Thermoforming in a nutshell is simply the process by which sheets of plastic are transformed into a wide variety of packaging and products. At Indepak, we specialize in thin-gauge thermoform molding and our factory is full of huge pieces of machinery that can create packaging in all shapes and sizes.
When we talk about thermoforming and thermoformed molding, we often refer to the many types of packages that we produce, including many types of blister packs and clamshells as well as containers with or without lids. But we also specialize in thermoform trays and other products crafted from thermoplastics.
Some commonly used materials for thermoform molding include polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), both low-density and high-density polyethylene (LDPE & HDPE), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG). We use these as well as several other thermoplastics, including some starch-based bio materials.
Because we are a thin-gauge thermoformer, our thermoform molding process generally includes using huge rolls of very thin thermoplastic which is fed into one of our pieces of thermoforming equipment.
As it rolls into the machine, the thermoplastic is heated and once it has reached the ideal temperature for thermoformed molding, it moves to the section of the machine that holds the molds, the form station. Here tremendous pressure will be used to force the pliable thermoplastic into the mold. After this station, the molded thermoplastic moves on to be cooled. After it has cooled, the excess plastic is trimmed off and recycled.
The excess plastic that is trimmed after the thermoform molding process is complete is actually called the web. Our goal at Indepak is always to leave the smallest possible web behind after production. Through our careful design process, we create molds that utilize as much of a thermoplastic sheet as possible, reducing the waste as best we can. Of course, as we stated before, all of the trimmings will be recycled and used again for some other purpose.
We have multiple lines of high-speed equipment at Indepak and a variety of different types of equipment. This helps us provide custom packaging solutions to an array of clients, including pharmaceutical and medical firms, industrial and electronics firms, specialty food companies, agricultural companies and hundreds of unique retail companies. We can use thermoform molding to craft just about anything you might need, and we can even design packaging using a combination of thermoplastics and foil or perhaps paper and pulp combinations.
In addition, we also provide package fulfillment services including sealing your packaging together using heat sealing or perhaps RF welding. Beyond design, production and fulfillment, we also can help you with inventory management. Our massive, 50,000-square foot warehouse provides plenty of space for your inventory and we can design a custom inventory program just for you. In these ways, we aim to provide a total solution for all of our clients that need our thermoform moldingservices.
