What is the difference? - Molded vs Fabricated Fittings

In the world of PVC fittings there are two main types of construction. The majority of fittings available on the market are what is called molded. That means they are made by injecting hot plastic into a pre-made mold. This technique is generally used for the best-selling fitting types and sizes as it lends itself to mass production.

The other way PVC (and CPVC) fittings are made is by fabrication. This is a more involved process that involves using PVC parts to create a new fitting. Manufacturers may cut, weld, and bend PVC to construct a fitting that cannot be easily molded. As you can imagine, this process is less automated than injection molding. For this reason, fabricated fittings tend to be more expensive than standard parts. They also are usually large diameter or rarely used fittings. Some manufacturers choose to fabricate some parts because it is more cost effective than creating a special mold for something that will rarely be used.

On the flip side of this, some manufacturers like Spears have started to make lines of injection molded large diameter fittings. Builders and contractors sometimes prefer molded fittings because they are made from one solid piece and their dimensions tend to be more accurate. You can usually tell a molded fitting from a fabricated fitting by the part number. Fabricated fittings will usually have an “F” at the end while molded fittings will not.

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