Estimator documentation
The CRETAPlast estimator is a technical and commercial tool for guiding plastic-product projects from an early idea to a preliminary manufacturing, tooling, production and packaging strategy.
01 · Process
Before assuming injection molding, it helps assess whether the product appears suitable for injection molding or whether geometry, volume or requirements suggest considering alternatives such as extrusion, rotational molding, thermoforming or additive manufacturing / 3D printing.
02 · Input
A part can be estimated from a known part weight, dimensions or a 3D model. The project can also start from an idea, a design in development, a defined part or an existing mold.
03 · Scope
It can assess a single part, multiple independent parts or a product made of several parts within the same technical and economic evaluation.
04 · Economics
A project can be studied from the production volume you need or from a target price per part. The estimator can compare expected economics with that target and explore strategy changes.
Scope
Helps identify whether injection molding appears to be the right path before estimating tooling and production.
Accepts different levels of part information so estimation can begin earlier in a project.
Evaluates standalone parts, groups of independent parts or complete multi-part products.
Estimates cavities and configurations and can compare one-mold and multi-mold approaches.
May suggest more than one mold when splitting capacity or adding redundancy can reduce operational or supply risk.
Guides compatible, economically appropriate machine selection and estimates preliminary cycle time.
Combines material, consumption, cycle, machine and volume into preliminary production economics.
Can include secondary operations, finishing, packaging and labeling when the project requires them.
The workbench lets users review parameters and compare alternatives rather than treating the first result as fixed.
The tool documents capabilities, inputs and outputs, but does not publish proprietary costing formulas and does not replace engineering validation.
Scenarios
The estimator makes the decisions behind the result visible: process, material, cavities, number of molds, machine, cycle, volume, target price, secondary operations and packaging. This makes it possible to compare scenarios before committing to tooling or production.
FAQ
No. The initial assessment can indicate whether injection molding appears suitable or whether another process should be considered. This guidance is preliminary and does not mean CRETAPlast provides every alternative process.
Yes. Depending on project maturity, you can work from known part weight, dimensions or a 3D model.
Yes. It can evaluate multi-part products as well as multiple independent parts and consider their combined production and economic impact.
It can compare the preliminary estimate with a target price and help evaluate changes in volume, cavities, number of molds, machine, cycle, material, finishing or packaging.
For some projects or production volumes, spreading output across multiple molds can increase capacity, create redundancy and reduce the impact of a tooling stoppage. The system can evaluate that strategy when appropriate.
No. It is a preliminary estimate for studying feasibility, manufacturing strategy and economics. A binding commercial quotation requires project review by CRETAPlast.