There are some differences between tube drawing and wire drawing:

1.Tube drawing is performed on hollow profiles, while wire drawing is performed on wires or rods23.

2.Tube drawing may require a mandrel inside the tube to support the inner diameter and prevent
collapse, while wire drawing does not need a mandrel.

3.Tube drawing may change the tube thickness depending on the process parameters, while wire
drawing usually reduces the thickness proportionally to the diameter.

4.Tube drawing is often used to improve the surface finish and dimensional accuracy of tubes, while wire
drawing is mainly used to produce long lengths of small cross-sections for various applications.
Feature Extrusion Drawing Forging

Material is forced through a Material is pulled or drawn Material is shaped by applying

Process die to create a continuous through a die to reduce its compressive force, typically
profile or shape cross-section or form a wire using a hammer or press

Operation Continuous or batch

Continuous process Batch process
Type process

Can produce complex cross- Primarily used for reducing Can produce a wide range of
Shape
sectional shapes and cross-section or forming shapes, including complex
Complexity
profiles long, uniform shapes geometries

Can process both metals

Primarily used for metals, Primarily used for metals,
Material and non-metals, including
such as steel, aluminum, including steel, aluminum,
Types alloys, plastics, and
and copper titanium, etc.
ceramics

Strength and High strength and density High strength and density High strength and density can
Density can be achieved can be achieved be achieved

Generally smooth surface Generally smooth surface Generally smooth surface

Surface Finish
finish finish finish

Tolerance Excellent dimensional Excellent dimensional

Good dimensional control
Control control control

Production
High production rate High production rate Moderate production rate
Rate

Primarily used for small to Can produce small to large-

Size Range Can produce large profiles
medium-sized profiles sized parts

Moderate to high Moderate equipment and Moderate to high equipment

Cost
equipment and tooling cost tooling cost and tooling cost

Automotive, aerospace, and

Structural components,
Wire production, tubing, industrial applications, where
Applications tubes, rods, and complex
and precision components strength and durability are
profiles
critical
Feature Injection Molding Blow Molding

Air pressure is used to inflate a hollow

Molten material is injected into a mold
Process thermoplastic parison and shape it
cavity to form a solid object
against a mold

Operation Type Batch or continuous process Primarily a continuous process

Solid objects, complex shapes, and parts Hollow objects, containers, bottles, and
Product Type
with varying thickness parts with a uniform wall thickness

Two halves that close together to form a Two halves that form a cavity and a core,
Mold Design
complete cavity allowing for hollow parts

Wide range of materials, including

Primarily used for thermoplastics, such
Material Types thermoplastics, elastomers, and certain
as polyethylene, polypropylene, and PVC
thermosetting plastics

Wall Thickness
Excellent control over wall thickness Uniform wall thickness
Control

Surface Finish Generally smooth surface finish Generally smooth surface finish

Tolerance
Excellent dimensional control Good dimensional control
Control

Production
High production rate Moderate to high production rate
Rate

Moderate to high tooling and equipment

Tooling Cost High tooling and equipment cost
cost

Primarily used for medium-sized to large-

Size Range Can produce small to large-sized parts
sized objects

Cost-effective for large-volume

Cost Efficiency Cost-effective for high-volume production
production

Automotive, electronics, consumer goods, Bottles, containers, packaging, and

Applications
medical devices, and more hollow objects for various industries
Feature Blow Molding Stretch Blow Molding

Air pressure inflates a hollow parison Two-stage process: Preform is first injection
Process against a mold to form a hollow molded, then reheated and stretched before
object blowing against a mold

Operation Type Primarily a continuous process Two-stage process

Hollow objects, containers, bottles,

High-quality bottles and containers with precise
Product Type and parts with a uniform wall
neck finishes and complex shapes
thickness

Two halves that form a cavity and a Two halves that form a cavity and a core,
Mold Design
core, allowing for hollow parts allowing for hollow parts

Primarily used for thermoplastics,

Primarily used for PET (polyethylene
Material Types such as polyethylene, polypropylene,
terephthalate)
and PVC

Wall Thickness
Uniform wall thickness Uniform wall thickness
Control

Surface Finish Generally smooth surface finish Generally smooth surface finish

Tolerance
Good dimensional control Good dimensional control
Control

Production
Moderate to high production rate Moderate to high production rate
Rate

Moderate to high tooling and

Tooling Cost Moderate to high tooling and equipment cost
equipment cost

Primarily used for medium-sized to Primarily used for small to medium-sized

Size Range
large-sized objects bottles and containers

Cost-effective for large-volume

Cost Efficiency Cost-effective for large-volume production
production

Bottles, containers, packaging, and Beverage bottles, personal care products, food
Applications
hollow objects for various industries containers, and more
Feature Injection Blow Molding Stretch Blow Molding

Combination of injection molding and blow Stretching and blowing a preform to

Process
molding processes form a hollow object

Operation Type Two-stage process Two-stage process

Small to medium-sized bottles and Bottles and containers with complex

Product Type
containers with precise neck finishes shapes and precise neck finishes

Two halves that form a cavity and a core, Two halves that form a cavity and a
Mold Design
allowing for hollow parts core, allowing for hollow parts

Primarily used for thermoplastics, such as Primarily used for PET (polyethylene
Material Types
polyethylene and polypropylene terephthalate)

Wall Thickness
Good dimensional control Good dimensional control
Control

Surface Finish Generally smooth surface finish Generally smooth surface finish

Tolerance
Good dimensional control Good dimensional control
Control

Production Rate Moderate production rate Moderate to high production rate

Moderate to high tooling and equipment Moderate to high tooling and

Tooling Cost
cost equipment cost

Primarily used for small to medium-sized Primarily used for small to medium-
Size Range
bottles and containers sized bottles and containers

Cost-effective for moderate-volume Cost-effective for moderate to high-

Cost Efficiency
production volume production

Personal care products, pharmaceuticals, Beverage bottles, personal care

Applications
and small containers products, food containers, and more
Feature Extrusion Molding Injection Molding

Material is forced through a die to create a Molten material is injected into a mold
Process
continuous profile or shape cavity to form a solid object

Operation Type Continuous process Batch or continuous process

Continuous profiles, tubes, rods, and Complex shapes, intricate parts, and
Product Type
simple cross-sectional shapes objects with varying thickness

Two halves that close together to form a

Mold Design Continuous die or profile
complete cavity

Wide range of materials, including Wide range of materials, including

Material Types thermoplastics, elastomers, and certain thermoplastics, elastomers, and certain
thermosetting plastics thermosetting plastics

Wall Thickness
Good control over wall thickness Excellent control over wall thickness
Control

Surface Finish Generally smooth surface finish Generally smooth surface finish

Tolerance
Good dimensional control Excellent dimensional control
Control

Production
High production rate High production rate
Rate

Moderate to high tooling and equipment

Tooling Cost High tooling and equipment cost
cost

Size Range Primarily used for large profiles Can produce small to large-sized parts

Cost Efficiency Cost-effective for high-volume production Cost-effective for high-volume production

Structural components, tubes, rods, and Automotive, electronics, consumer goods,

Applications
simple profiles medical devices, and more
Feature Extrusion Molding Forging

Material is forced through a Material is shaped by filling Material is shaped by

Process die to create a continuous a mold and allowing it to applying compressive force
profile or shape solidify to deform it

Operation
Continuous process Batch or continuous process Batch process
Type

Shape Suitable for simple to complex Suitable for various shapes Suitable for various shapes
Complexity profiles and sizes and sizes

Wide range of materials, Wide range of materials,

Material Types including metals, plastics, and including metals, plastics, Primarily used for metals
ceramics and ceramics

Strength and High strength and density can High strength and density High strength and density
Density be achieved can be achieved can be achieved

Generally smooth surface Generally smooth surface Generally smooth surface

Surface Finish
finish finish finish

Tolerance Excellent dimensional

Good dimensional control Good dimensional control
Control control

Production Moderate to high

High production rate Moderate production rate
Rate production rate

Moderate to high tooling Moderate to high tooling

Tooling Cost Moderate to high tooling cost
cost cost

Can produce small to large- Can produce small to large- Can produce small to large-
Size Range
sized profiles sized parts sized parts

Cost-effective for high-volume Cost-effective for medium Cost-effective for medium

Cost Efficiency
production to high-volume production to high-volume production

Various consumer goods,

Structural components, tubes, Automotive, aerospace,
Applications automotive parts,
rods, and profiles and industrial applications
packaging, and more