Specification sheets for thermoformed deli and food containers are full of abbreviations. This guide translates sheet gauge, cavity layout and trim tolerance into decisions you can make.
This guide is written for engineers, purchasers and project managers who need a practical answer, not a resin data sheet.
This category covers a family of products rather than a single item. In practice a buyer defines thermoformed deli and food containers 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 in mould labelling options; leak resistant lid fit; volume 120 ml to 3 L. Materials most often specified are Polyethylene Terephthalate, Polylactic Acid, Polystyrene, Polypropylene, and the choice between them changes stiffness, temperature resistance, chemical behaviour and price.
In the logistics and warehousing sector the decision is usually driven by stackability and returnability, with traceability as a secondary requirement. Typical end uses include dunnage trays, picking trays, parts supermarket trays.
These figures are typical for commercial grades and should be confirmed against the supplier's certificate for your specific lot.
| Material | Density | Tensile strength | Service temperature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polypropylene | 0.90-0.91 g/cm³ | 25-40 MPa | -10°C to 100°C |
| Polylactic Acid | 1.24 g/cm³ | 50-60 MPa | up to 55°C (HDT) |
| Polystyrene | 1.04-1.06 g/cm³ | 30-50 MPa | -20°C to 70°C |
Polypropylene is frequently the default selection here: PP is the lightest mainstream packaging resin and keeps its shape under repeated flexing.
These figures are typical for commercial grades and should be confirmed against the supplier's certificate for your specific lot.
When you read a supplier quotation, check that the dimension, the resin grade, the colour reference and the tolerance class are all stated. A quotation that only gives a price per piece is not comparable between suppliers.
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.
These are the criteria that actually predict whether the part will perform in service.
Send this list to your supplier with the drawing and you will receive comparable quotations from every factory you contact.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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