When searching for injection molding solutions, you'll find two very different options: large industrial injection molding companies that run high-volume production, and compact desktop injection molding machines like the APSX-PIM that bring the process in-house. Understanding the difference can save you significant time and money.
What Are Industrial Injection Molding Companies?
Traditional injection molding companies are contract manufacturers that own large industrial injection molding machines — often costing $50,000 to $500,000 or more. These injection molding manufacturers specialize in high-volume production runs, typically requiring minimum order quantities of 1,000 to 10,000+ parts.
Working with injection molding companies makes sense when you need:
- High-volume production (10,000+ parts per run)
- Very large part sizes that exceed desktop machine capacity
- Highly exotic materials requiring specialized industrial equipment
- No interest in owning or operating equipment
The Alternative: In-House Desktop Injection Molding
Instead of outsourcing to injection molding manufacturers, many engineers, product developers, educators, and small manufacturers choose to bring injection molding in-house with a desktop machine. The APSX-PIM V3 is a fully automatic desktop plastic injection molding machine that costs a fraction of industrial systems — yet delivers consistent, repeatable results for small parts.
In-house desktop injection molding makes sense when you need:
- Rapid prototyping without minimum order quantities
- Small batch production (1 to 1,000 parts)
- Fast turnaround — parts in hours, not weeks
- Full control over materials, timing, and design iterations
- Confidentiality — no sending designs to outside companies
- Lower per-part cost at small volumes
Cost Comparison: Injection Molding Companies vs. Desktop Machine
| Factor | Industrial Injection Molding Company | APSX-PIM Desktop Machine |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum order | 1,000–10,000+ parts | 1 part |
| Lead time | 4–12 weeks | Hours to days |
| Tooling cost | $5,000–$50,000+ | $100–$1,000 |
| Design changes | Expensive, slow | Fast, low-cost |
| IP protection | Shared with vendor | Fully in-house |
Who Uses Desktop Injection Molding Instead of Outsourcing?
The following groups find desktop injection molding machines a better alternative to working with traditional injection molding companies:
- Product designers and engineers — rapid iteration without minimum orders or long lead times
- Universities and technical schools — hands-on injection molding education without industrial equipment costs
- R&D departments — test real injection molded parts before committing to production tooling
- Small manufacturers — produce small batches profitably without outsourcing markup
- Medical device companies — prototype and test components confidentially in-house
- Defense and aerospace — controlled, in-house production of small plastic components
Materials: What Can a Desktop Injection Molding Machine Process?
One concern when choosing between injection molding manufacturers and an in-house machine is material compatibility. The APSX-PIM processes a wide range of engineering-grade thermoplastics including ABS, Polypropylene (PP), Polycarbonate (PC), Nylon, Delrin (Acetal), TPE, and more — the same materials used by industrial injection molding companies.
When Should You Still Use an Injection Molding Company?
Desktop injection molding machines are not a replacement for every situation. For very high-volume production (100,000+ parts), very large parts, or extremely tight tolerances requiring million-dollar industrial tooling, working with an injection molding manufacturer still makes sense. The ideal strategy for many companies is to prototype and develop in-house with the APSX-PIM, then transition to a contract injection molding company only when volume justifies it.
Get Started With In-House Injection Molding
If you're spending money on injection molding companies for prototypes or small runs, the APSX-PIM V3 can pay for itself quickly. With a compact 4ft × 1ft footprint, 60-second cycle times, and the ability to process dozens of engineering plastics, it's the most practical way to bring injection molding in-house.
Browse all APSX injection molding machines or schedule a demo to see the APSX-PIM in action.