Injection Molding Industry The injection molding industry is a very important application of industrial air compressors. Plastic injection molding began in 1872 when the first molding machine was invented and patented by brothers Isaiah and John Hyatt, the inventors of this relatively simple machine used to mold buttons, hair combs, and other small items. This indicated the beginning of the plastics manufacturing industry followed by Arthur Eichengrün developed the first injection molding press in 1919 and in 1939, patented the injection molding of plasticized cellulose acetate. During the 1930s, the plastics manufacturing industry saw immense progress. At this time, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, and polyolefins, some of the best-known thermoplastic materials, were invented. The next major advancement in the plastic injection molding process was the development of the extrusion screw injection machine in 1946. The inventor James Watson Hendry gained greater control over the injection process by creating this machine and producing higher-quality plastic. However, his next invention is what brought a significant change in the plastic injection molding industry, he included gas in this manufacturing process, that enabled to create plastic products that were hollow, long, and complex. Eventually, the plastics industry began to compete with the steel industry because it was able to produce light yet robust plastic components at a much more affordable and faster rate. In the plastic forming industry, compressed air is used to blow molded plastic into the desired shape. This process requires a consistent and high-quality source of compressed air to ensure that the plastic is evenly distributed and shaped correctly. ELGi Screw air compressors equipped with filtration systems that remove moisture and other contaminants from the compressed air are ideal for this application because they can deliver a steady flow of compressed air at a constant pressure, ensuring that the plastic is formed correctly every time. Plastic injection molding in the future will ideally be a greener method of manufacturing. Increased sustainability is one of the future improvements that will involve the use of recyclable, renewable, and reclaimable plastic materials.