Plastics are one of the most prevalent materials used in our everyday lives. It can be used to create a product that creates a solution. In order for this to happen there needs to be four operations involved. This includes the actual sourcing of plastic from natural materials in the primary sector, to the person that has created a solution that requires plastic, to the plastic moulding process in the secondary sector, which will finally deliver the final product to be sold in the tertiary sector commercial industry.
If you are looking to create a solution by creating a product, then it is important to understand the processes involved with plastics. Of course, you have plenty of material to choose from to create any product, but price factors are always going to play a huge part.
Metal or stones are arguably the most expensive materials. Wood can also be expensive and also the continuous use of wood is causing devastating effects on our environment. As the demand for wood increases, so does the price and in turn, we risk environmental repercussions.
Therefore, plastic becomes the most affordable and environmentally friendly solution. Especially because once the plastic product has been used, it can be recycled.
What you need to know if you are thinking about selling a plastic product:
Here are four areas of the plastic production process that you should know about before deciding on which material your product or idea will be used during the manufacturing stage.
- Primary Sector Plastic Sourcing
Plastics come from materials such as oil, coal, minerals, plants and natural gas. Probably the most amazing place plastic comes from is rubber, which actually comes from a tree. For the most part, plastic is made from hydrocarbons taken from natural gases and even sea salt can be used as part of the compound. This makes it a cheaper option than wood or stone because there are still plenty of natural resources available for plastics.
It is important to realize that another reason plastics are cheap is that in their raw form, they are very easy and cheap to transport. If you compare plastics to that of the procurement of stones or wood, then the price of procurement is cheaper and the transportation of plastic cheaper.
See americanchemistry.com for further information.
- Secondary Sector Manufacturing
One of the great things about plastic is that there is a lot of machinery out there that is designed for mouldingplastics. Check out www.activeplastics.co.nz as an example of a company that performs plastic injection moulding. This manufacturer has an army of precision tools used for plastic manufacturing. What’s more is they mention how quick the production process is.
With such a large number of tools able to create almost any shape you need in a short space of time makes plastics an ideal material to become the main compound of any product you are thinking about manufacturing. On top of this, plastic is light, so the cost of transportation is much cheaper than most other materials.
- Designing the Plastic Product
This is most probably you if you are looking to have a plastic product produced. When a product is required as a solution to solve a need or want in the consumer market, then the first decision is how will it be made and using which material. This then requires a design process as well as financial analysis to decide the most cost-effective way to manufacture the product and then sell the product at a price that will persuade consumers to buy it.
Plastic moulding companies such as the aforementioned Active Plastics will also be able to help with the design of plastic products – see www.activeplastics.co.nz/design
- Commercial
This is the most obvious point in the plastic manufacturing process. Once the product has been designed, sent to the manufacturer, and the finished product is complete, then the marketing phase begins. The plastic product will be sold online or in shops. At this stage the four Ps of the marketing process will kick into action. It is these four Ps that will a deciding factor when you are deciding which product to use. Price, Place, Product, and Promotion.
