Capabilities

Secondary Operations

Factory worker working on a machineHQC’s versatile support includes secondary operations that make your injection-molded part a finished product or bring your product closer to its final stage. This can greatly reduce inventory for assembly at your plant.

The secondary operation you need to save time and lower costs might be as simple as cutting and installing a liner for a closure. For a different project, you might look to have your product decorated with laser-marking and engraving.

 

In Another Instance, a Product Could be a Medical Device That Requires Multiple Stages Such As:

  • Injection-molding components
  • Assembling them
  • Solvent-welding tubing into them
  • Coiling the tubing and molded components
  • Packaging them into a clear plastic bag
  • Heat-sealing the bag

This is an actual example of an instance in which a customer came to HQC looking for something in particular and ended up receiving several solutions that combined to save more time, money and effort. Whether basic or sophisticated, HQC provides wide-ranging resources for efficient production.

HQC Secondary Operations Can Serve Your Project in Several Valuable Ways

Greater Speed

In some cases, a molding machine’s ability to produce parts much faster than the product-assembly machine may be a desirable asset to your project. This can be especially true when your project involves producing tens of thousands of parts per hour. Performing secondary operations offline can often be more cost effective than paying for automation to keep up with the molding machine.

Greater Dimensional Stability

Tolerances on molded products are often very tight. For dimensional purposes, molded parts need sufficient time to fully shrink so that mating parts can properly fit when assembled. Between 85% and 95% of plastic shrinkage takes place during the first few hours of cooling. Having secondary operations with HQC keeps your products close to their next steps, especially if they involve multi-components. HQC helps ensure consistent dimensional stability for any subsequent joining and assembly of parts.

Controlled Environment

Some projects need a particular atmosphere, such as a set temperature in a room with a certain level of cleanliness. HQC’s secondary operations are performed in a separate area with environment-control capabilities that keep your workflow efficient as well as monitored for quality. This ambient control is often vital to producing medical devices. HQC’s controlled environment for secondary operations can also include portable soft-sided positive air pressure for optimal cleanliness. As secondary operations are being performed, the air that enters the soft-sided room is filtered to prevent dust.

HQC’s facility further accommodates large secondary-operation equipment and equipment needed for operations not completed by the injection-molding press. Our manufacturing includes a dedicated, staffed room for this purpose.

Contact us today to further discuss secondary operations for your project and how HQC can simplify your manufacturing while saving you time and expense.