Where plastics sit in the machine
Look at any vacuum and most of what you see is moulded plastic: the body shell, the handle, the dust bin, the wand fittings, the floor head, the dock and the buttons. Each part has a different job, and so a different resin may suit it. The shell needs stiffness, a good surface and impact strength. The dust bin needs clarity or good dimensional stability and a surface that releases dust. The motor housing needs heat resistance and flame resistance. The floor head needs wear resistance at the edges and a stable fit. A single resin for everything is rare, even in a low-cost machine.
Plastic selection also drives tooling: the resin's shrinkage, flow behaviour and cooling time decide how a mould is cut, how many cavities it can have and how quickly it cycles. Since moulds are the large fixed cost of ODM programs, a resin change after the mould is cut is not a cheap fix. This is why the resin appears early in the specification, as discussed in OEM vs ODM for vacuum cleaners.
The main resins compared
| Resin | Typical vacuum use | Strengths | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABS | Body shells, handles, floor head covers, bin lids | Good impact strength and surface finish, easy to paint, texture or print, wide supplier base | Moderate chemical and UV resistance; yellows in sun if not stabilised; needs flame-retardant grades near heat |
| PP | Bins, filter frames, hose cuffs, internal ducts, robot chassis parts | Light, tough at low temperature, chemical resistant, low cost, good living hinges | Harder to paint; more shrink and warp; surface less glossy |
| PC / ABS blend | Premium shells, battery casings, impact-critical parts | Better impact and heat resistance than ABS | Higher resin cost; stress-cracking with some cleaners |
| PC or PET (clear) | Transparent bins and dust cups | Clear, rigid, scratch behaviour varies by grade | Static build-up; scratch and chemical sensitivity |
| PA (nylon), glass filled | Gears, brush holders, motor mounts | Stiff, wear resistant, heat tolerant | Moisture absorption affects dimensions; costlier |
| TPE / TPU | Grips, bumper rings, seals, soft-touch pads | Soft feel, vibration damping, sealing | Bond to the base resin must be tested; wear at edges |
Grade matters as much as family. An ABS used for a handle and one used near a motor can be quite different compounds, and a PP with talc or glass filler behaves differently from a plain homopolymer. Ask the plant for the resin grade name and supplier code, not just the family, and for the datasheet values on impact, heat deflection and flame rating.
Flame resistance and heat
Parts near the motor, the battery and the electronics fall under the fire hazard requirements of IEC/EN 60335-1 and the vacuum-specific IEC/EN 60335-2-2, and under UL 1017 in North America. These standards refer to flammability classifications of the plastics used in different locations, so the resin choice for the motor housing, the battery casing and the switch parts is part of the safety file. Flame-retardant additives raise cost, can change colour range and surface finish, and bring their own compliance topics. The usual practice is to use the flame-retardant grade only where the file requires it, and a standard grade for the outer shell and cosmetic parts.
Recycled content and what can be said
Recycled resin is increasingly requested by retail and brand buyers. Post-consumer and post-industrial recycled ABS and PP are both available, with different variability. Recycled grades can reduce the colour range to greys and blacks, add visible flow marks or specks, and shift the mechanical properties between lots, so structural and safety-critical parts are usually kept on virgin or tightly controlled grades. Where the brand wants to make a recycled-content claim, the claim should be supported by documents from the resin supplier, such as a certification of the recycled share under a recognised scheme, and the percentage should be written as the actual range supported. The wider topic is in sustainability claims for vacuums. Avoid unsupported words such as eco-friendly without a basis.
Finish, colour and tooling points
- Texture and gloss. A spark-eroded or chemically etched texture hides sink marks and wear; high-gloss shows every flaw and needs a more expensive polish and process.
- Colour matching. Provide a physical colour reference and an agreed tolerance. Colour drift between batches and between ABS and PP parts is a frequent visual complaint.
- Wall thickness and ribs. Even walls reduce warp and sink; ribs add stiffness but show on the visible face if poorly placed.
- Weld lines and gates. Their positions determine the strength and appearance of the shell; ask for the gate location at the drawing stage.
- Screw bosses and snap fits. These are the repeated points of assembly and the most likely to crack after drops.
- Material traceability. Lot labelling on resin bags and a record of the moulding parameters show process control.
Compliance and checks
- RoHS declarations for the resin, colourants and any flame retardant system, with the supplier name and the date.
- REACH declarations, including substances of very high concern, for plastics and elastomers, requested per project; see RoHS and REACH for vacuum plastics.
- Flammability class and heat resistance data for the motor housing and the battery casing parts.
- Impact and drop checks on the finished machine, with the drop height agreed in the order.
- Incoming and in-process checks for colour, flash and warp, using a golden sample approved by the buyer.
The checks above belong to the programs described on quality control and testing and inspection, which the desk coordinates with partner plants.
Spare parts and housings
Plastic parts are also spares: bins, lids, filter frames, brush heads and docks. A repeat order for a bin or a lid depends on the mould, which usually remains at the plant that made it, so agree in writing who holds the mould and how spare parts can be ordered after the main run. The same applies to the bins and bags in dust bags and bins and the hoses in hoses and attachments. For quantities and timing, read MOQ and lead time, and send your drawings and target market through the quote form.