When determining your silicone rubber manufacturer, it is important to understand the different processes by which silicone rubber is molded. Each method comes with its own set of specific advantages, and disadvantages. We will look at two of the most common methods of silicone molding; compression molding, and Liquid Injection Molding (LIM).

Compression molding is a commonly used method of molding silicone rubber products, which typically utilizes high consistency rubber (HCR). Compression molding is generally a more simplified method of molding silicone rubber products, however it utilizes an open-air and labor demanding process. This technique, along with the process by which color pigment is added, allows for contaminants to be introduced to the silicone base. Another disadvantage of compression molding is the time associated with weighing and reshaping the material before it is placed into the mold. HCR production also generates substantial waste material, incurs steep labor costs, and requires considerable floor space, tools, and equipment to accommodate all of the required steps.

Here at SiTech, we utilize a superior liquid injection molding process which incorporates a closed loop system to mold liquid silicone rubber (LSR). Our machines precisely mix, measure the shot size, and inject the material directly into the mold. This is just one way that SiTech alleviates the risk of product contamination, while also improving precision and repeatability of the final product.  This system keeps the raw silicone sealed from the moment it is introduced to the machine, until a final product is made.  This is another way SiTech keeps our potential for contamination extremely minimal.

Another advantage to Liquid Silicone Rubber is its ability to fill and cure at a much faster rate than typical gum stock or HCR. This ability to fill more intricate and complex areas allows for tighter tolerances and faster cycle times. Since all curing takes place inside the mold, there is also less wasted material when compared to HCR. The use of cold runner tooling reduces waste even further by the keeping the LSR cool inside the machine, only allowing the silicone to cure inside the hot mold cavities. This results in minimal material loss and no additional step of trimming these sections from the final product. Because this is such a highly automated process, very little labor is required to produce large quantities of parts, making LIM the dominant choice for high-volume production.

Liquid Injection Molding with LSR does require specific expertise, including mold design, mold performance analysis and validation, and high precision machining of the molds themselves. At SiTech, we take pride in manufacturing all of our silicone keypads and components right here in the United States. From design to manufacturing and delivery, we work with you to ensure that you are receiving the highest quality silicone product for your specific application.  Call us today at 757-887-8488 to discover the benefits of partnering with an American silicone keypad manufacturer.