By Jeffrey A. Charlton

The new millennium brought with it more than just the guarantee of new innovations and advances in the development of new dip molded products, It also marked the fiftieth century of the utilization of molding in the creating of consumer goods. References to dip molding date back to ancient times, as early as 3000 BC in Crete and Egypt. Candles are mentioned in Biblical writings as early as the tenth century BC. A fragment of a candle from the first century has been found in Avignon, France. While this candle was most certainly hand made, the manufacturers of dip molded and dip coated products in the twenty first century have the opportunity to utilize an array of full and semi automated systems to produce higher volumes with increased repeatability and reduced waste. From candles to components for the latest in artificial human hearts, dip molded components play an increasing role in our everyday lives. As with any product utilized in the consumer and medical fields, the governing agencies that control the criteria for the approved use of these devices are increasing their standards. Recently the United States Federal Drug Administration (FDA) disclosed its plans to tighten the glove standards. The rapid expansion of new products and technology in the medical device field has created an abundance of entrepreneurial companies. The critical decision facing these new and existing manufactures is the correct choice for the type of production equipment to be utilized.

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Selection Criteria for Dip Molding Machines