Information About Thermoforming Molds

You might not be aware, but thermoforming is one of the country's biggest industries. This industry is responsible for creating most of the plastic items we use as well as the plastic packaging that protects many of the items that we buy.

The process of thermoforming begins with a large sheet of plastic. Heat is applied, and when the plastic reaches a specific temperature, it is placed in a mold and formed into the shape needed by the client. Once molded, it is cooled and trimmed. There are various types of thermoform molds.

Often, you will find that aluminum is the type of material used for thermoforming. It is reliable, especially because it can maintain a consistent temperature, which means the plastic will form evenly. Also, aluminum moves the process along quickly, and this type of mold also is quite durable and can last for a long time. Despite the advantages, the cost of aluminum molds is very high and this is definitely a consideration.

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.

Before these composite or aluminum molds are created, a wooden mold usually is created. These wood molds aren't expensive to make and can be changed easily at very little cost, so the client can make any necessary changes. Once the ideal mold has been produced out of wood, then it is used to help make the aluminum or composite mold.

Regardless of the materials used for the molds, thermoforming is an essential service to hundreds of different industries. You see thermoforming every time you visit a store and find products that are placed or packaged in plastic. This includes the little bins that hold berries and tomatoes in the produce section to packages of batteries that have cardboard backing and a plastic protector on the front. Even the medical and pharmaceutical industries use thermoformed plastics for a variety of trays and packages.

Lenna Stockwell enjoys blogging about how stuff is made. For further info about thermoform packaging solutions or to find out more about thermoform molding, please go to the Indepak.com website today.