When developing a new product that involves plastic injection moulding and assembly, early-stage input is critical to achieving a reliable, repeatable and cost-effective manufacturing outcome. Much of a product’s success in production is determined during the design phase, making early collaboration with manufacturing experts essential.
Design & Tooling
Early-Stage Support: Getting It Right the First Time
At Hi-Technology, we work closely with clients and product development agencies right from the start to ensure designs are optimised for Design for Manufacture (DFM). Our early-stage support includes guidance on:
- Material selection
- Wall thickness and uniformity
- Runner and gating systems
- Cavity configuration
- Feature execution
- Tooling design
- Mould Flow analysis
This early input helps avoid costly design changes later and ensures the final product can be manufactured consistently and efficiently. Alongside moulding considerations, we simultaneously focus on how the part will be assembled and tested. This includes planning integration of electronics, components, inserts, and wiring, ensuring all elements fit together seamlessly and that the final assembly is optimised from the outset.
Tooling
At Hi-Technology we offer flexible tooling through a combination of in-house tooling capabilities and long-standing partnerships with external toolmakers in the UK and the Far East. Our experienced team supports the entire tooling lifecycle, from design and development to maintenance and repair.
In China, we work closely with two trusted tooling manufacturers with whom we’ve built strong, long-term relationships. Our engineers play an active role throughout the tooling design phase, reviewing General Assemblies (GAs), advising on design options, and ensuring alignment with project goals. First-off samples are carefully reviewed by our Quality Assurance team in collaboration with the customer before tools are approved for shipment.
For defence and other sensitive projects, we work exclusively with UK-based toolmakers who offer secure data handling, ensuring full protection of intellectual property. All tooling supplied by Hi-Technology comes with performance guarantees and is built to last the full life of the project.
Our Waterlooville site is also home to an in-house tool shop dedicated to routine servicing and maintenance. This ensures fast turnaround for repairs and keeps existing tools in top working condition, helping to avoid downtime and extend tool life.
Tooling Transfers
If you’re considering re-sourcing existing plastic injection moulding and assembly work, Hi-Technology has a dedicated team with deep expertise in tooling transfer projects. Our engineers, tooling specialists, assembly experts and project managers work together to ensure a smooth, low-risk transition to any of our manufacturing sites.
We follow a robust set of processes to assess the requirements, this includes:
- Full tool assessment and condition reports
- Matching tools to the most suitable injection moulding press
- Repairs and modifications as required
- Assembly process optimisation, including automation opportunities
Before full production begins, we work closely with you to understand your qualification and compliance requirements. We produce and validate sample parts to specification, supplying the required documentation and test reports to support your own in-house approval processes.
