Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Uses Of Thermoformed Plastic Packaging

By Cara Torres


The process of making plastic sheets pliable for molding by applying heat and pressure is called thermoforming and it is usually used in manufacturing to shape them into a mold. The oven temperature should be hot enough just to make it stretchable and then mold it. When it is finished shaping and cooled, the excess material is then trimmed off, which will now become the thermoformed plastic packaging.

In our generation, we have been exposed to a lot of kinds of plastic in our everyday lives. Parts that were usually made of paper, glass, metal, or wood have been replaced with plastics. Its usage can range from food utensils to electronic gadgets, which have become important in the contemporary society and industrial and commercial enterprises. These can be molded to express close tolerance, have sharp detail and can allow tight specifications.

These can be modified easily and it is also easy and inexpensive to make temporary tools for making short term test designs to test the market acceptance. It is also cheaper the than blow molding and injection though it will also vary on its size. Compared to other molding processes, the time to make temporary tools is not that long.

When producing in large volume runs, it is faster than the fiberglass reinforced process. With steel and fiberglass becoming more costly, this material can be a cheap alternative to them. Sometimes, the parts made of this plastic can be equally or more superior in strength and the longevity of the product than those made of fiberglass and steel.

Unlike steel, which becomes rusty, or fiberglass, which are brittle, plastics do not rust or break easily. Products that are made of a plastic that encapsulates steel have the advantage of both products, which are strength of metal and longevity of plastics. The process of thermoformimg can be used for many materials with different textures, colors, and finishes.

Customized pre colored sheets can be given a class A finish to the final part, which gets rid of the need for post production painting. Nearly all thermoformed materials are recyclable, which results to having very little waste in the process. Instead of sending the scraps to the landfill, the excess material is collected, then granulated and extruded along with the virgin resin into a new sheet.

These are usually utilized by commercial distributors and in manufacturing industries such as those in electronic companies, medical companies, food service and others. In all pharmaceutical companies, packaging of the products should be done inside clean and sterile room conditions so the blister packs will remain free from any bacteria and germs and always in top quality. Plastic trays and bags keep the medic equipment protected, sterile and always in good condition.

During shipment, electronic devices such as mobile phones and tablets are protected from damages by these materials. By using advance vacuum thermoform techniques in the food service industry, packaging is customized and personalized. Some products made are picnic bowls, utensils, plates cups, lids, take out containers, and others.

They can are made in different configurations and sizes like the different design of the lids of hot beverage cups. Many businesses benefits from the flexibility and convenience of the materials like those used in pack lunches and dinners. Institutions like hospitals and schools also use thermoformed plastic packaging for their needs everyday like disposable utensils.




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