The Manufacturing Outlook

Trademark Plastics has been recognized by The Manufacturing Outlook Magazine as the exclusive recipient of “Top Custom Plastic Injection Molding Company 2026,” based on our proprietary methodology, reflecting its position in the industry, and is also named among “Top Industrial Molding Companies,” reflecting its broader leadership. This profile has been developed by the The Manufacturing Outlook research and editorial team based on insights from an interview with Benhur Edla, Head of Sales.

Trademark Plastics
Supporting Healthcare Innovation from Design to Production

Benhur Edla, Head of Sales

Turning a healthcare product design into a commercially viable product requires more than producing plastic components to specification. Companies developing medical devices, diagnostics and other healthcare products must manage material costs and supply-chain risks, meet demanding quality requirements and keep production on schedule.

Trademark Plastics Inc. (TPI), a precision injection molding and contract manufacturing company with a manufacturing footprint across the U.S. and Asia, works as a problem-solving partner to healthcare companies, addressing challenges that arise from early product design through manufacturing and commercialization. The company invests time upfront to understand each customer’s product, business goals and pain points before bringing its capabilities in design for manufacturing (DFM), prototyping, tooling, molding, assembly and validation into the program.

“Our work is beyond molding. We focus on building partnerships that solve problems,” says Jeff Estep, VP of operations.

To better support evolving customer needs, TPI invests in its people, technology and quality systems. Responsive communication and reliable delivery sustain client relationships, with a reported delivery performance of approximately 99 percent. It ultimately defines success by whether customers see TPI as a trusted, reliable partner, not by the number of orders received.

Engineering Reliable Production

Onboarding begins by identifying the customer’s challenges and product development stage. Startups may need design refinement and prototype tooling, whereas established healthcare companies may require tooling transfers, optimization or production scale-up. The ‘scoping activity’ is followed by a feasibility review involving engineering, quality, production, tooling and operations. After a project is awarded, the kickoff establishes timelines, milestones, communication frequency and risk management plans.

To help customers evaluate manufacturing decisions before production begins, TPI supports DFM, prototyping and bridge tooling, and conducts mold-flow analysis. This helps establish greater confidence in the commitments made during the quotation.

Our work is beyond molding. We focus on building partnerships that solve problems.

Production then moves through tooling, process validation and production approval. TPI’s ISO 13485-certified quality system supports controlled processes, documented work instructions and traceability from incoming raw materials to finished goods. Validation and change control help maintain customer requirements throughout a program, particularly for Class I, II and III medical devices.

Scientific molding supports production consistency, and process monitoring provides real-time visibility into key parameters. Its IQMS ERP system tracks work from bills of materials through invoicing, while cleanrooms and on-site tooling and maintenance support production. For assembly, TPI applies Lean Six Sigma concepts, mistake-proofing and defect and scrap reduction. Automation is considered when production volumes and expected benefits justify investment.

It also evaluates materials, packaging and shipping methods for savings and works with distributors, OEMs and supply-chain partners to reduce supply risk.

These capabilities help TPI address challenges beyond component production. One customer initially approached TPI with cost as its primary concern, but discussions revealed delivery and communication as key concerns. TPI invited the customer to share a few RFQ opportunities, then reviewed product mix and volumes to identify manufacturing improvements. The proposed changes identified opportunities to improve productivity and reduce manual handling. The relationship developed into an account exceeding $1 million in business over several months.

Expanding Capabilities

Customer demand also guides TPI’s capability investments, including medical twoshot molding and plans to bring pad printing in-house within a Class 8 cleanroom. Its parent company, GongDong Medical, provides engineering and automation expertise to support these developments. TPI sees opportunities to support healthcare products requiring smaller features, tighter tolerances and specialized materials. Early wireless-charging device prototypes allow it to contribute to material selection and tooling strategy from the design stage, while diagnostic applications such as point-of-care testing, fluid-handling components and cartridges present further opportunities for specialized manufacturing.

“It is about becoming more involved in solving complex manufacturing challenges and helping bring the next generation of healthcare products to market,” says Benhur Edla, Head of Sales.

Combining technical expertise with responsiveness and lasting partnerships, Trademark Plastics has earned recognition as a Top Custom Plastic Injection Molding Company 2026.

Custom Injection Molding Provider Decisions Beyond Piece Price

Custom injection molding decisions become difficult when a part cannot be judged on piece price alone. Medical and life sciences programs may involve transfer tooling or new product introduction, each carrying different demands for validation and traceability. A low quote can lose its appeal quickly if tool changes or poor yield introduce cost elsewhere. Buyers need to understand how a molder will manage the complete manufacturing path, not simply whether it can run the mold. Technical depth should be examined before capacity claims. Design for manufacturability work, mold-flow analysis, prototyping and tooling strategy can expose problems while changes are still inexpensive. That early engineering work becomes more important as parts move toward tighter tolerances or more complex geometries. A supplier should also be able to explain how it moves from design review into tool build and validation without leaving handoffs undefined. When assembly or secondary processing sits beside molding, responsibility for those steps should be equally clear. Tool ownership deserves similar attention. Maintenance access, repair turnaround and the ability to address mold issues without relying on distant outside resources can affect production continuity once a program moves beyond launch. Process discipline becomes especially important in regulated manufacturing. Buyers should examine the quality management system and change-control practices used to govern production. Material traceability from receipt through finished goods can matter as much as dimensional performance when a device program is subject to documentation requirements. Real-time monitoring can add another layer of control by showing whether key production parameters remain within defined ranges. Scientific molding and metrology only add value when tied to repeatability or better process visibility rather than treated as technology for its own sake. “Trademark Plastics’ IQMS ERP environment tracks work from bill of materials through invoicing, while in-house tooling, maintenance, automation and clean-room production support tighter control over execution.” Program economics also depend on how the supplier approaches cost reduction. Resin and logistics costs may shift, while geopolitical events can alter sourcing assumptions. A molder that can assess material alternatives, packaging methods, shipping approaches and automation gives buyers more levers than unit-price negotiation alone. Tool cavitation and assembly method may also change the economics of a program as volume rises. Labor content deserves attention when assembly remains manual because projected volume can quickly change the economics behind an initially acceptable process. The important distinction is whether the cost work is grounded in the actual manufacturing process and the customer’s expected demand. Program management can expose weaknesses that equipment lists do not. Mature tools being transferred into a new plant require a different path from an early-stage design still moving through DFM and prototype tooling. Buyers should look for a defined scoping process and a cross-functional feasibility review before award. After kickoff, communication cadence and milestone control should be explicit enough to prevent late surprises. That preparation matters when launch dates leave little room for rework. Trademark Plastics supports programs from DFM and prototyping through tooling, validation, molding and related assembly work. It operates under ISO 13485 and uses process validation while maintaining material traceability and change control for regulated programs. Its IQMS ERP environment tracks work from bill of materials through invoicing, while in-house tooling, maintenance, automation and clean-room production support tighter control over execution. The company also evaluates molding strategy and material choices when customers need to reduce costs or move work closer to U.S. production. Buyers managing medical or life sciences programs that require early engineering involvement and controlled production have the clearest reason to evaluate Trademark Plastics. ...Read more

Specials

The Manufacturing Outlook

Trademark Plastics
Supporting Healthcare Innovation from Design to Production

Our work is beyond molding. We focus on building partnerships that solve problems.

Deep Dive

Custom Injection Molding Provider Decisions Beyond Piece Price

Specials

The Manufacturing Outlook

Trademark Plastics Supporting Healthcare Innovation from Design to Production

Our work is beyond molding. We focus on building partnerships that solve problems.

Deep Dive

Custom Injection Molding Provider Decisions Beyond Piece Price

Trademark Plastics
Supporting Healthcare Innovation from Design to Production