Material Selection: How Manufacturers Choose Plastics That Actually Work
Release Date: 01/28/2026
Material Selection: How Manufacturers Choose Plastics That Actually Work
USA Made Manufacturing
Material selection is where many product decisions quietly go wrong. In this episode, we walk through how manufacturers think about choosing plastics for real-world use. Instead of focusing on brand names or “best” materials, the conversation centers on application driven decisions like heat, impact, wear, chemicals, UV exposure, shrink rates, tooling constraints, and long-term production flexibility. We break down common materials used in injection molding, including polypropylene, polyethylene, ABS, nylon, acetal, and glass-filled plastics, and explain why tradeoffs between strength,...
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Is USA Made Manufacturing Still Possible?
USA Made Manufacturing
Is making a product in the United States still realistic today? This episode of USA Made Manufacturing examines what first time physical product founders often overlook when considering domestic production. We break down real cost drivers beyond the quoted part price, including capital tied up in inventory, tooling scale decisions, logistics, communication friction, and long term operational risk. This is not a motivational show or a shortcut guide. The goal is to slow down rushed manufacturing decisions and surface consequences that usually only appear after time and money are already...
info_outlineMaterial selection is where many product decisions quietly go wrong.
In this episode, we walk through how manufacturers think about choosing plastics for real-world use. Instead of focusing on brand names or “best” materials, the conversation centers on application driven decisions like heat, impact, wear, chemicals, UV exposure, shrink rates, tooling constraints, and long-term production flexibility.
We break down common materials used in injection molding, including polypropylene, polyethylene, ABS, nylon, acetal, and glass-filled plastics, and explain why tradeoffs between strength, stiffness, flexibility, appearance, and cost matter more than hitting a perfect spec on paper.
This episode is for product founders, inventors, and operators who want to understand how material choices affect tooling, manufacturing risk, and future scalability—before those decisions are locked in.