Retail and display buyers increasingly specify thermoformed trays and blister packaging instead of metal, wood or glass. Here is where they are used, why they work, and what to watch out for.
Use it as a working checklist when you write your next enquiry.
This category covers a family of products rather than a single item. In practice a buyer defines thermoformed trays and blister packaging by three things: the base resin, the format or dimension, and the performance or certification level it has to meet. Typical options in this category include sheet thickness 0.2 to 1.5 mm; cavity depth to 120 mm; recycled content grades. Materials most often specified are Polystyrene, Polypropylene, Polylactic Acid, Polyvinyl Chloride, and the choice between them changes stiffness, temperature resistance, chemical behaviour and price.
In the retail and display sector the decision is usually driven by optical clarity and printability, with scratch resistance as a secondary requirement. Typical end uses include shelving trays, point of sale displays, mannequins.
The table below summarises the values that usually decide the material choice.
| Material | Density | Tensile strength | Service temperature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polyvinyl Chloride | 1.38-1.45 g/cm³ | 40-55 MPa | -10°C to 60°C |
| Polyethylene Terephthalate | 1.35-1.40 g/cm³ | 50-70 MPa | -40°C to 70°C |
| Polylactic Acid | 1.24 g/cm³ | 50-60 MPa | up to 55°C (HDT) |
Polyethylene Terephthalate is frequently the default selection here: High IV PET resin is the reason a 1.5 L bottle can be light yet hold carbonation pressure.
The list below covers both high volume and specialised uses.
Beyond the base resin, most suppliers offer UV stabilised, food contact, flame retardant, anti-static and recycled content versions of the same product. Ask which additive package is included, because it is often the difference between a part that lasts three years and one that lasts ten.
Processing method drives both cost and performance, so it should be fixed early in the design.
Secondary operations such as printing, welding, machining and assembly are often cheaper to do in the same factory, and they reduce the risk of mismatch between components.
Use this checklist when comparing two or three supplier quotations.
Send this list to your supplier with the drawing and you will receive comparable quotations from every factory you contact.
Standard production tolerance follows the relevant ISO or DIN tolerance class for the process; tighter tolerances are possible after machining or grinding, but they add cost. Define the tolerance only on the functional dimensions.
A new tool typically takes 25 to 45 days depending on cavity count and complexity, followed by T1 samples within one week. Existing tools can usually start production within 10 to 15 days of order confirmation.
Colour is controlled with a masterbatch reference approved by the customer, and every production lot is checked against the approved sample under standard lighting before shipment.
Yes. Standard samples are normally free of charge and shipped within three working days; custom samples are charged at cost and credited against the first production order.
We can provide ISO 9001 quality system documentation, material certificates, RoHS and REACH statements, and where applicable food contact, flame retardancy or drinking water approvals. Tell us your target market and we will match the document set.
If you are planning a new retail and display project, send us your drawing, annual volume and target properties, and we will come back with a material proposal, a tooling plan and a budget quotation.
Rubber & Plastics © 2026 All Rights Reserved. Yingnet.com — Global B2B trade platform for rubber & plastics manufacturers.
About Us | Contact Us | Help Center | Sitemap