Plastkropp

Plastkropp is a Swedish term that translates literally to “plastic body.” In contemporary usage it refers to the external form or construction of a body that is primarily made from plastic materials. The term can describe various contexts, including consumer product enclosures, prosthetic devices, and robotic or fictional bodies built from polymers.

The word is formed from plast, meaning plastic, and kropp, meaning body. It is not a formally standardized technical term in all industries, but it appears in design discussions, product descriptions, and some speculative or science-fiction contexts where the focus is on bodies composed chiefly of polymer materials rather than natural tissue or metal.

Applications and usage. In product design, plastkropp often describes the outer shell or housing of devices such as electronics, vehicles, or household objects where a plastic body provides lightweight, moldable, and cost-effective features. In prosthetics and robotics, the concept highlights bodies constructed from polymers, including 3D-printed parts made from PLA, ABS, PETG, and related materials. Soft robotics and wearable devices also employ plastic bodies to achieve flexibility and comfort.

Advantages and considerations. Plastic bodies are generally lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and easier to manufacture or customize at scale. They can reduce production costs and enable rapid prototyping. Limitations include lower strength-to-weight ratios compared with some metals, potential thermal sensitivity, environmental impact from plastics, and end-of-life disposal concerns. Designers often weigh aesthetic, functional, and sustainability factors when referring to or developing a plastkropp.

See also: plastics, polymer, prosthetics, robotics, soft robotics, product housing.