Boker’s stamped metal components are custom manufactured to fit developed mold designs, helping OEMs and injection molders meet demanding tolerances and performance specifications.
MINNEAPOLIS—Manufacturers across technically-advanced industries are demanding more robust, lightweight, and integrated components. Boker’s, Inc., a Minnesota-based manufacturer of precision metal stampings, is addressing the demand by partnering with plastics manufacturers and injection molders to deliver expertly manufactured metal parts for insert molding applications.
Insert molding—the process of injecting molten thermoplastic resin or thermoset material into a mold around a metal insert—has become essential in industries such as aerospace and defense, fluid and gas management, medical equipment, power generation, and more. In all of these industries, lightweight, durable, and corrosion-resistant components are crucial.
Boker’s has more than 100 years of experience in producing tight-tolerance stamped metal parts. Its stamped metal components are custom manufactured to fit seamlessly into developed mold designs, helping OEMs and injection molders meet demanding tolerances and performance specifications.
“Our team works closely with plastics manufacturers and injection molders to ensure every stamped part is specifically manufactured for the insert molding process, which helps reduce steps, control costs, and improve final component integrity,” said Boker’s President Tony Kersey, in a company release. Based on the specification, the company also manages secondary operations for plating, heat treating, grinding, and testing components as needed. Its capabilities are designed to satisfy insert molders’ needs for standard-to-complex and intricate components.
“Whether the application calls for stainless steel, aluminum, brass, or other specialty alloys, the company’s immediate access to over 2,000 commonly specified and hard-to-find materials allows Boker’s to deliver consistent part quality repeatably for short, medium, or long runs,” the release stated. In addition, on-site tumbling and deburring operations are said to ensure a consistent finish of each part manufactured.
Insert molded components are used in applications that include electrical housings, sensor components, fastener assemblies, structural parts, and more. They are reported to offer several key advantages, including greater design flexibility and increased versatility; improved strength and durability; reduced weight of the final component; and better protection of base metal material to resist corrosion over time.
“The bonded, single-integrated final part can withstand vibration, impact, and harsh conditions, making it ideal for use in everything from medical devices to military-grade equipment,” the company said in the release.
Simplifying the supply chain for OEMs and injection molders
Traditionally, OEMs source metal inserts and insert molding services separately—often from different suppliers—and manage the entire process. As more product manufacturers are looking for increased efficiency and speed-to-market, many industries are shifting toward a more streamlined approach. Plastics manufacturers and injection molders are now taking on more of the sourcing responsibility for insert molded parts.
Some are partnering with Boker’s, a company with “a long-term proven record for delivering precision stampings and washers with quick turnaround times, and ensuring metal inserts are mold-ready upon delivery,” the release stated. “As a true end-to-end provider, Boker’s in-house tooling capability provides support in the design stage, delivering speed-to-respond and helping control development and overall costs.”
“For many years, our customers have relied on Boker’s for our knowledge and expertise producing metal stamped components for a variety of applications, including insert molding,” said Kersey. “As industries shift and new materials become available, we continue to hone our craft and build our knowledge base in specific areas, such as insert molding.”
Boker’s, a certified woman-owned manufacturer of precision stampings and non-standard washers and spacers, maintains a Quality Management System that is AS 9100:2016 and ISO 9001:2015 certified.
“Since 1919, Boker’s has been helping solve design engineering challenges with quality components, world-class customer service, and fast delivery,” the release stated. “That’s why companies who rely on insert molded parts trust Boker’s to manufacture the precise, made-to-order metal stampings for applications in OEM products in almost every industry across the globe.”