In-Mold Decorating

InMold decorating (IMD) for plastic components is only available through a handful of companies in North America who have the expertise required to handle this exacting process.  Using IMD, molding and decorating are combined in a single process which results in a high-quality and visually-impressive product.  IMD molds are both designed and manufactured in-house and registration to 0.2 mm is available.  Production is carried out in a climate-controlled "clean-room" to ensure consistency in the performance of molds, plastics and IMD foils.

ADVANTAGES OF INMOLD DECORATING (IMD)

1.       Injection molding and decoration in only one step

IMD can be adapted to many different decoration requirements

Very high abrasion and chemical resistance achieved by special hard coating

Continuous image transfers with high positioning tolerances (up to +/- 0.2 mm)

Simply changing IMD foil rolls allow for easy design variations

A wide variety of design possibilities including metallized surfaces like chrome and aluminum, woodgrains, multi-color, or 4-color process and half-tone decoration.

HOW INMOLD DECORATING WORKS

1.        1. IMD Foil Placement

The InMold foil is fed by a foil-feeding device and sensor-positioned over the mold cavity.  The foil image is then clamped in place in between the mold halves.

2.        2. Injection Molding

The mold closes and hot plastic is injected into the mold.   The molding process causes the foil image to be permanently transferred onto the plastic part.

3.        3. Part Ejection

The mold opens, and the part is ejected out of the mold in its finished form.  The foil-feeding device automatically positions the next foil image for another molding shot.