Plastic Thermoforming Manufacturer

As a top plastic thermoforming manufacturer, we provide some of the highest quality services for thermoforming plastics. Our thermoforming process, SPEC, and other quality programs mean our parts live up to your standards. In fact, we are a preferred supplier to Motorola and Snap-on Tools among many other top companies in the United States. Quality and consistency is our most important attribute.

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Speed

We build our own thermoforming tools, thermoforming machines and extrude our own material, which means we can design and develop faster, fix production problems faster, and ensure you meet your deadlines.

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Customization

We provide a broad array of plastic manufacturing capabilities. Whether your part calls for design, post-production machining, finishing, tooling manufacture, assembly or thermoformed packaging, we can handle all your needs on-site. We’ll make all the components!

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Quality

Quality is the most important attribute of our vacuum forming company. We take great pride in delivering the best quality in the thermoforming industry. We are constantly striving to improve.

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Customer Experience

Once your product is delivered, we will be by your side until it is fully integrated with your manufacturing processes. If complications occur, we are available within 24 hours to get it right and have your systems up and running.

A thermoforming machine doing pressure forming at a plastic manufacturer's warehouse

PRODUCE HIGHER QUALITY PARTS

What is Thermoforming?

Thermoforming is a manufacturing process that a plastic manufacturer uses to heat up a plastic sheet to a pliable forming temperature, then formed to a specific shape in a tool/mold, and trimmed to create a usable product. The sheet, or “film” when referring to thinner gauges and certain material types, is heated in an oven to a high-enough temperature that permits it to be stretched into or onto a mold and cooled to a finished shape. Its simplified version is called vacuum forming.

Thermoforming differs from injection molding, blow molding, rotational molding and other forms of processing plastics. Thin-gauge thermoforming is primarily the manufacture of disposable cups, containers, lids, trays, blisters, clamshells, and other products for the food, medical, and general retail industries. Thick-gauge thermoforming includes parts as diverse as vehicle door and dash panels, refrigerator liners, utility vehicle beds, and plastic pallets.

QUALITY PLASTIC MANUFACTURING

What can we do for you?

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Design and Prototyping

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Custom Tooling

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Thermoforming

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CNC Trimming

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Secondary Services

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Measurement and Quality Control

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Packaging

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Shipping

THERMOFORMING PLASTICS

Thick Gauge Thermoforming

CLIENTS: BRIDGESTONE | GIBSON GUITARS | NISSAN | BOEING

Global Thermoforming specializes in thick gauge thermoforming with capabilities of forming up to 1” thick. We’ve formed all types of thermoforming plastics in our industry and have helped our customers form their ideas into solutions they never dreamed of.

THERMOFORMING PLASTICS

Thin Gauge Thermoforming

CLIENTS: GIGI’S CUPCAKES | SCOTTS MIRACLE GRO | GOO GOO CLUSTERS

Thin-gauge thermoforming is plastic manufacturing of disposable cups, containers, lids, trays, blisters, clamshells, and other products for the food, medical, and general retail industries.

THERMOFORMING PLASTICS

Secondary Operations

IN-HOUSE CAPABILITIES: CNC TRIMMING | PRINTING | LABELING | PAINTING

As a top plastic thermoforming manufacturer, Global Thermoforming provides a variety of custom plastic packaging and secondary operations, including CNC trimming, assembly, printing, painting, and drape forming.

MATERIALS AND TOLERANCES

Thermoforming Materials We Use

Thermoforming and plastic manufacturing allows you the option to use a wide variety of materials. Each material has its own unique capabilities, advantages and tolerances. This information will help you begin the process of deciding which material is right for your next project.

THICK | THIN

HDPE or HMWPE (Polyethylene)

Excellent impact and chemical resistance. Good cold temperature properties. Dimensionally not as stable as other materials.

THICK | THIN

ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene)

Very common material. Good stiffness and impact strength. Available in a wide variety of colors and several textures. Available in UL94-V0 grades (Flame Retardant)
KYDEX | ROYALITE

THICK | THIN

PC (Polycarbonate)

Very high impact strength. Clear. High-temperature resistance

THICK | THIN

PVC (Polyvinyl chloride)

Rigid material. Very good impact strength.

THICK | THIN

PP (Polypropylene)

Excellent chemical resistance. Rigid, with very good impact strength. Good at higher temperatures. But dimensionally not as stable as other materials, similar to HDPE.

THICK

TPO (Thermoplastic Olefin)

Outstanding impact properties. Available with a high gloss finish. Good for outdoors applications. More difficult to form, especially deep draw shapes.

THICK

Acrylic

Water clear and abrasion resistant material. Easily fabricated. Available in impact modified grades.
Many colors available.

THICK | THIN

HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene)

Low cost, forms easily. Available in many colors. More brittle than ABS.

THICK

PEI (Polyetherimide, Ultem)

Very high-temperature grade material. Autoclavable. Natural amber color.

THICK | THIN

PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol)

Clear, with excellent impact strength. Forms well.

Plastic Manufacturer's thermoformed plastic

THIN AND THICK MATERIAL

Tolerances

Over time, accepted tolerances become industry standard. But if you need better-than-standard tolerances, just let us know. We’d be happy to help. As mold and part dimensions increase in size, so must tolerances.

Thick Gauge Thermoforming Material Tolerances

Activity Tolerance

Guideline

Formed Measurements+/- .020” | Additional .001 Per Inch Beyond 12”
Drilled Hole Diameters+/- .005” | Holes Equal or Lesser than 1”
Drilled Hole Diameters+/- .010” | Holes Greater Than 1” to 5”
Slots+/- .010” | Slots Equal or Lesser Than 1”in Any Direction
Slots +/- .020” | Slots Greater Than 1”
Assembly Tolerances+/- .010” | Additional .005 Per Inch Beyond 12”

Thin Gauge Thermoforming Material Tolerances

Activity Tolerance

Guideline

Formed Measurements

+/- .010” | Additional .001 Per Inch Beyond 12”

Die Cut Dimensions

+/- .010” | +/- .010” | Additional .001 Per Inch Beyond 12”

Global Thermoforming, Inc is a leader in the thermoforming plastics industry that provides thermoforming, vacuum forming, clamshell, clamshell packaging, thin gauge thermoforming, thick gauge thermoforming, and a variety of other services to the entire United States. We have local thermoforming facilities in Tempe, AZ and Nashville, TN. Contact us today for all of your thermoforming needs.

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WHERE SOLUTIONS ARE FORMED

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Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Thermoforming

Product design flexibility, cost-effective production, and automation are just a few of this method’s many benefits. In fact, virtually any industry can see positive results with thermoforming’s versatile production capabilities and a wide variety of applications. Read on for more about the top 10 things you didn’t know about thermoforming.