Advantages

The fact that you're browsing the Orchid Plastics website indicates that you may already be aware of the benefits of rotational moulding.

It offers design advantages over other moulding processes - with careful design, parts assembled from several pieces can be moulded as one part, bringing down the usual high fabrication costs. Rotational moulding also has crucial design strengths, such as consistent wall thickness and outside corners that are rigid, strong and almost totally stress free. For additional strength, reinforcing ribs should be incorporated.

The ability to add inserts to the mould alone is a huge advantage. Metal threads, internal pipes and structures, and even different colored plastics can all be added to the mould before adding plastic powder. However, care must be taken to ensure that minimal shrinkage while cooling will not cause damage. This shrinking allows for mild undercuts and often eliminates the need for ejection mechanisms.

Rotational  moulding uses less expensive tooling, the moulds can be manufactured and put into production much quicker than other moulding processes. This is especially true for complex parts, which may require large amounts of tooling for other moulding processes. Rotational moulding is also the ideal process for short runs and rush deliveries. The moulds can be swapped quickly or different colours can be used without purging the mould. With other processes, purging may be required to swap colors.

Due to the uniform thicknesses achieved, large and complex shapes are possible, separate sections of the mould tooling can be manufactured to be withdrawn to allow unusual features and undercuts.

Another cost limiting factor is the amount of material wasted in production. There are no sprues or runners (as in injection molding), no off-cuts (thermoforming), or pinch off scrap (blow moulding). The little material that is wasted, through scrap or failed part testing, can usually be recycled.