Thermoforming - Its Processes and Applications,

Thermoforming was one of the earliest methods of fabricating thermoplastic materials. With the advent of injection molding, most people felt thermoforming offered little, if any, future or growth potential. Thermoforming was generally regarded as a relatively inexpensive way of making a small number of plastic parts. Normally, if the application grew and warranted large volume production, it was taken over by injection molding. The last few years have altered this trend of thought. This change has been brought about largely through the introduction of new forming materials, which in turn, has encouraged the development of new forming machines and forming techniques and has brought this industry to a position of new strength in the thermoplastic fabrication field. The applications in which thermoforming of plastic sheet is used are many and varied Some of the applications are refrigeration, packaging, automotive, signs and displays, military applications and industrial application. Advantage of thermoforming are presented.