Thermoforming Capabilities
As an experienced manufacturer of thermoformed products, we have the equipment and capacity to produce a wide variety of commercial products. In many instances, thermoforming can replace the use of metal or other heavier, more expensive materials.
We have the capacity to produce both large and small components, with digital laser scanning technology to facilitate rapid prototyping.
One of the advantages of thermoforming is that relatively low tooling costs make it viable to produce smaller quantities than what are typically required for injection moulding. We can accommodate production runs of less than a hundred to multiples of thousands. The products illustrated are representative of the diversity of shapes that can be thermoformed, but they are by no means the full scope of possibilities. Contact us if you have a product in mind.
What can (and cannot) be thermoformed?
It’s important to understand what shapes are suited to the thermoforming process:
Ideal Shape to Form
Difficult to Form
(Typically) Not Formable
The ideal mould shape has large sweeping curves, no hard edges or angles, and slopes toward the outer edge of the sheet of plastic. This shape minimizes material thinning and is easiest to un-mould when the part is done.
Plastic is stretched during the forming process and shrinks as it cools. Hard angles can cause tears or thinning. A mould that features multiple vertical faces can be very difficult to successfully un-mould.
“Under cuts” create challenges in the thermoforming process. Plastic can stretch into the undercut, but with the opening of the shaped plastic now smaller than the mould, there is no way to remove the plastic from the mould without destroying one or the other.