By Lenna Stockwell
One of the country's biggest industries is the thermoforming industry. Thermoforming companies produce a myriad of plastic packaging and plastic products that we use every single day. Here are a few facts about the process of thermoforming and the molds that are used to create products.
It all begins with sheets of plastic. As the name suggests, thermo means heat and forming is what occurs. Plastic sheets are heated up and formed into products and packages using different types of molds. The molds are created to fit the specifications of each client, and these molds also are made out of a variety of materials.
One of the most common materials used for the process of thermoforming is aluminum. The main reason for using this material is that is it very durable and the temperature can be maintained easily, and temperature control lines are usually placed inside these molds. Not only does this ensure a consistent temperature, it also speeds up the entire production, which is another advantage. The downside to aluminum is the cost, which is not inconsiderable.
Often, you can use a composite mold instead of aluminum. It is much less expensive than aluminum and generally produces a finished product that is quite comparable to that of aluminum. Composite molds are made out of different types of resins, and it is not as easy to control the temperature with composite molds, but it is still offers a fast production rate. Unless you are running high volumes or have extremely strict tolerances, a composite mold might be a very good option and will help lower the overall costs of thermoforming.
Wood also is sometimes used for molds, especially at the beginning of the mold creation process. Wood is used because this is an inexpensive option; it is also easy to make design changes, which can be a big plus for a customer. Once the wooden mold has been created and approved, then it will be used to make a composite or aluminum mold. Then the mold is ready for production and can be used again and again to form a product.
The creation of these molds is a big step in the process of thermoform, and virtually every industry on earth needs thermoformed plastic. In grocery stores, you buy bags of cookies, and the little trays that hold those cookies are made with thermoforming. Your plastic package of strawberries was made this way, as well. When you buy a toy and it's wrapped in one of those tricky-to-open blister packages, this was made with thermoforming. In fact, almost every type of plastic retail packaging is made with thermoforming.
It all begins with sheets of plastic. As the name suggests, thermo means heat and forming is what occurs. Plastic sheets are heated up and formed into products and packages using different types of molds. The molds are created to fit the specifications of each client, and these molds also are made out of a variety of materials.
One of the most common materials used for the process of thermoforming is aluminum. The main reason for using this material is that is it very durable and the temperature can be maintained easily, and temperature control lines are usually placed inside these molds. Not only does this ensure a consistent temperature, it also speeds up the entire production, which is another advantage. The downside to aluminum is the cost, which is not inconsiderable.
Often, you can use a composite mold instead of aluminum. It is much less expensive than aluminum and generally produces a finished product that is quite comparable to that of aluminum. Composite molds are made out of different types of resins, and it is not as easy to control the temperature with composite molds, but it is still offers a fast production rate. Unless you are running high volumes or have extremely strict tolerances, a composite mold might be a very good option and will help lower the overall costs of thermoforming.
Wood also is sometimes used for molds, especially at the beginning of the mold creation process. Wood is used because this is an inexpensive option; it is also easy to make design changes, which can be a big plus for a customer. Once the wooden mold has been created and approved, then it will be used to make a composite or aluminum mold. Then the mold is ready for production and can be used again and again to form a product.
The creation of these molds is a big step in the process of thermoform, and virtually every industry on earth needs thermoformed plastic. In grocery stores, you buy bags of cookies, and the little trays that hold those cookies are made with thermoforming. Your plastic package of strawberries was made this way, as well. When you buy a toy and it's wrapped in one of those tricky-to-open blister packages, this was made with thermoforming. In fact, almost every type of plastic retail packaging is made with thermoforming.
About the Author:
Lenna Stockwell enjoys writing about how stuff is made. To get further information about custom thermoforming or to discover more about thermoform molding, please go to the Indepak.com site today.
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