LEGO bricks are primarily manufactured through a process called plastic injection moulding.
The Injection Moulding Process
The manufacturing of LEGO bricks begins with tiny plastic granules. These granules are the raw material for creating the iconic interlocking bricks.
Inside a specialized moulding machine, these plastic granules undergo a transformation:
- Heating: The plastic granules are superheated to a high temperature, specifically around 230 degrees Celsius. This intense heat melts the solid plastic into a liquid state.
- Injection: The molten plastic is then fed into moulds located inside the machine. These moulds are precision-engineered to create the exact shape and dimensions of each type of LEGO brick.
- Cooling & Ejection: (While not explicitly stated in the provided reference, this is a standard part of injection moulding) Once the plastic fills the mould, it cools and solidifies rapidly. The finished brick is then ejected from the mould, ready for quality checks and packaging.
This process allows for the mass production of highly consistent and durable LEGO bricks, ensuring they fit together perfectly regardless of when or where they were made.
