Industrial Manufacturing Materials
How to Choose the Right Material
Material selection drives part performance, cost and tooling life — and it is the single most common source of rework in new product development. A housing that passes testing in one polymer can crack in another; a gear that runs quietly in POM can wear out in months in PP. Choosing the right material for your part means weighing five factors together rather than picking the cheapest or the most familiar option.
Mechanical performance comes first: strength, stiffness, impact resistance, wear and fatigue behavior under your real load case. Temperature resistance decides the operating envelope — ABS and PC are fine to roughly 80–120 °C, while PPS, PEEK and nylon push far beyond. Chemical resistancematters wherever parts meet oils, solvents, fuels, cleaning agents or humidity. Cost is not just resin price: it includes tooling complexity, cycle time, wall-thickness-driven weight, and the finishing steps a material forces on you. Finally, certification requirements — UL flammability ratings, FDA or ISO 10993 biocompatibility, food-contact approvals — can rule materials in or out before engineering begins.
The catalog below covers the thermoplastics, metals and elastomers we mold and machine in-house. Each entry links to a dedicated page with real properties and processing notes. If you are unsure where to start, our engineers will shortlist materials against your drawing in the free DFM review — send the file toour team and get an answer within 24 hours.
Zinc Alloy
Zinc Die-Casting Alloy (Zamak) · Metal Alloy
High precision, thin walls, excellent castability. Housings, brackets, hardware, E/E components.
PS
Polystyrene · Amorphous Thermoplastic
Rigid, clear (GPPS) or impact modified (HIPS). Disposables, packaging, model parts.
PVC
Polyvinyl Chloride · Amorphous Thermoplastic
Rigid or flexible, flame retardant, cheap. Pipes, profiles, medical tubing, enclosures.
PPS
Polyphenylene Sulfide · High-Temp Crystalline Plastic
Excellent chemical and 220°C heat resistance. Automotive under-hood, E/E, pump parts.
PLA
Polylactic Acid · Bio-based Thermoplastic
Rigid, biodegradable, easy to print/mold. Prototypes, packaging, disposable items.
PET
Polyethylene Terephthalate · Crystalline Polyester
Strong, transparent, good gas barrier. Bottles, trays, mechanical parts, E/E.
PE
Polyethylene · Polyolefin Thermoplastic
Flexible, chemical resistant, low friction. Tanks, liners, caps, medical tubing.
POM-C
Polyoxymethylene Copolymer · Crystalline Engineering Plastic
Slightly tougher than homopolymer POM, broader processing window. Precision gears, fasteners, fluid handling parts.
PMMA
Polymethyl Methacrylate (Acrylic) · Amorphous Transparent Plastic
Optical clarity, UV stable, weather resistant. Light guides, lenses, displays, signage.
PP
Polypropylene · Polyolefin Thermoplastic
Lightweight, chemical resistant, fatigue resistant. Containers, living hinges, caps, automotive bumpers.
PBT
Polybutylene Terephthalate · Crystalline Engineering Plastic
Stiff, dimensionally stable, good electrical insulation. Connectors, automotive E/E, switches, housings.
PEEK
Polyether Ether Ketone · High-Performance Thermoplastic
Outstanding chemical, heat (260°C) and mechanical performance. Aerospace, medical implants, semiconductor, oil & gas.
PC
Polycarbonate · Amorphous Engineering Plastic
High impact strength, transparent, heat resistant to ~120°C. Optical lenses, enclosures, medical devices, E/E parts.
POM
Polyoxymethylene (Acetal) · Crystalline Engineering Plastic
High stiffness, low friction, excellent dimensional stability. Gears, bushings, precision mechanical components.
TPU
Thermoplastic Polyurethane · Thermoplastic Elastomer
Rubber-like flexibility, abrasion and oil resistance. Soft-touch grips, seals, gaskets, wear-resistant parts.
ABS
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene · Amorphous Thermoplastic
Strong, rigid, easy to paint; good dimensional stability. Consumer electronics housings, appliance shells, automotive interior trims.
Material Selection Support
We do not just mold the material you specify — we help you pick it. MOLDITQUICK (Dongguan Guohong Precision) runs 10,000 m² of manufacturing floor with 280 employees under IATF 16949, ISO 13485 and ISO 9001, so the material advice you receive is backed by the same equipment and quality systems that will produce your parts. Prototype and small batches ship in 7–12 days; mass production in 25–30 days, worldwide.
Free DFM Review in 24 Hours
Send your 3D CAD and receive a design-for-manufacturing review within one business day — including material suggestions, wall-thickness checks and cost notes.
Data-Backed Material Recommendation
We shortlist two or three materials from this catalog based on your load case, environment and budget, with real data sheets and molded-part test results — never a guess.
Real Parameters, Not Brochures
Every quote is built on parameters we actually mold and measure in-house — shrinkage, warpage, surface finish and cycle behavior from our production floor.