A drawback of rotational moulding is that the cycle times are relatively long compared to other plastic fabrication processes.

Table 1 shows typical processing conditions, tooling costs and production rates associated with blow moulding, thermoforming and rotational moulding. Factor Blow moulding Rotational moulding Plastics available Plastics available Plastics available limited broad limited limited broad limited limited broad limited Feedstock pellets Feedstock pellets Feedstock pellets sheet powder/li uid sheet powder/li uid sheet powder/li uid !ould cost high !ould cost high !ould cost high moderate moderate moderate moderate moderate moderate "esidual stress "esidual stress "esidual stress moderate high low moderate high low moderate high low #ycle time fast fast #ycle time fast fast #ycle time fast fast slow slow slow Table 1$ #omparison between blow moulding and rotational moulding %n general, roto&moulding is best suited to applications where the volumes are not large. There are, of course, always e'ceptions to this generali(ation and the versatility of rotational moulding means that nowadays it is being used in most market sectors. )ver the past decade, rotational moulding has en*oyed the fastest growth rate of any manufacturing method for plastics, mainly because the economics are attractive to designers and as it is a low pressure process, the moulded parts are essentially stress&free.