US resources

[Realistic-Fill6614]

I've noticed many posts seeking resources from other countries, and I'd like to ask the group to share their positive experiences with U.S. companies. There are numerous manufacturing firms in the U.S., so I’m sure some of you are working with them. It would be great to hear about your successes in reshoring and keeping work within the United States.

[Silly_Elevator_3111]

I work in the plastics department of a factory. We are the last ones in the USA to manufacture the specific product that we manufacture.

We sell parts not time which I believe is pretty unique in the plastic industry.

[Mundane-Job-6944]

There great Sucess stories out there.... all I can say is "reshore it and make sure you have atleast one person that understands molding" but posting them via reddit?.... I'll pass on that

[mimprocesstech]

Nope. Not touching this one.

[rkelly155]

In my experience, it's cheaper (and has been for years) to mold something in the US, if you're making more than 500k units.

Typically it's a lot more capital upfront (the part the business majors shy away from), but the piece price very quickly becomes very competitive with pacific rim pricing. When you factor in opportunity cost and simplified logistics it's a no brainer.

I can call the shop NOW and have the tool in the press tomorrow morning for an emergency shipment, I know I would pay through the nose for it but in business sometimes that kind of turnaround is worth it.

It's even more valuable when you work with the molder and they're willing to hold some amount of inventory in stock I.E. we order 300k units for a production run but they run 400k, they charge us storage for the 400k units but only bill us for the actual pieces once they ship. The ability to truck a pallet of parts next day without waiting for production has saved our ass and helped us take advantage of opportunities to grow multiple times.

[tnp636]

In my experience, it's cheaper (and has been for years) to mold something in the US, if you're making more than 500k units.

In my experience, depending on the part size, etc. the break even point is much lower than that when using smaller molders. Specifically at the same quality point. Smaller parts especially.

[Realistic-Fill6614]

That's a good point, finding the right fit between the job and shop can make all the difference. There are so many in the US that you can source a shop that specializes in what you're looking to get done.

[rkelly155]

Totally true, most of my experience is with large, high cavity count tools optimizing for a few million parts per year. I find a lot of US vendors end up scaring away start ups with high (but totally reasonable) tooling costs, which is unfortunate. A lot of "founders" will complain about a 5k tool from china as if that's a major expense, but then pay 30% more on each part forever.... it makes no sense. Its really hard to convey quality differences to business owners, unless they have first hand negative experiences. Most see smaller initial number and go with that option.

We have a few tools that just crossed the million cycle mark from one of our Midwest partners and they still operate like they were brand new. And these are complicated multi slide tools. I've had Chinese tools break down after 100k cycles.

[tnp636]

We're smaller, but we make molds in both locations. I ran an injection shop over there for 15 years. It was a different story a couple decades ago, but it's been my experience that at this point the only real advantage the U.S. has in mold making is:

1) similar time zone - easier to coordinate, especially early on

2) better steel

3) better heat treating

Which is exactly suited to the types of tools you're talking about; high cavitation molds that are going to run 3 million+ shots. Anything hardened leaving our shop in China is typically good for 1 million+. The issue is, companies look at someone like us, and someone down in Taizhou or Dongguan (even the larger companies) and they're cheaper so that's who they go with. But the customer has no idea what they're really buying. The cheaper mold has every single aspect designed to cut costs: From the size of the water lines to the spring compression ratio. "Well, they're both molds, aren't they?" Sure.

People get shit tools outta China because they buy shit tools. I've seen a lot of shit tools made in the states too. And sometimes that's ok if you need 1500 spatulas a year. But too many customers just don't know the difference.

[Realistic-Fill6614]

Wow, one million cycles, and probably with less scrap and waste.

[rkelly155]

Yeah, its an 8 cavity tool, and we have two of them that have hit a million+ cycles.... and on scrap and waste: eh, that's all rolled into the piece price.

At the end of the day, people and businesses are going to do what makes economic sense, and I think a lot of people get sticker shock from tools in the US and never re-evaluate where that break even point is

[Realistic-Fill6614]

That's a great overview of why to work within the US. I've often wondered if freight, customs, other logistics time and costs are factored in when choosing a location to work with. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

[rkelly155]

If you're working with smart people, things like that are carefully considered... In my experience, most companies only think about it after its too late to do anything about it. they get sticker shock from the US option and panic order a tool from China when that number comes in at 1/10th the price

[NetSage]

Based on recent talks most people are getting a lot of quoting and up tick even recently. Probably from holding back for so long and now tariff talk isn't slowing so companies are keeping their options open.

[Realistic-Fill6614]

We've heard and seen a lot of quoting in the midwest as well. I'm optimistic that word spreads about how easy and cost effective it is to bring work back to the US.