Warning, warning! Hurricane knobs have been spotted at Davies Molding in Carol Stream, IL!

We want to spotlight a product that we first introduced in 1997. This product is our "Hurricane" style bar knob or two-arm knob. They are constructed of thermoplastic material and can be made in a variety of colors. These knobs are often referred to as "Hurricane Knobs" due to their ergonomically designed shape. They are available with female inserts (2020 series) as well as projecting studs (2022 series). Contact our team to find the knob that will fit your application Request a Quote.

Davies Molding has been molding plastic components for over 80 years. We specialize in loading inserts (threaded fasteners) directly into components as plastic solidifies around the mounting. This process, insert molding, maximizes torque strength for demanding requirements. 

There are a variety of inserts we can mold into plastic components. These include: threaded inserts, threaded thru-hole inserts, projecting studs, bushings and hex nuts.  The inserts are placed into our molds and then the material flows around them creating one solid part. We insert mold using both thermoplastic and thermoset materials.

Advantages of Insert Molding

• Increased part functionality
• Reduced production time
• Increased part consistency
• Increased design flexibility
• Assembly made easy

If you're interested in learning more about insert molding and our molding capabilities, please contact us at info@daviesmolding.com or visit www.daviesmolding.com.

Shifter knobs can be found in vehicles, cranes, tractors, and other types of machinery where manipulating gears are required. Davies’ shifter knobs can be customized to meet specific requirements such as operating instructions or customer logos. Secondary operations include laser engraving, pad printing, or hot stamping, applying inlays or mylars, color matching, drilling, machining, and a new finishing trend- hydrographic printing.

Hydrographic printing is a popular trend for adding customizable designs, colors, and textures to shift knobs.  As you might have guessed, it's a water-based printing process and a  high gloss polyurethane hydrographics clearcoat makes the printing durable and long-lasting.

 Spectrum Industries, does a good job of describing the process in 6 easy steps.

1) Parts are loaded onto custom tooling.

2) Parts are prepped by washing or painting.

3) Parts are dried.

4) Parts are dipped in the hydrographic printing bath.

5) Top coat is applied based on the application for the part.  Exterior and Interior durability options.

6) Parts are inspected before shipping.

Check out this neat video of how hydrographic printing works.

Plastic knobs designed for heavy equipment and industrial use are available in a wide range of sizes, but the most popular are ball and lever knobs.  Our ball and lever knobs come in a variety of styles and sizes and are available in phenolic, nylon, or polypropylene. Phenolic materials are typcially stonger that thermoplastics like nylon, and are a popular choice for durable, long-lastic shifter knobs.  However, thermoplastic materials such as nylon have a high impact strength, and can be molded into just about any color you can dream up.  And now with hydrographic printing, you can choose the material you want and add a customizable finish that makes it yours.  Want more information?  Check out our hydrographic printing info page or call us at 1-800-554-9208.

Quality needs to continue even after your plastic knob or handle has been made.  Improperly packaged parts can cause defective goods, resulting in lost manufacturing time and lost revenue. Davies Molding provides a variety of packaging requirements such as bagging, layer packaging, clamshell or blister packaging, and bar code labelling to make sure your plastic knobs and handles arrive securely packed the way you need it.  Here is a list of some specialized packaging for plastic knobs and handles:

• Bagging: Thermoset Phenolic Knobs are durable and heat-resistant, but can be prone to chipping if not packaged properly.  Wrapping and bagging are important for phenolic knobs to ensure they arrive for your project in proper shape. At Davies Molding, we make sure our phenolic knobs are packed properly to arrive in pristine condition

• Egg Crate Packaging: Just as the name implies, we pack some of our knobs that require extra care in egg crate style packaging.  This is important for knobs shipped long distances and with intricate designs

• Layer Packaging: Layer packing is a cost-effective way to pack knobs and handles for long distance shipping and keeps the parts in an easy-to store package for longer-term storage. Thin cardboard inserts separate each layer and protect the knobs from chipping

• Barcode Labeling: In addition to offering packaging that protects your plastic knobs and handles, Davies Molding provides bar code labeling to track and  identify the parts at your manufacturing facility.

Need help deciding which packaging might work best for your plastic part?  Call us today at 1-800-554-9208 for more information. 

On October 4, Davies Molding will join other US manufacturers in celebrating National Manufacturers’ Day  It's our chance to highlight the importance of manufacturing to the American economy and draw attention to the many rewarding high-skill jobs to be found in manufacturing.  Davies Molding is hosting a Facility Tour on Friday, October 4 as part of the National Manufacturing Day celebration. We are inviting students from local schools to participate and learn about real career opportunities in manufacturing. Facility tours will be scheduled 9:30 -10:30 a.m. and 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. on October 4, and will consist of 5-10 students per group.  Participants will tour the facility, meet with members of our management team to answer questions, and enjoy refreshments.

Call Janice Davis at 630-614-7870 to schedule your group or register online at www.mfgday.org

Thank you in advance for your interest in our Manufacturing Day event!