Driven by the dual forces of global manufacturing transformation and upgrading and the "Dual Carbon" goal, the injection mold industry is entering a critical window of technological iteration and material innovation. This article focuses on the top 10 technological trends in the industry for 2025, deeply analyzing how the application of new materials, guided by policies, will break through technological barriers and reshape the industry's competitive landscape.
I. Lightweight Mold Technology for New Energy Vehicles
1. Chemical Microfoaming Technology Achieves 30% Part Weight Reduction
Hitech Molding Technology's chemical microfoaming process, which uses gas-assisted molding to reduce part weight by 30%, has been successfully used by automakers such as BYD and Geely. This technological breakthrough has reduced the weight of new energy vehicle battery cases to 8.2kg (actual data from 2024), contributing to a 12% increase in driving range.
Policy Relevance: The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's "New Energy Vehicle Industry Development Plan" explicitly requires a 45% penetration rate of lightweight materials by 2025, driving mold companies to accelerate their technological development.
2. Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) Precision Molding
Domestic CFRP injection molds have achieved precision exceeding ±0.01mm (China Plastics Processing Industry Association 2024 report), meeting the stringent dimensional stability requirements for power battery casings. It is estimated that battery packs using CFRP can reduce overall weight by 18% and reduce costs by 25% compared to aluminum alloy solutions.
II. Accelerated Domestic Substitution of High-Performance Plastics
3. PEEK Material Production Capacity Expands by 200%
Companies such as Wanhua Chemical and Zhongyan High-Plastics have broken through the technical barriers of medical-grade PEEK materials, increasing yield rates to 98%. By 2025, domestic PEEK market share in robotic joint components is expected to exceed 35% (Wanhua Chemical 2024 forecast), reducing the cost of replacing imported materials by 40%.
4. COC/COP Optical Materials Break the International Monopoly
The cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) material developed by Topene Optics boasts a light transmittance of 92% and a haze of less than 0.3% (Q3 2024 financial report). It has been used in Apple AR glasses lenses. Its mass production cost is 30% lower than imported products, driving the local procurement rate of domestic AR/VR device manufacturers to 65%.
III. The Circular Economy Drives Innovation in Recycling Technology
5. Chemical Recycling Rate of Waste Plastics Exceeds 85%
Wanhua Chemical's catalytic pyrolysis technology achieves an 85% waste plastic conversion rate, producing oil with a sulfur content below 10 ppm (certified by the National Energy Administration). Kingfa Technology's PET chemical closed-loop production line reduces recycling costs by 22%, driving the domestic recycled plastic utilization rate to over 30% by 2025 (Jiangsu Province's policy target).
6. Bio-Based TPU Material Receives International Certification
Wanhua Chemical's bio-based TPU reduces carbon emissions by 40% compared to petroleum-based materials. Following Apple's supply chain certification, production capacity is expected to expand to 500,000 tons by 2025. This material is expected to account for 28% of smartwatch straps (McKinsey forecast).
IV. Integration of Intelligent and Digital Technologies
7. AI Process Optimization System Improves Yield by 15%
ARBURG's AI self-optimization system improves automotive part yield from 82% to 97% by real-time monitoring of injection pressure and temperature. This system can shorten mold commissioning cycles by 40%, adapting to small-batch customized production needs.
8. 3D-Printed Conformal Cooling Molds Reduce Cycle Time by 20%
Stratasys's conformal cooling mold technology, developed in collaboration with Ford, reduces injection cycle time from 120 seconds to 96 seconds (test data from 2024) through topological optimization of flow channel design. The penetration rate of this technology in the medical device sector is expected to exceed 18% by 2025.
V. Regional Industrial Chain Restructuring and Geopolitical Competition
9. The Rise of Southeast Asian Mold Industry Clusters
Chinese companies have invested over 5 billion yuan in Vietnam and Thailand (Ministry of Commerce data from 2024). Hon Zhun Precision's Vietnam factory has achieved a per capita output value of US$300,000. Toyota's Thailand factory has increased its local mold supply ratio to 65%, with labor costs only one-third of those in China, propelling Southeast Asia to become the world's fourth-largest mold production base.
10. North American Anti-Circumvention Investigation Risk Increases
The US Inflation Reduction Act requires a local content ratio of at least 50% for electric vehicle components, adding $1.2 billion to Tesla's 2025 mold procurement budget. Industry insiders predict that North America may initiate anti-circumvention investigations against Chinese mold companies, forcing them to circumvent trade barriers by relocating production capacity to Southeast Asia.
