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PS / HIPS Thermoformed Point of Sale Display Trays for retail and merchandising: Key Properties to Check

2026-10-02 Plastic News 0 views

If you specify Polystyrene (PS / HIPS) for thermoformed point of sale display trays, a handful of properties decide whether the part survives forming and service. These are the values worth checking on every data sheet.

Everything here can be checked on a real sample before you commit to a production order.

Product Overview

This category covers a family of products rather than a single item. In practice a buyer defines thermoformed point of sale display 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 counter and shelf formats; gauge 0.50 to 2.00 mm; stackable for transport. Materials most often specified are Polypropylene, Polyethylene Terephthalate, Polyvinyl Chloride, Polystyrene, and the choice between them changes stiffness, temperature resistance, chemical behaviour and price.

In the retail and merchandising sector the decision is usually driven by shelf presentation and print quality, with stack strength as a secondary requirement. Typical end uses include promotional packs, counter displays, dump bins.

Key Material Properties

Typical values for a general purpose grade are listed below; filled, stabilised and speciality compounds will differ.

MaterialDensityTensile strengthService temperature
Polypropylene0.90-0.91 g/cm³25-40 MPa-10°C to 100°C
Polyvinyl Chloride1.38-1.45 g/cm³40-55 MPa-10°C to 60°C
Recycled PET1.35-1.40 g/cm³45-65 MPa-40°C to 70°C

Polystyrene is frequently the default selection here: HIPS is the default thermoforming sheet for food packaging and appliance liners.

Properties That Decide the Outcome

The table below summarises the values that usually decide the material choice.

  • very easy to thermoform
  • low cost
  • brittle in GPPS form
  • HIPS grades are impact modified
  • rigid and glossy

Density 1.04-1.06 g/cm³, tensile strength 30-50 MPa, continuous service temperature -20°C to 70°C and melt range 180-240°C are the four values to circle on the data sheet. Everything else is secondary for most retail and merchandising projects.

Common Grades and Variants

  • Polystyrene based: rigid and glossy
  • Recycled PET based: lower carbon footprint than virgin resin
  • Polyethylene Terephthalate based: excellent barrier to CO2 and moisture
  • Polyvinyl Chloride based: inherently flame retardant

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 and Finishing Options

The route below is the one most factories use for this type of part.

  • Vacuum forming
  • Pressure forming
  • Assembly
  • Printing

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.

How to Specify Thermoformed point of sale display trays Correctly

These are the criteria that actually predict whether the part will perform in service.

  1. check stack strength for the loaded display
  2. use one colour reference for the whole campaign
  3. validate print adhesion and abrasion
  4. design for flat packing to cut freight
  5. confirm the display location and lighting conditions

Send this list to your supplier with the drawing and you will receive comparable quotations from every factory you contact.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which certifications can you provide?

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.

How do you control colour consistency?

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.

What tolerance can be achieved?

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.

How long does tooling and sampling take?

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.

Can you produce thermoformed point of sale display trays in Polystyrene?

Yes. {mat1} is one of our regular materials for this item, and we can supply virgin, modified and certified grades with full traceability. Material certificates and test reports are issued per batch.

Conclusion

Share your specification and quantity with us and we will recommend the most cost effective material, tooling route and packing method for your market.

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