Injection Mould Toolmaking
At Cranfield Group, we understand that getting your tooling right is critical – it affects part quality, production efficiency and your bottom line. That’s why we take complete ownership of your tooling requirements, managing everything from initial specification through to lifetime maintenance.
Through our network of proven UK and international toolmaking partners, combined with our in-house tool maintenance capabilities, we deliver complete tooling solutions. What sets us apart is how we flex to meet your needs. Whether you need a simple single-cavity tool or complex multi-cavity production moulds, we listen to your requirements, learn from your challenges, and deliver tools that perform year after year.
Why Choose Cranfield Group
Toolmaking Excellence With Lifetime Support
Our comprehensive toolmaking approach delivers lasting value through problem-solving expertise:
- Complete Outsourced Solution – Leave your entire tooling project with us – from specification and manufacture through to maintenance and eventual refurbishment.
- Manufacturing-Led Design – Tools designed by people who run them daily, ensuring optimal performance in production.
- Flexible Approach – We adapt to your needs, whether that’s fast-track tooling for urgent projects or phased investment for development work.
- Problem-Solving Partnership – When tool challenges arise, we don’t make excuses – we find solutions and keep you running.
- In-House Maintenance – Our experienced toolroom team provides repairs, modifications and preventive maintenance to maximise tool life.
- Continuous Improvement – Always looking for ways to enhance tool performance, reduce cycle times and improve part quality.
What Is Injection Mould Toolmaking?
Injection mould tools are precision-engineered steel or aluminium moulds that shape molten plastic into finished components. These complex tools must withstand thousands or millions of cycles whilst maintaining dimensional accuracy measured in microns.
Tool design influences every aspect of the moulding process: part quality, cycle time, maintenance requirements and overall production costs. The best tools balance multiple factors including:
Tool Construction Options:
- Single or multi-cavity designs based on volume requirements
- Hot or cold runner systems for optimal material flow
- Side actions and lifters for complex geometries
- Interchangeable inserts for part variations
- Surface textures and finishes
- Cooling channel optimisation for cycle time reduction
Industries we serve
We develop tooling solutions matched to specific industry requirements:
Automotive
Multi-cavity tools for high-volume production with integrated quality features and minimal maintenance requirements.
Dosing & Dispensing
Precision tools for fluid handling components requiring exceptional accuracy and surface finish quality.
Electronics
Tools incorporating fine details, thin walls and provisions for insert moulding of electronic components.
Health & Safety
Medical-grade tool steels with optimised surface finishes for cleanroom production environments.
Metal Replacement
Robust tools designed for processing high-performance engineering polymers at elevated temperatures.
Rubber Industry
Specialised tools for rubber injection moulding with appropriate steel grades and surface treatments.
Telecoms
Tools producing components with EMC features, environmental sealing and aesthetic surface finishes.
Trade Moulding
Flexible tooling solutions from prototype tools to production moulds based on specific volume requirements.
Ready to invest in quality tooling? Leave it with us. Our team will guide you through material selection, tool specification and design optimisation. Visit us to discuss your requirements over coffee and see how we manage tooling projects.
Additional Services
Complete Manufacturing Integration
Our toolmaking service integrates with all manufacturing capabilities:
Expert engineering support to optimise components for efficient manufacture and superior performance.
Rapid prototype production and testing to validate designs before committing to production tooling.
High-precision manufacturing of thermoplastic components from prototype to high-volume production.
Specialist manufacturing of rubber components using dedicated thermoset processing equipment.
Value-added processes including printing, welding, and kitting. Turn basic mouldings into complete, market-ready products.
Complete assembly services transforming components into finished products. From simple two-part assemblies to complex multi-component builds.
Custom packaging design and flexible logistics solutions. From bulk packaging to JIT delivery supporting your production schedules.
Not sure which services you need? Our technical team can guide you through the options and develop the right solution for your project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your Toolmaking Questions Answered
Where are tools manufactured?
We work with proven toolmakers in the UK and internationally, selecting partners based on your specific requirements and budget.
Who owns the tools?
You own the tools once final payment is complete. We store and maintain them at our facility for the duration of production.
What tool life can I expect?
Tool life varies by material and construction. Aluminium tools typically produce thousands of parts, while hardened steel tools can produce millions.
Can you modify existing tools?
Yes, our in-house toolroom handles modifications, repairs and refurbishments to extend tool life and accommodate design changes.
Quality tools are the foundation of efficient injection moulding. Leave your tooling requirements with us – we’ll ensure your investment delivers consistent quality and reliable performance for years to come. Contact us today or visit our facilities to see how we make tooling work for you.