Vacuum Forming

Vacuum forming is a thermoforming process, whereby a sheet of plastic is heated to a temperature where it can be formed. The sheet of plastic is then stretched onto a mould with one surface and forced into the mould with a vacuum. In this process, slight angles are necessary to ease the removal of the newly formed plastic past from the mould. Suitable materials for use in vacuum forming are usually thermoplastics, the most common and easiest to use thermoplastic is high impact polystyrene sheeting (HIPS). This plastic sheet can then be moulded around a lot of materials including wood, concrete, structural foam or cast, or machined aluminium mould. The benefits of vacuum forming are that almost any shape can be created. Vacuum forming is a method of thermoforming, which is one of the oldest and most common methods of processing plastic materials in the world. Examples of vacuum formed objects include turnpike signs, protective covers, food packaging, bicycle helmets, and canoes.

  • Talbot Designs Ltd

  • Perancea Ltd

  • Plastic Works Ltd, The

  • Brother Moulding Division

  • ND Precision Products

  • Interform Manufacturing Ltd

  • The Helping Hand Company