Purchasing agents, engineers, and product development people in the vehicular and equipment manufacturing industries are always looking for improved styling and weight reduction. Continuous improvement will help improve the look and weight of metal, fiberglass, or wood components, but these incremental changes are often not enough to deliver the results OEM’s need.
Thermoforming provides an alternative to metal, fiberglass, or wood components in many instances, especially in weight-sensitive battery-powered vehicles, specialty use vehicles, and equipment.
Thermoforming is a plastic molding process using enough heat to make a sheet of plastic pliable enough to be formed over a mold.
The plastic sheet thus takes the shape of the mold. The plastic sheet is then fixture, or CNC trimmed to make the final product.
There are various ways to make thermoformed plastic parts using multiple male/female combinations of molds, producing a wide range of options for end uses and possible designs.
The plastic sheets used for thermoforming commonly include ABS, HDPE, HMWPE, Nylon, Polycarbonate, Polystyrene, PVC, TPO, TPR, ABS/Styrene, and laminates with dozens of different patterns. Because of the nature of the thermoforming process, combined with the availability of many material options, custom molded plastics offer numerous solutions, including durability, UV protection, chemical resistance, flammability, and toxicity impact strength.
Large machines enable thermoforming companies to mold large sheets creating large parts with lower tooling costs and lead-times.
Thermoforming is ideal for large, low-volume production parts that are not integral to the structural integrity of the vehicle or equipment.
Customers receive many benefits when choosing thermoforming over other methods such as rotational and injection molding to make your plastic products.
Four key advantages are; weight reduction, low tooling costs, fast turnaround time and, prototyping.
Reducing vehicle weight is a critical issue for truck and vehicle manufacturers, especially with ever-increasing mileage requirements. For battery-powered vehicles and equipment, there is a constant need to extend vehicle operation time and range, which requires pushing the weight boundaries ever lower.
In many cases, only one-half of the mold is needed instead of a male/female toolset, which reduces costs, design time, and increases flexibility.
Typical thermoforming tools cost $10,000 - $50,000, compared to $150,000+ for most other molding and stamping methods. If production volumes are 10’s, 100’s, or 1,000’s per month, this tooling differential is a key factor in choosing thermoforming.
A good thermoforming design team can turn around prototypes in weeks compared to months for injection molding and metal stamping technologies. Quick tooling modifications allow companies to get new products to market faster and make ongoing updates without disturbing just-in-time manufacturing requirements.
Other advantages of thermoforming are
We are a thermoform plastics molder specializing in medium and heavy gauge large vacuum formed parts since 1972. We consolidate tooling, engineering, and manufacturing under one roof. We have forming capability up to 6' X 10' with fixture and CNC Trims.
Materials formed include ABS, HDPE, HMWPE, Polycarbonate, Polystyrene, PVC, TPO, TPR, Nylon, including compounds with unique physical properties such as MVSS 302, Low Smoke/Low Tox and, Low Flame. Short lead time tooling options available.
We specialize in supplying large and heavy-duty custom thermoformed plastic parts with lower tooling costs and minimum quantity runs than other plastic processes. Thermoformed plastic parts are lighter weight and highly styled as opposed to fiberglass and metal. Thermoformed plastic parts are cost-effective and durable.
We can mold parts up to 6 feet long by 10 feet wide.
Many assembly services are available, including epoxy bonding, sonic welding, riveting, steel & nylon fasteners, hinge incorporation, and screen installation.
We will deliver your thermoformed parts on time, to specification, and on your budget!