How it works
Plastic injection molding under one roof
From first idea to series production in house: design, mold and injection molding by one team, with one point of contact.
What is plastic injection molding
From molten pellets to a precise part, in seconds
Plastic injection molding is a manufacturing process in which molten plastic is injected into a steel mold under high pressure, cools, and comes out of the mold as a precise finished part. It is how you make accurate plastic parts in volume at a low unit price. QDP (Duiven, the Netherlands, founded 1998) does product development, Design for Manufacturability, mold making and injection molding in one integrated chain under one roof.
Under one roof we tackle challenges on the drawing board, not on the production line. In a traditional chain, each party only looks after its own part; we think in molds from the first sketch. That saves handoffs, failure costs and time.
The process
From idea to production in six steps
Product analysis
We map out your goals, requirements, operating conditions and budget, and where the risks are.
Product design
Concept and styling, with manufacturability built in from the first sketch.
Product engineering
Strength calculations, material selection based on practical testing, and mold flow analysis, before any steel is cut.
Prototyping and validation
Functional prototypes, so you hold the product in your hands and we test the choices before mold making starts.
Production preparation
Technical drawings, a DfM check, assembly instructions and the mold strategy (number of cavities, cycle time).
Production and scale-up
We build the mold, check the first shots for dimensions, surface, shrinkage and strength, and then run production.
Look inside the factory
The injection molding process explained in 80 seconds
From pellets to an inspected part: founder Maick Klaassen walks you through the whole process, on the floor of our own factory. The video is narrated in Dutch.
Lead time
When your product is ready
Series production in our own factory. Sweet spot 500 to 20,000 parts per run, runs in the millions as well.
Sea freight from our factory to the Netherlands. Often the longest link in the chain; a local buffer stock can be the answer.
Rush orders, when it has to be fast. With our own machines, mold changes and scheduling in our own hands, that is possible.
Lead times are indicative and depend on the project (in line with the Metaalunie terms and conditions). The lead time for mold making depends heavily on complexity, and we confirm it per project. Where possible we work in parallel: while the mold is being built, we are already prototyping. Freight, customs clearance and import duties to the Netherlands are included in the price; delivery to your door in your own country is priced in the quote.
Costs
What does injection molding cost?
Injection molding costs consist of a one-time mold investment, from 3,000 euros, plus a unit price. Most molds fall between 3,000 and 5,000 euros, with outliers up to 60,000 euros for large, complex parts. The unit price depends on material, weight, cycle time and volume, and drops as the run gets larger. With the online calculator you work out your own unit price and mold price right away.
- Mold
A one-time investment, depending on complexity and the number of cavities. The mold is yours, with a certificate of ownership.
- Material and weight
The choice of material and the part weight determine a large share of the unit price.
- Cycle time
The faster a part comes out of the mold, the lower the cost per part. Good DfM shortens the cycle.
- Volume
Larger runs lower the unit price. Sweet spot 500 to 20,000 per run, with room to scale up.
Small runs
Injection molding for small runs
Yes, injection molding pays off for small runs too. The sweet spot is between 500 and 20,000 parts per run, and smaller quantities are possible. Whether it is cost-effective depends not on your first order, but on the total volume over the product's life: every repeat order spreads the cost of the same mold over more parts and lowers the price. In the calculator you work out your own effective unit price.
Peace of mind
Made as designed, or you get your investment back
Because we do the mold flow analysis and DfM up front, the chance of a miss on the first shot is virtually zero. And if a product is not made as designed, you get your investment back. The mold is yours, with a certificate of ownership.
Sustainability
Sustainable injection molding
Yes, injection molding can be sustainable. At QDP, sustainable injection molding means a deliberate choice of material, energy-efficient production and a design that minimizes material and waste. That way you get a plastic product in series production with a smaller footprint, without compromising on quality.
- Biobased plastics
Grades such as PHA and PLA made from renewable raw materials, compostable or biodegradable depending on the type.
- Recycled plastics
Recycled material such as recycled PC and ABS saves virgin raw material and CO2 in sustainable plastic injection molding.
- Energy-efficient production
We produce on energy-efficient machines that use 20 to 80% less energy than older injection molding machines.
- Material-efficient design (DfM)
Design for Manufacturability minimizes wall thickness, weight and scrap, so less material goes into each product.
As a sustainable injection molder, we work with you from the design stage to find the most responsible route for your product and business case.
What customers say
"They engage with you on everything and know how to turn ideas into reality. A very reliable partner that thinks in solutions."
Gijs Raaijmakers
GIZMO Design, iF Design Award 2025
"We wanted covers that were stronger, quieter and more premium without the cost going up. QDP solved that with one universal injection-molded housing."
Dennis Vroegindeweij
Owner, DeVi-Group
"QDP is one of the few suppliers that can say “yes” to parts this size. Communication is very direct, which we appreciate."
Carmen Smink
Van Geloven (McCain)
Frequently asked questions
Plastic injection molding at a glance
What is plastic injection molding?+
Plastic injection molding is a manufacturing process in which molten plastic is injected into a steel mold under high pressure, cools, and comes out of the mold as a precise finished part. It is the standard method for making accurate plastic parts in volume at a low unit price. At QDP this runs from design and mold to series production, under one roof.
How long does it take to injection mold a new product?+
Series production itself takes about 3 to 4 weeks as a guide. Before that comes mold making, which depends heavily on the complexity, and after that, for production in our own factory, about 10 weeks of sea freight to the Netherlands. Lead times are indicative and depend on the project; QDP confirms the actual schedule per project based on the drawing.
What does injection molding cost, and what determines the price?+
The price consists of a one-time mold investment and the unit price. The unit price is determined by material, part weight, cycle time and volume; with larger runs the price per part drops. A smart design lowers both. With the QDP online calculator you get an indication of your unit price and mold price right away.
What does an injection mold cost?+
A mold starts at 3,000 euros, with most between 3,000 and 5,000 euros and outliers up to 60,000 euros for large, complex parts. The simpler and more manufacturable the design, the lower the mold cost. At QDP the mold is your property, with a certificate of ownership.
Do I get a volume discount if I order more?+
Not on the unit price itself, and we are happy to explain why: the injection molding process is constant, so the machine runs exactly the same cycle at 500 parts as at 20,000. An artificial discount scale would be a discount you pay for yourself. Your effective price per part does drop considerably with larger runs, because the fixed costs are spread over more parts: the setup costs per production run, the transport and above all the one-time mold investment. We show that breakdown transparently in every quote. Work out the effect for your own part in the calculator.
What is the minimum or ideal volume for injection molding?+
Injection molding pays off as soon as the mold investment is spread over enough parts. The sweet spot is between 500 and 20,000 parts per run; smaller runs are possible and we also run volumes in the millions. QDP helps you find the volume that fits your business case.
Can you injection mold small runs?+
Yes. Injection molding small runs is possible, with the sweet spot between 500 and 20,000 parts per run and smaller quantities where it makes sense. The key is to make the one-time mold pay for itself over the run: with a simpler mold and a design that is easy to manufacture, we lower the entry cost, and the same mold later scales up to larger quantities.
Which plastics can you injection mold?+
Almost all engineering plastics: ABS, PP, PA, PC, POM and glass-fiber-reinforced versions, plus biobased grades such as PHA and PLA and recycled plastics. The material is part of the design trade-off, because it determines shrinkage, strength and cycle time. QDP chooses the material based on function and practical testing.
Can injection molding be rushed?+
Yes. Rush deliveries within one week are possible because the machines, mold changes and scheduling are in our own hands. That is rarely possible with traditional suppliers. QDP confirms what is feasible for each situation.
Can injection molding be sustainable?+
Yes. Sustainable injection molding is possible with biobased grades such as PHA and PLA, with recycled plastics such as PC and ABS, and by producing on energy-efficient machines. A material-efficient design through Design for Manufacturability lowers weight and scrap even further. QDP chooses the most responsible route together with you.