How Are Phone Cases Made?

Most plastic products use an injection mold from China. One product that’s made from an injection mold is your typical phone case. Our phone cases are essential products used every day to protect our phones from damage as much as possible. However, since these products are so popular, it’s used for aesthetics as well. Many more people buy phone cases for intricate designs to keep their gadgets safe. These cases can range from rugged builds to flexible thin covers. The possibilities for these products are endless. Any design for any model can be created with the right mold and the right plastic. 

When you’re shopping for a phone case you’re usually concerned about the quality of the product. Can it withstand the shock? Is it durable? Is it flexible? Can it fit the model of your phone? To understand these questions, you need to first look at how phone cases are made.

Different Plastics Used in Manufacturing

Plastic injection molding has changed the way we make products. Instead of manually making a product, which results in inconsistency, plastic injection molding makes it easier. Plastic injection molding started out with plastic injection molded combs and has since then moved on to many everyday products. It’s even used in advanced applications such as medical, military, and aerodynamics. It’s a method of manufacturing that truly changed the way we make things. 

There are three different kinds of plastics used when making a phone case. There is soft, hard, and hybrid plastic. Hard plastics are made up of polycarbonate, hard polyurethane, and polypropylene. Soft plastics use ordinary polyurethane and thermoplastic polyurethane. Hybrid plastic makes use of a combination of these types. 

The type of plastic used determines how flexible it is and how much shock it can withstand. Hard plastics are better choices if you’re prone to dropping your phone. Hard plastics usually offer simple designs, opting to concentrate on the build quality over the aesthetics. Soft plastics are for people who want fun designs for their phones. Such examples include cartoon animals and distinct character designs. These don’t offer much protection but they’re much more affordable at times. Hybrid plastics are the perfect middle ground for those who want a balance between design and function. 

Injection Molding in Manufacturing

A mold is first created before anything else. First, the manufacturer uses a mold maker to form the mold base into the desired design. Holes are then drilled into the mold so the cooling fluid has a channel. Once the design is finalized, it’s then sanded down and polished until it’s smooth and ready to use. 

How are these phone cases made then? It’s not that complicated when you use a plastic injection mold. This ensures that each product created is uniform and consistent. Once the mold is ready, the plastic is heated up and injected into the mold. Cooling fluids are then channeled through the holes to cool down the plastic rapidly. The plastic is then popped out once it solidifies. The final step is to polish, decorate, package, and ship out the phone cases. 

How Designs are Made

Phone cases used to be made purely for function but since then, it’s become increasingly popular to buy a case for designs. Phones cases are now considered extra accessories that can help match and finish an outfit. It can be used as a form of self-expression. It’s a fun way to match your phone to your aesthetic. Some even resort to designing their own cases at home. Manufacturers see this demand for new and cool designs. 

Most phone cases have different designs depending on the manufacturer. These are usually seen in plastic and silicone cases. You won’t usually see these in leather cases as it’s harder to mass-produce bespoke designs.  It can include images of popular characters, abstract patterns, and more. Most manufacturers use a specialized printer to print out the designs on the case. These special printers have the capability to print more than several cases at once. 

Other methods use Spot UV printing. A layer of paint is applied to the phone case and is exposed to UV light. It’s similar to gel nail polish where the polish hardens under the UV light. The UV light dries the design painted on the case it’s varnished afterward so it doesn’t peel off.

Key Takeaway

Most products are made from injection molding in China - this can range from different products for home or commercial use. It’s impossible to find a product that isn’t injection-molded these days. Injection molding just makes things easier and faster. Your phone cases are made from this innovative method of manufacturing. Many designs for different phone models are being manufactured every day by plastic injection molding. If you check your phone right now it could be injection molded to perfection.