Behind every consistent thermoformed part there is a controlled process. This article walks through sheet extrusion, heating, forming, trimming and the inspection steps that matter.
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 industrial dunnage and handling trays 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 stack and nest geometry; gauge 1.5 to 8.0 mm; ESD and conductive grades. Materials most often specified are Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, Polycarbonate, Polyethylene Terephthalate, High Density Polyethylene, and the choice between them changes stiffness, temperature resistance, chemical behaviour and price.
In the automotive and mobility sector the decision is usually driven by dimensional stability and heat resistance, with impact strength as a secondary requirement. Typical end uses include line side trays, dunnage trays, commercial vehicle trim.
Typical values for a general purpose grade are listed below; filled, stabilised and speciality compounds will differ.
| Material | Density | Tensile strength | Service temperature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polyethylene Terephthalate | 1.35-1.40 g/cm³ | 50-70 MPa | -40°C to 70°C |
| Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene | 1.04-1.06 g/cm³ | 30-50 MPa | -20°C to 80°C |
| High Density Polyethylene | 0.94-0.97 g/cm³ | 20-32 MPa | -50°C to 80°C |
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene is frequently the default selection here: ABS is the default choice when a part needs a glossy, paintable, impact-resistant surface.
Each step below has its own control points, and skipping one of them is where most defects start.
Critical control points are melt temperature, cooling time and the inspection of the first pieces of every shift. A stable process is documented with a parameter sheet that travels with the tool.
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.
The route below is the one most factories use for this type of part.
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.
Work through these points in order and most specification mistakes disappear.
Send this list to your supplier with the drawing and you will receive comparable quotations from every factory you contact.
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.
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.
For standard sizes and colours the minimum is usually one pallet or one production run; for custom tooling the economic minimum depends on the tooling cost amortised over the expected volume. Send us your annual volume and we will calculate the break even point.
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.
If you are planning a new automotive and mobility 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.
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