The Plastic Thermoforming ProcessPlastic Thermoforming is a plastic manufacturing process that applies a force (vacuum or pressure) to stretch a sheet of heated thermoplastic material (thermo) over an engineered mold to create a 3-dimensional shape or part (forming). After forming, the shaped part can then be trimmed and finished to specification to meet an end-user's requirements. The process and thermoplastic materials are extremely versatile and can be utilized to manufacture parts for a very wide range of applications.

Why Use Plastic Thermoforming?Plastic thermoforming has advantages over other plastic, metal, and FRP production methods. Here are some benefits that would make the plastic thermoforming process a good choice for your project:LARGE PART CAPABILITY AT LOW COSTLIGHTWEIGHT MATERIAL BENEFITSRUGGED AND INDUSTRY COMPLIANT MATERIAL PERFORMANCEHIGH DETAIL AT LOW COSTMULTI-PART ASSEMBLIES AND PROJECTSMODERATE ANNUAL VOLUMES (250-5000)LOW TOOLING INVESTMENTRAPID PRODUCT DEVELOPMENTDESIGN AESTHETICS AND BRANDING CAPABILITIES

Typical Applications for Plastic ThermoformingThe versatility and cost effectiveness of the plastic thermoforming process make it an ideal choice for a wide array of industry applications. Plastic thermoformed parts are commonly used to replace fabricated sheet metal components and also offer some unique advantages over parts constructed with FRP (fiber-reinforced plastics) and RTM (resin transfer molded) manufacturing processes. Whether your project is a new design or a process conversion from an existing one, thermoforming your components with Productive Plastics can be an ideal solution for countless applications and industries.