Thermoforming: All The Facts

Most of us don't really think about the many industries involved in the production of all of the items we purchase and use. The thermoforming industry is one with which you might not be familiar, but it is a crucial industry for many different types of companies, from retail to agricultural to medical and much more. Here are some facts about thermoforming and why it is needed.

A basic explanation of the process of thermoforming would begin with a plastic sheet. This sheet will be heated up to a level where it can be shaped into a mold. Once it is in the mold, the excess plastic is trimmed off carefully and then the plastic is cooled. Sometimes thin-gauge plastic sheets are used and sometimes thick-gauge plastic will used, depending on the type of product or packaging that is being produced.

If a sheet of plastic measures in at around 0.5 mm in thickness, this size falls into the category of thin gauge thermoforming. It is used for billions of products, from a package containing batteries to a plastic package that contains toys. There are many categories of thin-gauge thermoforming, including the creation of blister packaging, clamshell packages and a variety of different types of trays. Trays hold everything from medical products to cookies and often fit inside other packaging. Slightly thicker plastic, ranging from 1.5 mm up to 3 mm is called medium gauge, and while this is less common, it is used and these items typically aren't considered to be as disposable as your thin gauge items.

On the other hand, the heavy gauge type of thermoforming is used from products that you would never just toss into a trash can. This includes your computer tower shell, printers, monitor exteriors and other electronic items. When you go to the doctor for any kind of medical tests, the outside of most of the machines are made using heavy gauge plastic. Some vehicle and airplane parts also are created using heavy gauge plastics. Just as with thin gauge thermoforming, heavy gauge thermoforming begins with a sheet of plastic. It is then either formed using heat or with vacuum forming.

As a general rule, most thermoforming businesses don't create both thick gauge and thin gauge products, they do one or the other. A few will do both, but this is much less common. Thermoforming companies, however, not only produce packaging or products, they also can design the package or item itself, which is a huge help to their clients.

These days, many people worry about the environmental impact of using too much plastic. While there are government packaging requirements as far as sustainability is concerned, some thermoforming companies are committed to going beyond these requirements. You can find thermoforming companies that use recyclable materials or post-consumer grade materials in the creation of the packaging or products.

Constance Keesler enjoys blogging about how stuff is made. For further information about custom thermoforming or to find out more about industrial thermoform, please visit the Indepak website now.