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Vacuum Forming

Vacuum Forming

Ehren-Haus Industries, Inc. is one of the leading providers of vacuum forming plastics and thermoforming services in South Carolina. We employ vacuum forming for low volume and bulk production of plastic parts.

What is Vacuum Forming?

Vacuum forming is one of the most important types of thermoforming processes. Efficiency and affordability are two factors that make vacuum forming plastic a popular process among plastic OEMs. Although most steps of this process are automated and conducted using molds and computer-aided devices, experience matters a lot.

What is Vacuum Thermoforming?

Vacuum thermoforming is a process where the plastic sheet is heated to a typical thermoforming temperature, where it becomes flexible, yet retains its durability. The sheet is then placed on a male or female mold, and completely vacuum sucked to remove any air between the sheet and mold. The vacuum-formed sheet is cooled after removing from the mold. Next, the cooled vacuum-formed sheet is trimmed to form a perfect shape. During the process, if the male mold is used then the sheet is placed over it, and if the female mold is used then the sheet is placed inside it.

What Sets Ehren-Haus Apart?

We can provide highly customized plastic parts in a wide range of materials at a fraction of the cost of other forming methods. Ehren-Haus Industries, Inc. has in-house tools, patterns, and mold making which assures the fastest turnaround times in the industry.

What is Our Process?

We accept designs in IGS, CAD, and DXF formats. The designs are analyzed and discussed with the client for clarity. Any design changes are suggested in the initial stages. The prototype building begins after seeking their approval.

 

Looking for the highest quality of vacuum forming plastics and thermoforming services? Contact our dedicated team of experts today to discuss your next project!

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    Vacuum Forming Plastics & Thermoforming Capabilities

    Our facility is equipped with a wide range of vacuum and thermoforming equipment. This combined with our engineering expertise makes us one of the leading plastic sheet forming services in the country. Being one of the well-experienced plastic forming company, we employ various types of molding process and vacuum forming techniques to form plastic molded parts.

    Snap-back

    This technique is used to produce deep draw products of uniform wall thickness.

    Drape

    It is a specialized forming technique, which is employed to create plastic components with a gentle curve or shape.

    Air Assist

    This technique is used to produce deep draw products of uniform wall thickness.

    Secondary Processes

    We use 3 or 5-axis CNC routing to trim the vacuum-formed parts into a better shape. In addition to this, we also provide in-house mold-making, labeling, and gluing services.

    Plug Assist

    This one of the thermoforming techniques, where the heated polymer sheet is pre-stretched prior to vacuum or pressure application.

    Billow Plug Assist

    This technique is employed when a female mold is used. After heating, we place the sheet firmly over the female cavity, and air is blown into it upwards. The air forms a bubble which helps stretch the material evenly. The bubbles' height can be easily controlled using an electric eye. The plug falls into the bubble, and when it hits the lowest position, the sheet is formed by drawing a vacuum to the mold.

    Frequently Asked Questions On Vacuum Forming Plastics & Thermoforming Services

    1. Does the material get thinner during vacuum forming?

    Yes. The deeper the draw, the more thinning occurs. Thinning can be reduced by proper mold design. The direction of the pull influences the amount of thinning.

    2. Can I use vacuum forming for prototyping and short production runs?

    Absolutely. Vacuum forming is a reliable and cost-effective process for prototyping and short runs. The mold materials for short runs and prototyping can simply be wood or composite materials used for temporary mold and fixtures rather than aluminum or water-cooled aluminum which are used for permanent molds.

    3. What is used to form plastic?

    The processes typically used to form plastics are known as: injection molding, rotational molding, pressure forming, plastic forming, thermoforming, blow molding, casting, extrusion, and 3D printing. Each process lends itself to specific plastic materials, designs, volume, and price. Some are better suited for small, low-volume parts while other processes are better suited for high-volume or large parts. An experienced plastic fabricator can help you determine the best, most appropriate process for your parts.

    Types of Plastic Materials We Work with

    We can provide vacuum formed parts built using the following materials

    Solar Tinted Acrylic Sheets
    Acrylic

    We widely use vacuum forming on acrylic sheets. Acrylic is popular with our industrial clients owing to its properties such as transparency, high dimensional stability, and durability.

    plastic material
    ABS Plastic

    We regularly perform ABS plastic vacuum forming services for our clients across industries. ABS is an abbreviation of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, and this thermoplastic polymer is known for its excellent machinability, flexibility, customization properties, excellent impact and chemical properties.

    plastic material
    PVC

    Our PVC vacuum forming services are widely utilized for creating parts such as medical trays, shower trays, and bath tubs. Polyvinyl chloride or PVC, as it is commonly known, offers excellent moisture, water, chemical and abrasion resistance. It is used in every industry to make certain parts.

    plastic material
    HDPE

    HDPE stands for High Density Poly Ethylene, which is one of the widely used plastics. We perform HDPE sheet vacuum forming for creating various types of durable and lightweight parts. HDPE is strong, lightweight, impact resistant, and can easily resist mildew, mold, and so on.

    Clear Acrylic Sheets
    Polycarbonate

    It is a transparent material well-known for its glass transmission properties. This material is also known for its excellent thermal resistance. We perform vacuum forming of polycarbonate sheets to produce curved and large pieces such as windows and windshields.

    plastic material
    PETG

    This is a thermoplastic that assures excellent durability, chemical resistance, and high strength. Polyethylene terephthalate glycol or PETG is widely used for making containers for storing oil or water, and is also used for medical device manufacturing. You can get in touch with our team today to know more about our PETG sheets vacuum forming services.

    Benefits of Vacuum Forming Plastic Sheets

    There are several benefits of plastic forming services and the following pointers will help you understand it better.


    Rapid Product Development

    As the process requires less tooling, it enables rapid product development. We regularly process low to mid volumes of vacuum formed plastic parts at our facility.

    Affordability

    Plastic vacuum forming is a one-sided process, which means the finished part will be detailed only on one side. This requires less tooling, which makes it affordable than other plastic manufacturing techniques such as plastic injection molding, blow molding, and rotational molding.

    Reliability and Flexibility

    Impact resistant thermoplastics are usually considered for plastic forming, which is why the parts have high resilience and flexibility. Most plastic materials that we work with can withstand moisture, chemicals, and high impacts.

    Design Flexibility

    Vacuum forming is quite unlike other plastic manufacturing processes, as it enables creating intricate designs on the part. Model designations, logos, or texts can be easily vacuum formed on the surface of the parts. Also, the tools that are used to create plastic parts can be easily modified to produce different versions of the same part.

    Aesthetically Appealing

    This technique is used to produce deep draw products of uniform wall thickness.

    Why Choose Ehren-Haus Industries, Inc. for Vacuum Forming Plastics & Thermoforming Services?

    Ehren-Haus Industries, Inc. is not only one of the many vacuum forming services in South Carolina, but we also have built a client base across the country. The following reasons make us popular with our clients.

    1.
    All plastic fabrication is performed at our large 28,160 sq. feet facility in Fort Mill, South Carolina. This facility is well connected to other states through air, rail, and sea.

    2.
    The facility is equipped with various types of vacuum formers, as well as finishing and trimming tools such as trimmers, heated knives, and punch presses, among others.

    3.
    We employ advanced quality control processes, which help us meet our client requirements and serve them beyond their expectations.

    4.
    Transparency makes us one of the unique plastic sheet forming service providers. We inform clients at every stage of manufacturing and assist them from designing to production to shipping.

    5.
    We assure utmost customer satisfaction, by serving them in all possible ways we can.

    In addition to custom plastic forming services in South Carolina, we also provide a wide range of custom plastic fabrication services including thermoforming, CNC plastic machining and routing, line bending,trimming, drilling, and tapping plastic partsand so on. For more information, you can get in touch with our team today.

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