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Amid global tensions and tariffs, the global manufacturing company is unveiling a new offering that strengthens its portfolio and enhances its digital supply chain network.
Fictiv today announced the debut of GlobalFlex, an injection molding solution the company has engineered to mitigate global supply chain disruptions and optimize costs.
According to the company, GlobalFlex integrates tooling inserts produced in China with Fictiv’s mold frames, assembled across next-generation manufacturing facilities in China, the United States, and Mexico. The company said its new offering leverages the speed and cost efficiencies of overseas production while enabling manufacturers to rapidly pivot to domestic production in response to shifts in demand or tariffs.
Rapid fabrication of inserts
GlobalFlex is the latest in Fictiv’s suite of injection molding solutions in North America. Its US partner network supports traditional molding approaches with aluminum tooling options for prototypes and steel options for production volumes. Fictiv said it also partners with shops that use Mantle, an automated tool-making system that combines CNC machining, 3D printing, and industry-standard tool steels to rapidly fabricate injection molding inserts. The Mantle system allows for precision tooling with speed at what the company said is a globally competitive price.
“Now more than ever, agility and regional flexibility are critical for maintaining resilient supply chains,” said Robbie Long, a product marketing manager at Fictiv. “Our expanded suite of injection molding offerings exemplifies our commitment to innovation, seamlessly streamlining operations and empowering manufacturers to navigate today’s volatile global trade market.”
Additionally, Fictiv’s production injection molding import program enables full production molds to be built in China and deployed into its US or Mexico manufacturing partner network.
Addressing global disruptions
Today’s manufacturing environment is constantly burdened by global disruptions such as tariffs, extreme weather events, labor shortages, logistics bottlenecks, and trade conflicts, which constitute unprecedented challenges and risks. Fictiv is addressing these concerns directly, ensuring manufacturers have the tools to shift production as needed while supporting domestic manufacturing initiatives, sustainability goals, and closer proximity to customers.
“Now more than ever, agility and regional flexibility are critical for maintaining resilient supply chains,” said Robbie Long, a product marketing manager at Fictiv. “Our expansion suite of injection molding offerings exemplifies our commitment to innovation, seamlessly streamlining operations and empowering manufacturers to navigate today’s volatile global trade market.”
Fictiv has built a connected digital supply chain for custom manufacturing by partnering with qualified suppliers worldwide, managed by in-region experts at four global Supply Chain Centers of Excellence in the U.S., Mexico, India, and China. Its engineering, quality, and strategic sourcing and logistics teams provide streamlined access to a resilient supply chain for custom mechanicals, complete with digital tools for online quoting, design for manufacturability (DFM) feedback, and project management. This solution accelerates time-to-market, de-risks global supply chains, and scales with business growth.
Long told PlasticsToday that GlobalFlex’s hybrid manufacturing approach can address the challenges of supply chain disruptions.
“GlobalFlex tooling is an inventive approach to the age-old problem of creating tools to transfer from one geography to another with minimal disruptions,” he said. “GlobalFlex integrates tooling inserts produced in China with Fictiv’s mold frames, assembled across next-generation manufacturing facilities in China, the United States, and Mexico.”
Long explained the offering leverages the speed and cost efficiencies of overseas production while enabling manufacturers to rapidly pivot to domestic production or to whichever region is most efficient in terms of cost, speed, and quality.
“The smaller and more easily moved inserts can be moved from one location to another within days for the next production run,” he said. “By having frames that will accept the plug-and-play inserts in these different regions, the setup and validation process is easier and faster. It also provides more geographic flexibility — critical when considering tariffs and other disruptions. This flexibility gives customers the confidence to move forward with their injection molding projects.”
Cautionary note on tariffs
Potential tariffs continue to be a source of uncertainty, and Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) President and CEO Matt Seaholm said recently that while a strong and secure nation is fundamental to economic growth and industrial stability, the organization is concerned about the new tariffs and their impact on US plastics manufacturing and jobs.
“While we understand President Trump’s rationale, a blanket tariff policy could have significant economic consequences, disrupting the movement of essential machines, products, and materials that keep American manufacturers running,” he said. “A competitive industry requires policies that protect high-quality jobs and ensure stable supply chains across sectors like healthcare, consumer products, and automotive. A strategic, measured approach to trade is critical to strengthening — not inadvertently harming — US industry.”
Flexibility will be a key in this environment, and Long pointed out that customers sourcing parts in Asia might fear additional tariffs will increase costs and have other negative impacts before they are able to produce parts.
“Fictiv’s GlobalFlex enables shifting to a different region with better duties,” he said. “This regional flexibility is critical in today’s fast-moving trade environment and shifts in global demand.”
Amid a combination of overseas and domestic manufacturing, Long explained that Fictiv invests heavily in in-region personnel for project management, quality, processing, and logistics.
“These ‘boots-on-the-ground’ are key to providing a consistent and repeatable process and outcome no matter where we provide parts,” he said. “All of our projects are scrutinized both by the manufacturer and passed through our facility for a final quality check to ensure that the customer’s standards are met or exceeded. We have master molders in each region to oversee the installation and validation of each tool.”
Moreover, advances in next-generation manufacturing technologies in China, the United States, and Mexico can contribute to the scalability and flexibility of GlobalFlex’s production model, and Long said he sees emerging trends that may shape the future of hybrid manufacturing in the plastics industry.
Geographical flexibility
“I am on the ground today in China and see the urgency with which automation and new techniques are adopted within our supply chain,” he said. “From robotics to improvements in processing or machinery, our system provides customers with instant scale through our network. GlobalFlex enables flexibility in production location.”
Long pointed out that hybrid manufacturing has been a dream of the industry since the beginning of his manufacturing career in 2001, and he noted it has made large strides in the last 10 years with machines that can produce more parts with better efficiencies of scale in the 3D-printing arena.
“Also, technologies like Mantle are providing the ability to automate tool insert construction,” he said. “This technology has unlocked some of the advantages that have long been touted for printing tool inserts like conformal cooling and speed to create molds. With its novel approach of printing and machining in the green form before sintering, this is a process custom designed to serve the injection molding industry and will make it even more efficient and easier to provide better quality outcomes.”
Long also noted that having a digital manufacturing network on your side provides instant scale as well as an agnostic approach to the process.
“Since we have proficient partners in many different processes, we have the freedom to provide the best approach for each situation regardless of geographical location or process,” he concluded. “To a hammer, every problem looks like a nail; we have the ability to look at the whole toolbox for the best solution to a customer’s situation and are not beholden to the equipment that we have in the back of our building.”
SOURCE Fictiv
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