mold build options to meet our customer’s manufacturing needs all while our Engineering Department manages the entire mold build process to ensure the highest quality and most efficient productivity.

York Imperial Plastics’ injection molds are provided with Life of Program Tool Warranties.  All molds constructed by York Imperial Plastics and built to our standards for longevity are warranted for the life of your program, as long as your products are manufactured in our facility.

In addition, our in-house Tool Shop services our customer’s molds around-the-clock for both preventative and routine tooling maintenance.

Why does volume matter?

When exploring the injection molding process, forecasting the volume of parts you plan to produce over time is a key factor to consider.  From prototyping to low, medium, and high volumes, it’s important to understand what volume you anticipate to manufacture.

Short-Run/Low Volume

Plastic parts which only require a low annual volume of production may best be served by utilizing prototyping services such as 3D printing.  There are no tooling costs involved in this process.  At York Imperial Plastics, we specialize in low volume 3D printing and prototyping with our SLA and FDM printing technologies.  3D printing is an efficient and cost-effective alternative to injection molding for customers with lower volume manufacturing needs.  One of the many benefits of these services is their ability to allow our customers to produce prototypes to verify tolerances, functionality, and durability prior to finalizing a part design and beginning the full-fledged production process.

Full-Production/High Volume

At York Imperial Plastics, we serve not only as a supplier to our customer’s needs, but as a partner throughout the manufacturing process. York Imperial Plastics specializes in multi-cavity high-volume production runs of both large and small molded parts thanks to our fully automated parts handling, counting, and packaging capabilities. Our 25 injection molding machines, ranging from 33 to 720 tons, are managed by our highly skilled and RJG-trained production team who manufacture hundreds of thousands of high-quality plastic parts daily.

Why does material selection matter?

Today, there are a variety of plastic resins available, and selecting the right material is an important decision that is vital to the manufacturing of quality plastic parts. The right material not only ensures quality but also improves efficiency and reduces the overall cost of the production process.

At York Imperial Plastics, parts are manufactured via thermoplastics from virtually all commodity and engineering resins, including those filled with glass, minerals, and flame retardants.  Each of our 25 injection molding machines is equipped with desiccant bed dryers and dew point monitors. In addition, material moisture analysis is performed throughout the production process.  From the impact of ABS and lubricity of Acetal to the chemical resistance of Polypropylene, our team of experienced engineers ensures that our customers find the right resin for their product’s specific application.

What are certifications and why do they matter?

As a prospective customer, you may not have the opportunity to familiarize yourself with each and every aspect of the prospective injection molders you’re considering.  For this reason, valid certifications demonstrate a molder’s ability to adhere to industry recognized standards.

Certain customers may require certifications from their manufacturers as a condition for manufacturing.  In this scenario, a customer will only do business with a certified manufacturer.  From ISO to ITAR and Federal Firearms Licenses, it is important to know what your customers expect and that you meet their expectations.

At York Imperial Plastics, we have the proper certifications to ensure international quality standards are met.  ISO 9001 is an internationally recognized standard of quality which is overseen by the International Organization for Standardization, (hereinafter referred to as, “ISO”).  As an ISO 9001:2015 certified company, we are required by the certifying agency to regularly audit our quality management system.  These periodic audits ensure that both our production process and products maintain consistent quality and remain focused on continued customer satisfaction.

Why mold in the United States?

Although there are many injection molding facilities located off-shore who offer low-cost labor and production, when choosing an injection molder, there are a few factors that should be considered long term, such as the in-bound/out-bound shipping and delivery fees of materials and parts, lead times on the production process, the level of customer service, and most importantly – quality standards.

Our manufacturing facility is conveniently located within a short flight or drive from New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Washington, DC. Our convenient location to these major cities offers a seamless transition between businesses, providers, and our customers. Our Finished Goods Warehouse offers four levels of first-in/first-out flow racking for inventory control and direct shipping.

At York Imperial Plastics, quality is the most important job of every employee. Our success is driven by the dedication of each individual to the concept of continuous improvement. York Imperial Plastics practices an ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System.

Let’s manufacture something together!

We at York Imperial Plastics invite you to learn more about our injection molding capabilities by taking a tour of our family owned and operated state-of-the-art injection molding facility in York, PA to experience our day-to-day operations first hand and learn how we’ve been making ideas a reality since 1985.