Is injection molding economical for small batches?
In today’s fast-paced manufacturing environment, where supply chains remain under pressure and time-to-market is critical, injection molding is evolving to meet the demands of low-volume production. With advancements in rapid tooling, soft steel or aluminum molds, and digital workflow integration, injection molding is now a cost-effective and professional solution for small batch quantities of 100 to 1,000 parts.
When Injection Molding Becomes Economical at Low Volumes
Key Cost Factors
Tooling Investment: Traditional production molds in hardened steel may exceed $20,000, making them unsuitable for small runs. However, rapid molding with aluminum tooling reduces mold cost by 50–70%, typically ranging from $1,500 to $5,000, depending on part complexity and size.
Unit Cost Efficiency Once the mold is fabricated, per-part costs are low. For parts weighing under 100g, the unit price ranges between $0.80 and $2.50, significantly outperforming 3D printing or machining at higher volumes.
Precision and Repeatability Even in short runs, injection molding consistently delivers tight tolerances of ±0.05 mm, and up to ±0.01 mm for critical features using high-precision tooling and engineering plastics such as PEEK or POM.
Ideal Scenarios for Small-Batch Injection Molding
Bridge Production: Fills the gap while waiting for full-scale production tooling, helping manufacturers stay responsive to demand fluctuations.
Startups & Agile Supply Chains: Allows emerging businesses or OEMs to validate parts with reduced financial risk.
Pilot Testing & Certification: Ensures dimensional accuracy and material performance before committing to high volumes.
Custom Applications: Suitable for insert molding or overmolding, where tooling can be reused for modular variations.
Alternatives for Ultra-Low Volumes
For quantities below 100 units, processes such as 3D printing or CNC machining may offer better economics, particularly when design iterations are ongoing or lead time is critical.
Why Choose Neway for Low-Volume Injection Molding?
Amid rising global demand for supply chain agility and fast product development, Neway Precision offers:
Aluminum tooling with lead times as short as 7–15 days
±0.01 mm tolerance for critical dimensions
Complete plastic injection molding solutions, from prototype to pilot production
Integrated consultative engineering support to optimize parts for speed, cost, and manufacturability
