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The Importance of Technical Expertise When Selecting Thermoplastic Resins

Manufacturers understand how important it is to choose the right resin for their application; however, it can often be a challenge to figure out the best plastic material to use. There are thousands of different resins and additives to consider, and all of them have different properties and molding requirements that also need to be taken into consideration. So, what’s the best way for manufacturers to figure out the optimal resin to use for their components?

Bamberger Polymers has a team of technical experts with years of experience in the plastics industry that help manufacturing companies find the right resin for their applications. We review what properties our customers’ parts require and suggest the best material based on function, availability, and affordability.

Our Expertise

Bamberger prides itself on having the best technical experts in the industry. Our team has decades of combined experience working in plastics.

Connor Mendenhall, Bamberger’s Business Development Manager for Engineering Thermoplastic Division, laid out the work he and his colleagues do to help their customers: “We work to help them understand the end use of the plastic they are using, the environment, what conditions, what chemicals, and what stresses (torque, impact, etc.) that it will be used for. We also see how much of a particular resin Bamberger can stock for them and how often they need it.”

“We have tools that we can help people use, but we ask questions to figure out the application,” said Jason Kafader, Bamberger’s Business Development Manager. “For the most part, it’s important trying to talk to people live rather than through email. A lot of issues can be solved with a 10-minute phone call.”

The team at Bamberger understands how important good communication is with our customers, which is why we always make a concerted effort to talk to them directly about all their resin needs.

“There are many different avenues to communicate with customers, and every customer is different,” said Mario Umana, Director of Technical Services. “Sometimes we set up a meeting with a customer on-site, but we also do it virtually (FaceTime or Zoom) or over the phone. We’ll stop by and visit a customer on short notice if they’re having an issue. We want them to trust us.”

“Bamberger is more hands-on,” said Eric Brinkman, Bamberger’s Technical Development Engineer. “We are happy to go somewhere to help a customer and are very responsive on the technical side. We’re an efficient team with a lot of experience.”

Common Resin Problems

It’s not uncommon for manufacturers to run into issues regarding their plastic material, and many tend to be similar in nature. Determining what the most common resin problems are can help technical experts better equip customers with the right tools to figure out the best resin for their application.

According to our team of experts, some of the most common material issues manufacturers run into include:

• Tool design – if tools get cut incorrectly or if the mold design is for a different component, then parts often fail in testing and can start having problems down the line during production.
• Cost-driven material selection – manufacturers may opt for a more affordable resin material for parts to help save money, but a cheaper resin may not have the correct properties for their particular application. This mistake can often cost a lot of money to fix in the long run.
• Appearance vs. Quality – it’s common for manufacturers to choose a type of material that has the look they want (i.e., a glossy finish) without factoring in the quality of the resin itself. A bad-quality resin can end up creating a lot of problems during the production process.

We’ve seen manufacturers run into all of these issues and more, but thankfully, our team is there to help customers find the best solution to their material problems.

What Material to Consider for Your Application

Manufacturers have many considerations to make when choosing a material for their components. The properties of the part in question affect the material they choose – for example, if the part is going to be for outdoor use, the plastic material needs to be resistant to strong weather and abrasions.

Some considerations that need to be taken into account before choosing the right material for a component are:

• Environment – Is the part primarily for indoor or outdoor applications?
• Heat Resistance – What temperature will the part need to perform in? Will it be under continuous exposure?
• Regulatory requirements – Will the part need to meet NSF, FDA, UL, or other regulatory requirements?
• Stress – Will this part need strong torque or impact resistance?
• Stiffness – Will the part be in an application that’s stiff or flexible?
• Chemical resistance – Will this part come in contact with chemicals?
• Price – Is the material for this part affordable and accessible?

When manufacturers don’t know where to start when searching for the right plastic material, the experts at Bamberger are here to help.

Bamberger Brings Technical Expertise and Exceptional Service

When it comes to top-notch technical expertise and excellent customer service, nobody does it better than Bamberger.

We have several distribution and service locations worldwide while offering a wide material portfolio of commodity and engineering thermoplastics, both branded and private label. As an intuitive leader in the industry, Bamberger collaboratively solves tomorrow’s problems with integrity, nimbleness, and respect while providing quality products delivered on time. Our trusted relationships with customers and suppliers are always founded on consistent communication and support from order to shipment.