Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) and Polypropylene (PP) are the two most quoted sheet materials for thermoformed refrigerator liners and door panels in industrial equipment projects. Both run well on standard thermoforming equipment, but they differ in clarity, toughness and sealing.
Everything here can be checked on a real sample before you commit to a production order.
This category covers a family of products rather than a single item. In practice a buyer defines thermoformed refrigerator liners and door panels 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 single piece liners over 1800 mm; gauge 1.5 to 4.0 mm; deep draw geometries. Materials most often specified are Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, Polystyrene, High Density Polyethylene, Polypropylene, and the choice between them changes stiffness, temperature resistance, chemical behaviour and price.
In the industrial equipment sector the decision is usually driven by thick gauge capability and flare and fire rating, with paintability as a secondary requirement. Typical end uses include kiosk shells, equipment covers, protective guards.
The table below summarises the values that usually decide the material choice.
| Material | Density | Tensile strength | Service temperature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polypropylene | 0.90-0.91 g/cm³ | 25-40 MPa | -10°C to 100°C |
| Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene | 1.04-1.06 g/cm³ | 30-50 MPa | -20°C to 80°C |
| Polystyrene | 1.04-1.06 g/cm³ | 30-50 MPa | -20°C to 70°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.
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene grades offer high impact toughness, while Polypropylene brings lowest density among commodity plastics. For industrial equipment service the difference shows up in creep and in the long term behaviour under load.
Both materials can be validated quickly with a small sample run, which is the cheapest way to settle the argument for your own application.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Our team supplies thermoformed refrigerator liners and door panels to industrial equipment customers worldwide, with samples, material certificates and full inspection reports available before mass production.
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