---
title: "Top 10 Reasons to Build Bridge Tooling"
url: https://www.precisionmoldedplastics.com/blog/top-10-reasons-to-build-bridge-tooling/
date: 2023-02-06
modified: 2023-04-21
lang: en
author: "Ash Brown"
description: "At the beginning of a plastic injection molding program, investing in bridge tooling (e.g., family molds) to bridge the gap between R&D/prototypes and multi-cavity production tools can be a good, cost-effective approach to take. Here are 10 reasons why."
categories:
  - "Blog"
image: https://www.precisionmoldedplastics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Bridge-image-2-1024x682.jpg
word_count: 354
---

# Top 10 Reasons to Build Bridge Tooling

At the beginning of a plastic injection molding program, investing in **bridge tooling** (e.g., family molds) to bridge the gap between R&D/prototypes and multi-cavity production tools can be a good, cost-effective approach to take. Here are 10 reasons why.

**1.** It’s **LESS EXPENSIVE** to build fewer, low-volume molds, than it is to fabricate more, multi-cavity, high-volume tools.

> *Fewer Molds *👉🏻* Less Labor + Fewer Materials *👉🏻* Lower Initial Investment*

**2.** Bridge tools give you the ability to **PRODUCE PARTS AT SCALE**, which is cost prohibitive for methods like 3D printing.

> *Generally speaking, injection molding is faster *⏩* and*
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> *cheaper *💰* than additive manufacturing*

**3.** It’s **USUALLY QUICKER** to get bridge tools built and validated, so you can get to market sooner.

> *Fewer molds to build + Lower complexity tooling = Shorter build time*

**4.** Selling your product sooner means having the ability to test the market and to start garnering **MARKET SHARE **and demand.

> *Start selling *🏪* and marketing *📣* your product!*
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> *Find out what works *👍🏻* and what doesn’t *👎🏻*!*

**5.** Sales results in **WORKING CAPITAL**, which will help fund the fabrication of multiple cavity, high-volume molds later.

> *Sales = *💲💲💲

**6.** Selling product will provide you with valuable **MARKET FEEDBACK** on functionality, issues, pricing, etc.

> *Your customers will tell you what they like, don’t like, and want!*
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> 🙂😐🙁

**7.** Actually molding parts will uncover areas of improvement in **PART DESIGN, TOOLING AND MANUFACTURING**.

> *Your molder can identify* 🔬 *part and mold design changes* 🛠️
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> *to optimize part quality* ⚙️ *and the manufacturing process* 🏭

**8.** Insights gleaned from the market and from suppliers can be used to **REVISE AND IMPROVE** your product.

> *Designers* 👩‍🎨*, engineers *👨‍💻 *and mold builders* 👨‍🔧 *can collaborate*
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> *to improve* 📈 *the parts, processes and program*

**9.** You can continue **SELLING PRODUCT** while designing, building and testing the multi-cavity, high-volume tools.

> *Generate revenue* 💵 *and market the product* 📢
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> *while molds are being built* 👩‍🏭 *and validated* 🏅

**10.** Once built and in production, using multi-cavity tools should result in **INCREASED PROGRAM PROFITABILITY**.

> *Multiple cavity molds* ➡️ *Shorter manufacturing time* ➡️ *Lower part prices* ➡️ *Higher margins* 😃