Explore custom polymer shapes formed under pressure, from functional rings and discs to moulded composite components.
Choose the material and manufacturing route around your component’s geometry, operating conditions, and production requirements. Contact us for any help deciding this.
Compression moulding is a manufacturing process used to shape plastic and polymer components by placing a measured amount of material into a mould and applying pressure with a controlled heating or cooling cycle. The material takes the shape of the mould before the component is removed and finished as required. The process varies by material: thermosetting polymers cure under heat, suitable thermoplastics cool and solidify, while PTFE powders are typically pressed and then sintered.
Process specialist compounds
This method is suitable for PTFE powders and reinforced polymers.
Reduce later machining
A moulded blank or near-net component may reduce material removal. Critical features may still need machining.
Integrate useful features
Suitable compounds can form shaped supports, covers and brackets, with reinforcement assessed around the loads.
Reuse specified tooling
Dedicated tooling supports repeat manufacture when the design, material specification and tool condition remain suitable.
PTFE
Its extremely high melt viscosity makes conventional melt processing difficult. Suitable powders are pressed into a preform and then sintered.
PEEK
Specialist compression moulding consolidates reinforced compounds into high-performance components.
POM / acetal
Technically possible, including sheets or simple shapes, although injection moulding and extrusion are preferred.
PP
Commonly used in compression moulding for extremely large quantities of goods.
PEI
This material requires specialist compression moulding requirements
Some designs are moulded close to their final shape; others use a moulded blank followed by machining.
