McClarin's Fiberglass Reinforced
Plastic Manufacturing Options: McClarin Plastics,
Inc. | 15 Industrial Drive | P.O. Box 486 | Hanover, PA 17331 | 1-800-233-3189 | Mark
Krausman - Business Development Manager ext.4205
mkrausman@mcclarinplastics.com http://www.McClarinPlastics.com
Companies are replacing steel machine enclosures
with a more contemporary, modern look, achieved with Fiberglass Reinforced Plastics
(FRP). Other common forms of conversions would be wood-to-plastic and metal-to-plastic.
Composites are broadly known as reinforced plastics. Specifically, composites are a
reinforcing fiber in a polymer matrix. Most commonly, the reinforcing fiber is fiberglass,
although high-strength fibers such as aramid and carbon are used in advanced applications.
Composites typically use thermoset resins, which begin as liquid polymers and are
converted to solids during the molding process. This process, known as crosslinking, is
irreversible. Because of this, these polymers are known as thermosets and cannot be melted
and reshaped.
Fiberglass reinforced plastics are typically noted for their strength, corrosion resistance,
style, complex shapes, shorter lead times, and numerous design applications. To extend that
flexibility even further, McClarin offers several molding techniques:
Open Molding
With hand lay-up or spray-up, and sometimes assisted by vacuum bag molding, this
process provides the quickest start-up and the most economical initial tooling investment.

Cold Molding
Cold molding uses a low pressure, room temperature cure system and matched molds made
of either metal, epoxy or polyesters. With cold molding, part tolerances are controlled more
uniformly, both surfaces are smooth and production is increased.
Resin Transfer Molding
This process is similar to cold molding, although the molds are more substantial in order to
withstand the injection of resins into the cavity. While the molds are more expensive, resin
transfer molding offers higher laminate strengths than can generally be obtained with cold
molding.
Vacuum Infusion Molding
Vacuum Infusion Molding uses a vacuum operation in conjunction with a custom-made
plastic bag that is placed over the laminate, making it possible to obtain a greater high-
fiber, high-laminate strength.
Low Pressure SMC
Low Pressure SMC is a method using a semi-processed fiberglass reinforced resin matrix.
This material is molded in heated matched metal molds.
Because McClarin Plastics offers a variety of molding techniques, supported by the latest
equipment and design technology, you will find that we can provide you with creative
solutions for meeting your volume, performance and cost objectives. We look forward to
finding the right solution for your production needs. Please call us for further information.

McClarin Plastics, Inc. | 15 Industrial Drive | P.O. Box 486 | Hanover, PA 17331 |
1-800-233-3189 | Mark Krausman - Business Development Manager ext.4205
mkrausman@mcclarinplastics.com http://www.McClarinPlastics.com