For reliable fabrication of both metal and plastic parts—from CNC-machined brackets to sheet metal enclosures—Smartlink combines AS9100-certified quality with integrated manufacturing across four facilities. You outsource the full mechanical scope while keeping design and IP ownership in-house. Unlike single-material specialists, we handle mixed-material assemblies, cutting your vendor count and integration risks.
The Growing Need for Integrated Metal & Plastic Fabrication
Modern industrial equipment—whether for semiconductor, automotive, aerospace, or tobacco machinery—rarely uses only metal or only plastic. A single module often requires:
- Metal parts for structural strength (brackets, frames, chassis).
- Plastic parts for insulation, weight reduction, or corrosion resistance (housings, guides, connectors).
- Sheet metal for covers, enclosures, and rack mounts.
When these come from different suppliers, tolerance stacking, assembly mismatches, and logistics delays compound. What you need is a single contract manufacturer that can fabricate both materials and, if needed, integrate them with cable harnesses into a finished module.
Smartlink: Your Single-Source Fabrication Partner
Smartlink is not a job shop. We are a contract manufacturer that takes your detailed drawings and produces ready-to-install metal and plastic components—plus complete assemblies. With over 225,000 ft² across Malaysia (Shah Alam, Penang), China (Leshan), and a dedicated sheet metal facility, we offer:
- CNC Machining: Milling and turning for metals (aluminum, steel, brass) and engineered plastics (PEEK, Delrin, Nylon, ABS).
- Sheet Metal Fabrication: Laser cutting, bending, punching, welding, and polishing for frames, kiosks, server racks, and switch cabinets.
- System Integration: We assemble your modules—including those from other CMs—into final machines.
1. Consistent Quality Across Two Material Families
Fabricating metal and plastic to the same drawing tolerances requires different process controls. Smartlink maintains ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100:D (Aerospace) certification across all material types.
- Traceability: Separate lot control for metal alloys and plastic resins.
- Inspection: CMM and optical measurement for both materials.
- Documentation: Full material certs and First Article Inspection (FAI) reports.
Note: For ultra-high precision (micron-level wafer handling or lithography modules), we defer to specialist shops. Our focus is high/medium precision—the 99% of industrial applications where reliability and cost-efficiency matter most.
2. Advanced Fabrication Technology
We don’t write your software, but we run your programs with full process control.
- Metal Capabilities: 3/4/5-axis CNC milling, CNC turning, EDM, surface grinding.
- Plastic Capabilities: CNC machining of stock shapes (no injection molding—we machine from solid bars/sheets for precision and low-to-medium volume).
- Sheet Metal: 4kW laser cutter, press brakes (up to 200 tons), welding cells, and automated punching.
- Post-Processing: Deburring, anodizing, powder coating (via approved partners), and polishing.
3. Technical Expertise: Mixed-Material Assembly Challenges
Your engineers design the ideal component—sometimes a plastic part that snaps into a metal frame. Our job is to fabricate both so they mate on the first try.
Example Challenge: An automotive test equipment client needed a portable enclosure with CNC-machined aluminum side plates and an injection-molded-like plastic front panel—but low volume made molds uneconomical.
Smartlink Solution: We CNC-machined the front panel from solid ABS sheet, achieving the required texture and snap-fit features, then assembled it to the laser-cut aluminum frame. No tooling cost, 3-week lead time, and a clean fit.
4. Customization & Scalability: Prototype to Production
Because you own the design, you control revisions. We provide flexible volumes across every stage:
| Your Need | Smartlink Approach |
|---|---|
| 5 units (prototype) | CNC machined from solid or laser cut from sheet |
| 500 units (pilot) | Optimized nesting and fixturing for cost efficiency |
| 5,000+ units (production) | Dedicated workcells with repeatable processes |
- No minimum order: We scale with your product lifecycle.
- Mixed batches: Combine metal and plastic parts in one shipment.
5. Customer-Centric Support: One PO, One Vendor, One Quality Standard
Send us your BOM and 2D/3D drawings. We handle fabrication, finishing, and—if requested—final assembly with cable harnesses and other modules.
- Design for Fabrication (DFM) review: We flag tolerance conflicts or material issues before production starts.
- Vendor aggregation: Send modules from other CMs to our integration center.
- After-sales: Spare parts and service continuity.
Proven Industry Applications
- Semiconductor: Machined PEEK handling tools, aluminum vacuum chamber ports, sheet metal equipment racks.
- Aerospace (AS9100:D): Bracket clusters mixing aluminum and self-lubricating plastic bushings.
- Automotive: Test fixture plates (metal) with cable guide inserts (plastic).
- Mining: Steel frames with impact-resistant plastic wear plates.
- Tobacco Machinery: High-speed guide rails (hardened steel + anti-friction plastic).
Conclusion: One Fabrication Partner for Metal and Plastic
You focus on product design and control software. We fabricate the metal and plastic parts that make your machines work. AS9100 certified, four global factories, integrated sheet metal and machining under one roof—Smartlink delivers precision without the overhead of managing separate vendors for every material.
Send your drawings for a rapid quote on metal, plastic, or mixed-material projects.
FAQ Section (Metal & Plastic Fabrication)
1. Do you offer plastic injection molding?
No. We specialize in CNC machining of plastics from solid stock (PEEK, Delrin, ABS, Nylon, etc.). This works well for prototypes, low-to-medium volumes, and high-precision parts. For high-volume injection molding, we can refer you to partner shops.
2. What metals can you fabricate?
Aluminum (6061, 7075, etc.), mild steel, stainless steel (303, 304, 316), brass, and copper. We don’t routinely work with exotic superalloys like Inconel or titanium—contact us for special requests.
3. Can you combine metal and plastic fabrication in one assembly?
Yes. We regularly produce subassemblies that include machined plastic components, sheet metal enclosures, and metal brackets. We also integrate cable harnesses and modules from other CMs.
4. What tolerances can I expect for plastic machined parts?
Typically +/− 0.05 mm to +/− 0.01 mm depending on geometry and material. Plastics require special consideration for thermal expansion and stress relief. We provide DFM feedback to optimize your design.
5. Do you provide finishing services like painting or anodizing?
We do in-house polishing, deburring, and light surface prep. For anodizing, powder coating, plating, or chemical finishing, we use approved local partners and manage the process—you receive ready-to-use parts.
6. How do you handle quality for mixed-material orders?
Each part is inspected against its own drawing. Assemblies are checked for fit, torque, and function. We provide separate FAI reports for metal and plastic components, plus an assembly report if required.
7. I have a design that uses sheet metal, machined parts, and a PCBA. Can you assemble everything?
Yes—with one note: we don’t populate PCBs (no SMT line). But we can mount your supplied PCBs into our fabricated enclosures, route cable harnesses, and handle final system integration. You provide the programmed boards; we provide the mechanical housing.