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Utilizing these innovative manufacturing processes, we have the experience and methodology to complete any job to your highest satisfaction.  Whether you need a rapid prototype of already have a product that needs to be mass produced, Universal Plastifab is an industry leader in the fields of Thremoforming and Vacuum Forming.
 
 
THERMOFORMING PROCESS
 
Thermoforming is a time-tested manufacturing process.  The plastic film is heated between infrared, natural gas, or other heaters to its
   
forming temperature.  Then it is stretched over or into a temperature-controlled, single-surface mold.  Cast or machined aluminum is the most common mold material, although epoxy and wood tooling are sometimes used for low volume production.  The sheet is held against the mold surface unit until cooled.  The formed part is then trimmed from the sheet.  The trimmed material is usually reground, mixed with virgin plastic and reprocessed into usable sheet.  Universal Plastifab can accomidate several categories of thermoforming, including vacuum forming, pressure forming, twin-sheet forming, drape forming, free blowing and simple sheet bending.
 
 
VACUUM FORMING PROCESS
 
Vacuum forming is a simplified version of thermoforming, whereby a sheet of plastic is heated to a forming temperature, stretched onto or into a single-surface mold, and held against the mold by applying vacuum between the mold surface and the sheet.  The Vacuum Forming process can be used to make a variety of items including product packaging, speaker casings and even car dashboards.
 
Suitable materials for use in vacuum forming are conventionally thermoplastics, the most common and easiest being High Impact Polystyrene Sheeting (HIPS).  This material is molded around a wooden mold and can form to almost any shape.  Vacuum forming is also appropriate for transparent materials such as acrylic, which are widely used in applications for aerospace such as PCW (passenger cabin windows) canopies for military fixed wing aircraft and 'bubbles' for rotary wing aircraft as examples.
 
Whatever your custom product requirements may be, we are ready to exceed your highest expectations.
 
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