Metal vs Plastic Casket Handles: A Comparison
The comparison in one paragraph
Metal handles are castings, mostly Zamak #3, hand polished and plated, and they carry the higher load ratings: most commonly 120 to 150 kilograms per piece. Plastic handles are ABS or PP injection mouldings, vacuum metallised, and their load-bearing family, the steel-reinforced family, carries 35 to 50 kilograms per piece. Plain plastic pieces are decorative and carry no rating. That difference in rating, not appearance, is the main reason to choose one material over the other.
Appearance is the second difference. A plated metal handle has the weight and feel of a casting, while a metallised plastic handle has a metallic appearance at a lower weight. For a casket where weight matters, or where a large number of handles must be shipped, plastic has an advantage. For a casket where a heavy, solid handle is part of the product's character, metal has the advantage.
When to choose each
Choose metal where the casket's loaded weight needs a rating in the metal bands, where the casket is a premium product whose handle is part of its character, or where the buyer already specifies metal handles for the range. Choose steel-reinforced plastic where the rating in the 35 to 50 kilogram band is sufficient, where weight or cost matters, or where the casket is a cremation casket and the handle is used for carrying before cremation.
Choose plain plastic only where the piece is decorative. A plain plastic handle or ornament must not be specified as a load-bearing part, however good it looks, because it has no reinforcement and no rating. The material guide and the load-testing guide both state that rule, and this comparison repeats it because it is the error most likely to cause a failure in use.
Finish is available in both materials, but not identically. Metal plating colours are gold, nickel, antique brass, antique copper and chrome. Plastic colours are gold, silver, copper and bronze, with antique brass and antique copper on some ABS. A buyer matching metal handles with plastic decoration should check the finish against a physical sample, because the two processes render colour differently.
Cost, weight and ordering
No price is published on this site, so this comparison does not claim a price difference between metal and plastic. The cost difference, where it exists, is a matter for enquiry, and it depends on the model, the finish and the quantity. Weight is a real difference: a plastic handle is lighter than a cast handle of the same size, which affects shipping weight for a large order, but the exact weight is model-specific and is confirmed at enquiry stage.
The minimum order quantity varies by product in both materials. Lead time is typically 30 days after order confirmation, with some models at 35 to 45 days. Payment is by telegraphic transfer or letter of credit, and shipments leave Wenzhou by full or less than container load. For either material, confirm the model, finish, quantity and, for load-bearing models, the load-test record before payment.
Before payment, confirm the model number, material, finish, quantity, lead time and any load-test record for your order with the sales team.