From idea to finished plastic product – a faster route to production

A good idea for a plastic product is one thing. Turning it into a solution that can actually be produced efficiently, at the right quality and the right cost, is something else entirely. Through our collaboration with Idé-Pro, Plexx can offer expertise and production capacity across this entire process – from engineering and prototype to moulding tools and finished series production.

Portrait of Geir Bergh, Head of Office at Plexx AS.

Geir Bergh
Head of Office, Plexx

Prototype in 1–3 weeks

In product development, time is often decisive. The earlier you can test a physical, functional part, the earlier you can identify the need for changes before investing in final production tooling. With Idé-Pro's Fast Track solution, functional injection-moulded prototypes can be produced in 1–3 weeks. That means you can test the product in the right material and under real conditions – and use what you learn to optimise the design before series production begins.

Moulding tools developed and produced in-house

The moulding tool is absolutely critical to the quality of the plastic part, the production speed and the economics of the project. Idé-Pro therefore has its own tool production and expertise in areas including DFM, MoldFlow, tool design and the manufacture of moulding tools, and uses the latest CAD/CAM software.

One important advantage is that engineering, tooling and production can be viewed as a whole. Any challenges can be identified earlier, and the necessary adjustments can be made without the project having to move back and forth between several independent suppliers. Idé-Pro also has a wholly owned subsidiary in Bangalore, India, with around 100 employees and expertise in areas including tool production, CAD/CAM and tool design.

From 0.01 grams to 41.5 kilos

The need for injection-moulded components varies enormously. Some products weigh only a few hundredths of a gram. Others are large structural parts weighing tens of kilos. Idé-Pro has more than 60 injection moulding machines with clamping forces from 6 to 4,000 tonnes, and can produce plastic parts from 0.01 grams all the way up to 41.5 kg. That gives an unusually wide range – in size, complexity and production volume alike.

"It is often precisely before the design is locked that we have the greatest opportunity to find a simpler, faster or more cost-effective solution."

Also when you don't need millions of parts

Injection moulding is often associated with very large production series. But that isn't necessarily the case.

Production can be adapted to series as small as 200 units per year, depending on the product and the project.

That makes the technology relevant for Norwegian industrial companies with relatively limited volumes too – while still allowing production to be scaled up if the need grows.

Technical plastic materials for demanding applications

The choice of material is often just as important as the design itself.

Production is possible in most types of plastic, including advanced technical materials such as PPS, PSU and PEEK. This means the solution can be tailored to requirements for temperature resistance, strength, chemical resistance and dimensional stability, among others.

One route from idea to production

For us at Plexx, this is perhaps the most important advantage of the collaboration:

You don't necessarily need to find one partner for product development, another for prototypes, a third for moulding tools and a fourth for production.

We can be involved from the very first assessment of the product all the way through to finished, series-produced components.

Frequently asked questions

With Idé-Pro's Fast Track solution, functional injection-moulded prototypes can be produced in 1–3 weeks, so you can test the product in the right material and under real conditions before series production begins.
Yes. Idé-Pro has its own tool production and expertise in areas including DFM, MoldFlow, tool design and the manufacture of moulding tools, and uses the latest CAD/CAM software. They also have a wholly owned subsidiary in Bangalore, India, with around 100 employees working in tool production, CAD/CAM and tool design.
Idé-Pro has more than 60 injection moulding machines with clamping forces from 6 to 4,000 tonnes, and can produce plastic parts from 0.01 grams up to 41.5 kg.
No. Production can be adapted to series as small as 200 units per year, depending on the product and the project, and can be scaled up if the need grows.
Production is possible in most types of plastic, including advanced technical materials such as PPS, PSU and PEEK. The solution can be tailored to requirements for temperature resistance, strength, chemical resistance and dimensional stability.
No. Through the collaboration between Plexx and Idé-Pro, we can be involved from the very first assessment of the product all the way through to finished, series-produced components – one route from idea to production.
Get in touch early. It is often precisely before the design is locked that there is the greatest opportunity to find a simpler, faster or more cost-effective solution.

Do you have an idea, a drawing or an existing component you're considering producing in plastic?

Get in touch with us early in the process. It is often precisely before the design is locked that we have the greatest opportunity to find a simpler, faster or more cost-effective solution.