Dip moulding

Process:   Heated metal moulds are dipped in a tank of liquid material. The mould may be dipped several times and into different materials to achieve different thicknesses, effects and finishes.  The moulds, covered in the material, are slowly removed from the tank and put through a baking process to cure, and once cooled, the part is stripped from the mould.  Once cured, the material does not return to the liquid state. 

Introduced:  1930s in the UK 

Plastics:  Plastisol (PVC compound), latex, neoprene, urethane and epoxy 

Marks:  None 

Tooling costs:  Low 

Production volume: Low-High 

Uses:  Hand grips, end caps, surgical gloves, plugs, covers.