Insights To Thermoforming

‘Thermoforming’ is used to describe any process in which heat is used to shape and mould plastic, although in this insight we will be talking specifically about ‘vacuum forming’, which can certainly be considered part of the thermoforming family, only with some very important extras.

The simplest description of the vacuum forming process is that of a sheet of plastic having heat applied to it until it softens, before being draped over a mould. A strong suction of air, or ‘vacuum’, is applied from below, attracting the soft plastic over the mould to adopt its shape. Once cooled, the mould can be removed, leaving just a perfectly formed plastic component. A very simple process, but one which is hugely popular, effective, fast, and easy.