Design engineers responsible for creating equipment enclosures often face the challenge of choosing the best manufacturing process for custom injection molded parts. Structural foam and straight...
As an engineer embarking on the design journey of a large-scale product, you're undoubtedly aware of the unique set of challenges that come with creating sizable injection molded parts. From material...
During the last few years, the plastics processing industry has seen resin lead time and availability become extremely volatile, adding more risk to the supply chain. Thermoplastic resin availability...
Part 2: The importance of communication in overcoming challenges and mitigating risk
Liz: What are some interesting challenges you faced on one of the recent mold transfer projects?
Amy: We...
Beginning with the RFQ phase of the tool transfer inquiry, sharing full transparency throughout the transfer process for efficient and effective tool transfer with your new custom injection molding...
Making the decision to move injection molds from one supplier to another can be a daunting task, not for the faint of heart. The saying...
In our previous article, Is it Time to Break Up with Your Custom Injection Molder?, we addressed missing deadlines, cost overruns, and quality issues as three primary reasons for deciding to move to...
Injection molding is a widely used manufacturing process that produces plastic parts in high volume. Multiple industries rely on this process, including medical, electronics, automotive, agricultural...
Problem: Ferriot needed to find a way to produce a high-mix, low-volume portfolio of parts for its customers without requiring two or more operators on every job. Solution: The combination of cobots...
In our last article, I spoke with Jeff Hodnick, our Automation Engineer, about how Ferriot is integrating new automation technologies, such...
Ferriot works hard to provide high-quality custom injection molded parts while remaining cost-effective and delivering on...
Consider this scenario: Despite your best efforts, your custom injection molder continues to miss critical deadlines or is producing and assembling your project at an unacceptable error rate. Bottom...
In Part 1, we discussed mold flow analysis (MFA) and the ways Ferriot uses it to improve the tool design process and, ultimately, the quality of the final custom injection molding we perform for our...
To properly benefit from the advantages of using structural foam parts in your product’s design, first, you need to understand the process.
Mold flow analysis (MFA) and tool design are both very important aspects in the injection molding part design and troubleshooting process. They help assure that a new mold tool design will yield...
The past few years have certainly had their challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to supply chain disruptions and limiting manufacturing capabilities to quickly get products molded,...
New press further increases customer service speed and production capacity
To help meet the increasing demand of custom injection molded parts in markets from electronics, to industrial and medica...
Energy
The Russia/Ukraine conflict is rapidly evolving, and its global impact on oil and gas has yet to be determined. Consumers are currently seeing gas...
When reviewing projects with your injection molder, remember to discuss what value-added or secondary services they provide beyond molding your parts.Consider selecting one company that can handle...
You’ve probably heard that a picture’s worth a thousand words. However, according to George Popov, quality supervisor at Ferriot, a picture’s actually worth a million numbers — at least in the world...
The reason for injection molding delays is that resins – the materials that your plastic parts are made from – are in short supply. With lead times for resins increasing and their cost going up, it’s...
When it comes to new technology, what makes it a success? The platform? The interface? The added features? No, in fact, it’s all about the talented people involved with implementation.
The year 2020 has been a tough one, especially for manufacturing. Due largely to the COVID-19 pandemic, the manufacturing industry saw a decline of nearly 23 percent in 2020. The simultaneous shock...
If there's one thing that every manufacturer knows, it's the value of a good operator. Operators are champions of production, driving the performance, efficiency, and reliability of your plant...
In Part 1 of our discussion of the importance of TQM to the injection molding process, we introduced George Popov, our Quality Supervisor, and provided you with a behind-the-scenes look at what...
Total Quality Management is critical to everything we do for our customers. At the end of the day, the goal is production readiness. Injection molded parts must be optimized for functionality,...
Painting plastic injection molded parts is common, but perhaps not for the reasons you may think. Today, resin compounders provide numerous colors and effects allowing plastic products to be made...
A practical way to provide design flexibility - A smart way to reduce cost
Gas assist injection molding (GAIM) is an enhanced injection molding process often applied for complex parts, large parts...
COVID-19 has drastically changed the way that companies are run – possibly for years to come. Here in Ohio, we’ve all had to change the way that we work and go about our lives.
While stay at home...
NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio -- So, the boss told you to work from home. Two months ago, it would have seemed like heaven. But now you are in a home office during a pandemic, the dog is barking, the doorbell...
Team Ferriot recently enjoyed a visit from students at Akron's NIHF STEM High School. The students toured our 200,000-square-foot office and manufacturing facilities to learn more about the latest ...
This past week, Ferriot enjoyed a visit from students at Akron’s NIHF STEM High School where students had the opportunity to learn how things are made and to see what a potential career in...
Here at Ferriot, an increasing number of our clients are expressing growing concerns over the Coronavirus crisis and the impact of this crisis on the global supply chain. The situation remains very...
Truth be told, although Ferriot has been around for close to a century accumulating an unlimited wealth of experience and applied expertise, we've really only been blogging for a short time. However,...
The year 2019 was a very special one for the Ferriot team, marking our 90th year in business. Wow! Ninety years! As you can imagine, we've enjoyed learning more about the colorful history and...
Is it just me, or did 2019 fly by? Where did the year go?
Although Team Ferriot has been very busy this past year, we made sure to cover a number of important topics that help our customers and...
When it comes to plastics manufacturing, choosing ultrasonic welding services compared to traditional welding and adhesive methods offers a variety of benefits.
Injection molding is a tried and true manufacturing method that has experienced small, incremental changes over the years. It used to be, if you had a product or part to be manufactured, your...
Our 90th anniversary celebrations continue as Ferriot is the featured story on the front page of this week's Plastics News magazine!
Craig Ferriot’s Speech at 90th Anniversary Event for Employees on 6/11/19 Celebrating 90 Years of Excellence in Building Ferriot’s Future
This is our 90th year celebration. I can't believe it. I've...
Here at Ferriot, we’ve been proud to be a leader in thermoplastic injection molding since the 1940s. Our...
Company History Highlights by Gene Ferriot (1916-1970's) from steel engraving to injection molded plastics, from Disney characters to Polaroid aviator glasses – a nostalgic look back
In 1916, I...
Full-service custom injection molder of engineered resins pays tribute to its long history, with an eye on a bright future
On June 11th, Ferriot began a year-long celebration of its rich 90-year...
Akron, Ohio – June 25, 2019: On June 11, Ferriot began a year-long...
Plastic injection molding is perhaps one of the most popular forms of manufacturing today. Engineers and manufacturing companies from virtually every industry around the world have found that using...
Structural foam molding is an option available to manufacturers who are looking for a way to create stronger, more rigid...
Part 1 of this blog post discussed some important considerations for custom mold designs for injection molding projects. Topics included the impact of resin selection and mold construction materials....
Designing custom molds for your injection molded products can be a complex process. However, working with the right team can greatly reduce the complexity and cost while improving the quality of the...
At Ferriot, we realize that many (if not most) savvy medical industry OEMs want to focus on their core competencies and let another company perform the details of the actual product build. Contract...
We're pleased to announce that Craig Ferriot, President, Ferriot, Inc. will be speaking at the MFG DAY event on October 5th at the Hilton Garden Inn, Akron, OH. Craig's presentation will highlight...
It’s not every day that your company gets featured in a trade publication! It’s even more unique to be worthy of the cover story! The Ferriot team is proud to share with you our BIG IDEAS as they...
Design engineers and their employers have shifted focus from the days when their company created an injection-molded part, turned it over to a contract manufacturer, and the purchasing department...
Akron, Ohio, April 17, 2018: Ferriot Inc., a custom injection molding company and contract manufacturer has appointed two new members to its quality team. Richard Hodnick has been appointed to...
Structural foam molding has become a highly evolved technique. Today, thermoplastic resin can be mixed with a chemical blowing agent to expand the melted resin and produce high-strength parts for use...
Many medical device original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) work with a contract manufacturer on the fabrication and assembly of products for new product designs, especially when the parts need to be...
Manufacturing plant engineering Green Energy with new air-cooled compressor
Questions are a good thing. Ask better questions, get better answers.
As we mentioned in our blog last week, Ferriot is in the process of installing a new 2,250-ton Negri Bossi Bi-Power injection molding press. We were very excited to see this announcement featured in ...
Once installed, the Negri Bossi injection molding press, six-axis robot and auxiliary equipment will take up a 25-by-60-foot area on the shop floor. The company is providing updates on the...
As anyone who’s worked in construction can tell you, nothing draws a crowd of “sidewalk superintendents” quite like the sight of someone else hard at work. Now, you can join the crowd without ever...
New press to increase production capacity, speed customer service significantly
Akron, OH – October 12, 2017: The engineering website MachineDesign recently featured an article cowritten by Ferriot’s Dave Perkowski and Dave Swigeart, “The Design Engineer’s Checklist for...
The recognized industry journal Machine Design just profiled Ferriot’s injection molding checklist in a recent article published on its website.
We were pleased to participate in the Industrial Design & Engineering show this past May in Cleveland, Ohio. This show brought together design engineers and plant managers from across the country to...
Perhaps, But It’s Worth a Look To Get the Structural Integrity of Metal or Wood, with Lower Weight and Production Costs
How selecting the right design specs, resin and molding process can answer themInjection molding is a highly-engineered process, and demand for it only continues to grow as more manufacturers replace...
We get it: some people are just not “list” people. But when it comes to a successful injection molding project, getting down to as much detail as possible is the best way to ensure a project’s...
Resin selection can be a tricky business. On top of balancing cost, performance, function and moldability to figure out the right resin for the job, it’s necessary to think how the part will be...
There are ten key questions designers must have the answers to for a successful conversion from other materials to resin injection molding. Whether the design is for medical devices, business machines
Akron, Ohio, April 11, 2017: Demand for injection molded parts continues to grow as more manufacturers replace traditional materials like wood, steel and fiberglass with thermoplastic resins that are...
Today, so many different parts are being injection molded. These parts include laptop and mobile phone cases, medical and military electronic components, and a variety of other materials across...
When working with an injection molding company, many do not offer final assembly services. If you do find a contract manufacturer you are planning on working with that can take care of final assembly...
Manufacturers need to be confident that they are providing their customers with quality products that meet agreed upon and necessary specifications. This is where a product quality audit (PQA) comes...
Over the years, we have worked with a variety of different companies that all had different needs. This experience often lead us to discover interesting questions. When that happens, we always try to...
As we look to a new year, with a new president, it’s an excellent time to take stock of the U.S. manufacturing industry and where it’s headed. With a recent report from The Institute for Supply...
No matter how much experience a person has and no matter how hard they try, there comes a point when we must all accept that we are only human. Mistakes can be made. This is one of the reasons it...
Ensuring an injection molded product achieves its full potential demands careful planning. Much of this planning requires close cooperation between the engineer responsible for the design and...
You’re thinking about making an injection molded part for your product. You want your part to be everything you hoped it would be, and it you want it to succeed in the world, long after your...
Ferriot, Inc. has been around for more than 80 years and boasts a proud tradition of being a family-owned business. The company was recently recognized with a special award during the 2016 Smart...
As a kid I had a toy that purported to answer questions about the future. Wouldn’t it be great if we had a Magic 8 Ball® to answer life’s big questions? Should I marry this person? Should I buy this...
Creating a successful injection molded component is never a solo accomplishment – it involves multiple people with a range of expertise. One of the most important areas of expertise is the selection...
Insert molding is another type of injection molding (IM) process: In this process an insert is placed in the mold either manually or through automation before injecting resin material around it to...
Ferriot, Inc. was recently featured in the July/August issue of Manufacturing Today magazine. The full article discusses three key areas that assure the success of any contract manufacturing...
Decorative metallic coatings allow plastic parts to function as lightweight, economical alternatives to metals in a variety of applications (i.e. automotive, appliance, business machines, etc.). One...
Recently, FirstMerit Bank’s magazine, Merit Matters, published an article featuring Ferriot, Inc.’s President Craig Ferriot. The article discusses Ferriot, Inc.’s history as well as how the legacy...
Akron, Ohio, December 7, 2015: Ferriot Inc., a custom injection molding and contract manufacturing company, has appointed Dave Harman to the...
Designing new products is a very tough job; there is so much to do and little time to make it happen. Speaking specifically about molded...
Contract manufacturers come in many shapes and sizes. Some are large international companies with sites around the world that are finely tuned lean manufacturing machines. Others serve a niche and...
Keeping a competitive edge in today’s market requires speed and agility when launching new products. Time to market for new products has become further and further compressed. Early engagement with a...
Painting plastics is not easy, as special paints are required to give your parts the desired finish and ensure it bonds well with the plastic. However, painting techniques have evolved over the years...
Pad printing is an innovative and effective process for transferring a two-dimensional image onto a three-dimensional surface.It can also be a delicate process with numerous variables that can lead...
There are many variables that impact the success of injection molding a good part. One of these variables is injection machine screw choice. When it comes to screw choice, choosing the right screw...
In today’s world of manufacturing and new product development, the need for fast-paced production and the existence of complex designs is greater than ever. Historically, manufacturers have depended...
When I initially joined the building products industry in the year 1999 there were 30 + Manufacturers of Vinyl Siding…Fast forward to today, and it’s now down to 9… mostly through consolidation. It...
Contract Manufacturing is a process that's about more than getting the parts you need. Here at Ferriot, we think of it as a partnership - and like any good partnership, that means working hard to...
One may wonder how it is possible for a plastics company located in Akron, Ohio to work with multi-national companies, serving their international market needs. For international companies that sell...
When beginning the process of developing a plastic component through the injection molding process, one of the top priorities needs to be identifying the different type or types of resin to be used...
