Top Vendors for Package Thermoforming

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About Thermoformed Packages

Thermoforming is very common when it comes to packaging. It provides good protection while allowing for the buyer to see the product inside. Many industries use this packing process including medical devices, toy manufacturers, food companies, consumer electronics and more. Almost anytime you see a product that has is packaged in a form fitting plastic package, thermoforming was used. The process offers many different color options and and can produce translucent or clear packaging as well. For prototypes, a table top machine and "molds" made out of wood  can be used. Higher volume production will use automated machines with aluminum forms. Cheaper than making injection molded packaging, thermoforming is one of the go-to methods for most companies that require high protection of the product.

The Thermoforming Process

A very basic process where a plastic sheet is heated and then forced to take the desired shape. The raw material is taken from a roller or directly from an extruding machine. It is passed through an oven to heat it up to become pliable. The pliable material is then moved to a form station where the mold is located. The sheet is placed over the mold and typically a vacuum is used to pull the sheet against the mold while removing the air between the mold and the sheet at the same time and pressurized air is used to push the plastic onto the mold. This avoids any air pockets from forming and creating defects in the packaging. Once the plastic cools slightly, the vacuum is reversed to release the part from the mold. Finally the now formed part moves to a station to trim off the excess materials. This can be done using a die cutting process or other methods. The most commonly the sheets are less than 1.5 mm thick but a growing market for thicknesses up to 3 mm is emerging. 

 

 

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