Do It Right the First Time: Selecting Color for Injection Molding
Selecting the right color code is an integral part of the Injection Molding process. Choosing a color can be for various reasons; for example, it can be for safety or for attraction. It does not only differentiate the product from its competitor but it can also change a customer’s mind from just considering it to actually purchasing it. Precise color strengthens the reputation in the eyes of consumer and amalgamates the branding strategy, which eventually makes the product and the business name more appealing to customers.
Besides cosmetics, color can also distinguish the practical purpose of the product. For example, safety gear should be brightly colored so that it is clearly visible; or crucial parts of electronics may have color needs that are distinct according to their function. Injection molded parts pretty much start out the same — as small plastic pallets. Most pallets, based on their resin, come in various natural shades, from clear to dark brown or black. However, they all fall on a monochromatic scale, meaning they contain or use only one color. Some parts can be spray painted after their production if you do not like the natural shades. It adds significant amount of time to the production, while increasing costs as well. The most commonly used procedure to change the color of the part is to add dye pallets into the plastic before it is melted. It costs a significant amount of money and time to do the process over again, which has been known to happen when the wrong color is picked out. So it’s imperative that people be cautious when picking the color.
Transforming the monotonous pallets into rainbow colors requires the addition of colorant, which can be a complex method. The intricacy depends on how meticulous you are about the product’s color.
At Jaycon Systems, we apply the Pantone Matching System (PMS) by using the Pantone Plus Series formula swatch book for coated and uncoated color codes. This swatch book, picture above, is a standardized color key that helps our engineers and designers understand exactly what color to match when adding a dye to the pallets. If a customer has a web color and would like to match it to a Pantone color, we recommend them to use Pantone’s color finder tool available at www.pantone.com/color-finder.
The color you see on your monitor is never the same as what you see on a printed sheet or on plastics. It is not uncommon that the color of a particular product in one part of the world is different in another part of world. For instance, the shade of “Red” color of Coca Cola bottle cap is not the same as the “Red” color shade of a Coca Cola bottle cap in China. Although accurate, the PMS Plus Series Formula swatch book is not the only color standardization system, but it is the most generic and understandable across the Injection Molding world.
Therefore, when using Jaycon Systems as the manufacturer of your product, it is important that you select the right color code for your product using the PMS plus series formula guide. If you are getting stuck somewhere in this Pantone color matching process, get in touch with us today at hello@jayconsystems.com, so we can help you run your first injection molding batch with no color problems.
Jaycon Systems specializes in bringing products to life by offering a complete service line that takes product concepts to mass production.
Our offerings range from product and electronics design to prototyping and manufacturing. We apply our knowledge of technology to most markets, among them consumer electronics, computer hardware, marketing/multimedia, and environment. With our entrepreneurial spirit and as a rapid-prototyping firm, we believe in building products right the first time and introducing them quickly to market. For more, visit jayconsystems.com
