With many different techniques to manufacture plastic, some are astonishing in their technological advances. Then again, others are honestly tried and true, methods that still use the latest technology but also have been around and successful for many years.
Thermoforming is an excellent example of a technique that has been around for more than a century yet still has many applications today. It’s weathered the test of time to be one of the more durable forms of manufacturing.
Here’s a guide to thermoforming and why it may be the proper technique for plastics manufacturing for your business.
A little bit of history
First, let’s talk about the start of thermoforming. According to the Bayer company, which we utilize for our thermoforming materials, it is one of the oldest plastic molding techniques, starting in the 19th century. It was in the early 1920s that the development of cellulosic sheet materials led to growth in this technique. The use of acrylic and vinyl for thermoforming followed this.
The most significant growth period for thermoforming was in the 1950s, thanks to the dairy industry. The use of polystyrene for packaging dairy products in grocery stores led to the discovery that thermoforming was an exceptionally efficient and effective way to make that packaging. From there, its uses just expanded more as decades went by.
How thermoforming works
It’s a simple process on the surface for how thermoforming molds a plastic sheet. First, plastic is heated until it’s very pliable, and then it can be formed against a mold where it cools into its finished shape.
As far as the advantages of using thermoforming, here’s what you should think about:
- You want lower tooling costs compared to other techniques
- You need to develop products quickly
- You need an easy way to make prototypes
- You want a variety of bright color and texture options for your products
It’s also very adaptable to different shapes, and the techniques’ adjustments are simple to get the desired result.
The two ways to thermoform
We use two different techniques in the thermoforming process. One is called vacuum forming, while the other is pressure forming.
Vacuum forming: This is where the hot plastic is contoured to the proper shape through vacuum pressure. This is for parts that are simple and don’t require deeper textures.
Pressure forming: This is where extra air pressure pushes the plastic sheet against the mold. This gives the sheet a rich texture that can handle complex part geometry, including additional sharpness or undercuts.
We can help you with plastic needs
Whether it’s using thermoforming or other techniques to make unique plastics for you, we can handle the workload. PMR’s team has more than 75 years of experience in manufacturing and we can give you insight into what process would be best and most efficient for you.
To learn more about what we can do for your business, call us at (508) 878-8280, or visit our website, where you can contact us online.
