• Good design control overall
• Requires uniform walls

• High-volume production
• Low labor costs
• High tooling costs
• Part cost is relatively low depending on size and complexity of parts

Uniform wall thicknesses are required to prevent sink marks and to keep it relatively flat an uniform. Surface treatments and complex textures/graphics are possible.

• Secondary operations: rim has to be trimmed
• Scraps are left
• Wall thickness is difficult to control
• Limited inside-surface details
• Requires generous corner radii

• Low-volume production
• High labor costs
• Moderate tooling costs
• Part cost is moderate

Wall thickness is hard to control; detailing is quite limited. Decorative details are possible when using pre-textured or embossed sheets.

• Difficult to control wall thickness
• Limited inside- surface details
• Requires generous corner radii
• Good for large hollow parts

• Low-volume production
• High labor costs
• Moderate tooling costs
• Part cost is moderate

Material selection and detailing possibilities are limited. The hollow molding can be designed to form two parts that are cut apart or trimmed for more complex openings.

• Limited shape possibilities (mostly round/symmetrical)
• Moveable tool action can provide more complex detailing
• Hollow parts can be trimmed for openings
• Good for small hollow containers

• High-volume production
• Low labor costs
• High tooling costs
• Part cost is relatively low depending on size and complexity of parts

Material selection and detailing possibilities are limited. The hollow molding can be designed to form two parts that are cut apart or trimmed for more complex openings.

• Can cut to length with saw or trimmer
• No side walls
• Can drill hole (no bottom wall)

• High or low volume production
• Low labor costs
• Low tooling costs
• Part cost is low

Simple linear shapes are recommended. Details are limited to the direction of the extrusion.

• Good design control (smooth surface is difficult to achieve though)
• Complex forms
• Good for large parts
• Minimum 0.25 inch wall thickness required for internal chemical expansion of plastic

• High volume production
• Low labor costs
• High tooling costs
• Part cost is relatively low depending on size and complexity of parts

Internal foaming allows for lower injection pressures and better tolerances of wall thickness variations.