Unit price in thermoforming is dominated by material, cycle time and freight. Here is the full cost structure and the levers that actually move the number.
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 sanitary ware and acrylic 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 glossy and matt finishes; gauge 3.0 to 8.0 mm; custom shapes and drain positions. Materials most often specified are Polymethyl Methacrylate, Polycarbonate, High Density Polyethylene, Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, and the choice between them changes stiffness, temperature resistance, chemical behaviour and price.
In the home appliance sector the decision is usually driven by deep draw capability and chemical resistance to insulation foam, with surface quality as a secondary requirement. Typical end uses include freezer interiors, door panels, machine covers.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polycarbonate | 1.20 g/cm³ | 55-70 MPa | -40°C to 120°C |
| Polymethyl Methacrylate | 1.18 g/cm³ | 50-75 MPa | -40°C to 80°C |
| High Density Polyethylene | 0.94-0.97 g/cm³ | 20-32 MPa | -50°C to 80°C |
Polymethyl Methacrylate is frequently the default selection here: Cast acrylic machines cleanly and keeps its clarity outdoors for a decade or more.
These are the levers buyers can actually influence when negotiating a thermoformed part.
Ask your supplier to quote two gauges and two cavity layouts; the difference shows which lever is worth optimising for your volume.
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.
Each step below has its own control points, and skipping one of them is where most defects start.
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.
Standard packing is export cartons on fumigation-free pallets, with custom labelling, barcode and retail packing available. We also handle consolidated containers and door to door delivery.
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.
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. {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.
If you are planning a new home appliance 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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