The difference between in-mold injection and in-mold transfer

Comparison of in-mold injection and in-mold transfer:

The first thing to state is that they are two completely different concepts and should not be confused.

The English abbreviation for in-mold injection is IMD, which includes in-mold labeling (IML), in-mold labeling (IMF), and in-mold transfer (IMR). It can be seen that in-mold transfer is a part of in-mold injection.

The Chinese name of IMR: In-mold transfer


This process is to print the pattern on the film, and the film is attached to the mold cavity through the film feeder for extrusion. After the extrusion, the patterned ink layer is separated from the film, and the ink layer remains on the plastic part. The plastic part with decorative patterns on the surface is obtained. There is no transparent protective film on the surface of the final product, and the film is only a carrier in the production process. But the advantage of IMR lies in the high degree of automation during production and the low cost of mass production. Disadvantages of IMR: The printed pattern layer is on the surface of the product, and the thickness is only a few microns. After the product is used for a period of time, the printed pattern layer is easily worn away, and it is also easy to fade, resulting in an unsightly surface. In addition, the long development cycle of new products, high development costs, and the inability to achieve flexible changes in pattern colors in small batches are also weaknesses that the IMR process cannot overcome.