Aluminium Injection Moulding Tools

Aluminium tools are widely used for prototyping, low-volume production, and pilot runs, offering excellent performance at a lower upfront cost.

Advantages of Aluminium Tools
  • Lower tooling cost compared to steel
  • Much faster to manufacture, reducing lead times
  • Excellent thermal conductivity, allowing efficient cooling
  • Ideal for bolster tools and insert plates
  • Capable of producing tens or even hundreds of thousands of parts when designed and maintained correctly
At Protoshape, we use tool-grade aluminium and proven design principles. In real production, we have aluminium tools that have produced over half a million parts, demonstrating that aluminium can be far more durable than commonly assumed.
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When Aluminium Is the Right Choice
  • Prototyping and product validation
  • Low to medium production volumes
  • Faster time-to-market​

Steel Injection Moulding Tools

Steel tools are traditionally used for high-volume, long-life production, where durability and wear resistance are critical.

Advantages of Steel Tools
  • Long tool life, suitable for millions of cycles
  • Ideal for high-volume and multi-cavity production
  • Greater resistance to wear from abrasive or glass-filled materials
  • Consistent performance over long production runs
Steel tools are typically manufactured from materials such as P20 tool steel or fully heat-treated steels, depending on the application.

​When Steel Is the Right Choice
  • High-volume production
  • Long-term manufacturing programmes
  • Abrasive or reinforced plastics
  • Tight tolerances over extended tool life

Expert Advice Makes the Difference

Because Protoshape provides plastic part design, toolmaking, and injection moulding under one roof, our advice is based on real manufacturing experience, not assumptions.
We routinely help customers choose between:
  • Aluminium bolster tools for speed and cost efficiency
  • Insert plates for very low volumes
  • Full steel tools for long-term, high-volume production
Often, customers start with aluminium tooling and later transition to steel once volumes increase.

​Aluminium or Steel – We Do Both

Whether your project requires a fast, cost-effective aluminium tool or a robust steel production mould, Protoshape has the expertise and equipment to deliver high-quality, repeatable parts.
Contact us today to discuss your project and get expert guidance on choosing the right injection moulding tool for your needs.