{"id":"wpc-foundations30-article-014-en","slug":"wpc-manufacturing-extrusion-injection-compression-pultrusion","locale":"en","url":"https://woodplasticcomposite.net/guides/wpc-manufacturing-extrusion-injection-compression-pultrusion/","title":"WPC manufacturing: extrusion, moulding and pultrusion","answer":"Manufacturing route should follow product geometry, reinforcement form and production requirements. A process that makes a good test coupon may not make a satisfactory commercial profile.","author":"NFC & WPC Knowledge Reference","faqIds":[],"tagIds":[],"noindex":false,"related":["wpc-foundations30-article-015-en","wpc-foundations30-article-016-en"],"version":1,"modified":"2026-10-16","reviewer":"","sections":[{"id":"match-process-to-product","text":"Extrusion produces continuous profiles. Injection moulding fills a shaped cavity and suits discrete components. Compression moulding consolidates material within a mould. Pultrusion pulls reinforcement through a forming process and is especially associated with continuous reinforcement; it should not be treated as a synonym for wood-flour extrusion. [R34,R35]\n\nTwin-screw and single-screw equipment can occupy different roles in a production line. The appropriate configuration depends on feeding, mixing, venting, throughput and the material's rheology. Compounding and final shaping can be separate stages or integrated in a selected process.","heading":"Match process to product","references":[],"url":"https://woodplasticcomposite.net/guides/wpc-manufacturing-extrusion-injection-compression-pultrusion/#match-process-to-product"},{"id":"treat-200-c-as-a-guideline-not-a-switch","text":"The relatively limited thermal tolerance of wood is one reason low-processing-temperature polymers are common. However, a blanket statement that no WPC may ever exceed 200°C is too rigid. Actual degradation depends on exposure and conditions, including residence time.","heading":"Treat 200°C as a guideline, not a switch","references":[1],"url":"https://woodplasticcomposite.net/guides/wpc-manufacturing-extrusion-injection-compression-pultrusion/#treat-200-c-as-a-guideline-not-a-switch"},{"id":"an-editorial-process-control-checklist","text":"Record feedstock moisture, dosing accuracy, temperature profile, melt temperature where measured, output, pressure and rejected product. Distinguish machine settings from actual material conditions. Include start-up and shutdown material in the traceability record.\n\nA shear-thinning melt may flow differently as the process conditions change; the practical task is to establish a stable operating window rather than copying a temperature from another factory. Dimensional checks, appearance and retained mechanical performance should confirm that the chosen settings produce the intended article consistently.\n\nFor buyers, process sophistication matters most when it results in repeatable, traceable product quality.","heading":"An editorial process-control checklist","references":[],"url":"https://woodplasticcomposite.net/guides/wpc-manufacturing-extrusion-injection-compression-pultrusion/#an-editorial-process-control-checklist"},{"id":"evidence-scope","text":"[1] Research chapter; wood flour and thermal-processing context.\n\n[2] Research review; process context.\n\n[3] University technical-reading index.","heading":"Evidence and source scope","references":[1,2,3],"url":"https://woodplasticcomposite.net/guides/wpc-manufacturing-extrusion-injection-compression-pultrusion/#evidence-scope"}],"seoTitle":"WPC manufacturing: extrusion, moulding and pultrusion","topicIds":[],"published":"2026-10-16","tableText":"","takeaways":"","aiAssisted":true,"categoryId":"wpc-foundations30-category-manufacturing","reviewedAt":"","change_note":"Converted from the referenced English foundations collection. General technical information and editorial specification guidance; not product certification.","description":"Compare WPC extrusion, injection moulding, compression moulding and pultrusion, with guidance on drying, compounding, temperature and process control.","heroImageId":"","referenceIds":["wpc-foundations30-ref-r07","wpc-foundations30-ref-r34","wpc-foundations30-ref-r35"],"review_status":"AI-assisted English article. Human technical review has not been recorded.","table_caption":"","seoDescription":"Compare WPC extrusion, injection moulding, compression moulding and pultrusion, with guidance on drying, compounding, temperature and process control.","translationGroup":"wpc-foundations30-014-2026","references":[{"url":"https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/38092","type":"web","title":"Wood flour; USDA Forest Products Laboratory","noindex":false,"accessed":"2026-10-15","seoTitle":"Wood flour; USDA Forest Products Laboratory","publisher":"research.fs.usda.gov","description":"Research chapter; wood flour and thermal-processing context","seoDescription":"Research chapter; wood flour and thermal-processing context"},{"url":"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12429556/","type":"web","title":"Wood–Plastic Composites: Manufacturing, Rheology and Processing and Process Modeling","noindex":false,"accessed":"2026-10-15","seoTitle":"Wood–Plastic Composites: Manufacturing, Rheology and Processing and Process Modeling","publisher":"pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov","description":"Research review; process context","seoDescription":"Research review; process context"},{"url":"https://wpcinfo.org/technical-information/technology-and-processing/","type":"web","title":"Technology and Processing; Washington State University WPC information","noindex":false,"accessed":"2026-10-15","seoTitle":"Technology and Processing; Washington State University WPC information","publisher":"wpcinfo.org","description":"University technical-reading index","seoDescription":"University technical-reading index"}],"faqs":[]}