At Plastic Express, we offer the possibility of creating plastic elements on request and with the customer’s design, using the techniques of thermoforming and deep-drawing of plastic materials. In both cases, these processes focus on the exposure of different materials to high temperatures and pressures in order to control in detail the modelling of the part.
We have a professional team focused on the specialised techniques of plastic moulding and thermoforming precision plastics with ABS, Polycarbonate, PETG materials and even thermoforming acrylic plastic. All offering multiple variants in terms of colour and thickness. All with the support of state-of-the-art machinery and specific ovens for both plastic thermoforming and plastic moulding, making them the ideal choice when creating all types of structures.
In recent years, plastic has become one of the most widely used materials to create all kinds of products for sectors as diverse as food, cosmetics and construction. This is why our experts focus on offering each of our customers a whole series of specific processes for working with plastic in order to achieve the best results.
Plastic thermoforming is a technique used to shape a plastic sheet by applying both heat and vacuum, and in some cases pressure and even moulds.
The result of this process is the creation of plastic sheets that are even more flexible and easier to mould for the creation of all kinds of products or structures. Hence, it has many applications such as:
One of the biggest advantages of using this technique is its reduced cost. Both in production and in the initial investment made by the customer.
Furthermore, plastic thermoforming is one of the most efficient processes in terms of time invested. Using this technique we will obtain the desired results in much less time than using other modelling techniques. For this reason it is one of the most commonly used processes for solving last minute problems or for creating prototypes.
Another advantage is that it allows us to work with a greater variety of materials where, in addition to those mentioned above such as methacrylate, polycarbonate and PETG or ABS, PAID, HDPE and PVC are also included.
Similarly, the parts that are created as a result of using thermoforming of plastics are much thinner and lighter, because they facilitate the modelling work.
It is also possible to reuse the moulds produced for the creation of other products or to replace other types of plastic processing techniques that are much more time-consuming and costly.
Deep drawing is a process that consists of transforming a flat sheet metal into a three-dimensional part. In other words, the plastic is formed into the metal. And only when the depth of the deep-drawn part is even greater than its diameter can we speak of deep drawing.
This technique requires the use of a punch and die set. With the correct use of the punch, the base of the part to be formed is shaped so that the cavity of the die coincides with the given shape, only it will be slightly wider. This differentiation in width is necessary to allow the material to pass through, which is why it is necessary to leave a clearance.
For this reason, contrary to what happens with the plastic thermoforming process, we will obtain parts with less complex shapes. For this reason, it is necessary to carry out the process in several stages in order to achieve a similar result. Likewise, the materials to be used must be ductile, malleable and with sufficient plasticity. Among the most commonly used are brass, mild and stainless steels and aluminium and copper alloys, provided they are low alloy.
Deep drawing is mainly used in the automotive industry and to manufacture containers such as oil pans, bowls, fuel tanks or kitchenware, bushings and even bearings, among many other options.
If you have finally decided to use one of these two processes, Plastic Express offers you our thermoforming plant in Barcelona and the possibility of having professional support that will advise you at all times so that you get the best results.
You can also request a quote for the thermoforming and deep-drawing process of any of the materials we sell. All you need to do is fill in the form provided and send us an email to [email protected] with all the required information: name of the process you are interested in and type of material.
Finally, we would like to remind you that if you are a professional in the industry, we have special discounts to make your initial budget even better.
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