• Cycle time: How long your product takes to mold.
• Runner size: A larger runner requires more material that must be processed in multiple ways. So longer cool times, and more material to grind up and throw away or process for reuse when appropriate.
• Material volume amount: How much raw material (ex. polyethylene, polypropylene, etc.) needs to be ordered and on hand to accomplish your project.
• Mold pull rate: How often the mold needs to be taken on and off a machine.

During the discovery and quote phase, other companies are likely doing the same thing and you will often receive quotes that seem to vary greatly. These are, in fact, apple and orange types of quotes. That&srquo;s why we break out the variables and, using the list above, you can educate yourself to know what to look for too!