Ever wondered about the secrets concealed within your everyday plastic thermoformed packaging? Brace yourself for a journey beyond the surface, as we unravel the mysteries behind these familiar containers.
Learn more about plastic thermoformed packaging that can help increase your sales and make your products look professional
10 Things You Didn’t Know About Plastic Thermoformed Packaging
At Plastiform Precision Formed Plastics, we use plastic thermoforming to create customized packaging that fits any product perfectly, no matter how big, small, or complex your product may be. However, before choosing this method for your packaging needs, you might want to learn more about it. Here are 10 things you probably didn’t know about the plastic thermoformed packaging technique:
1. How Plastic Thermoforming Works
Thermoforming is a process used to manufacture custom plastic designs using pressure, vacuum, and heat to transform plastic sheets into 3D shapes using a mold. It works by heating a sheet of plastic and then stretching it over a mold assembled for the design. The packaging design will take the shape of the mold after it has cooled. The shape can then be trimmed, inspected, and assembled into a packaging design. When complete, thermoformed packaging will fit — the product it was made for — like a glove.
2. Plastic Thermoforming Is Used in Many Industries
The food supply chains today use different forms of thermoformed articles for packaging margarine and ice cream tubs, deep freeze & microwave containers, meat trays, snack tubs, Bakery and Patisserie packaging, Delicatessen tubs, vending drink cups, sandwich packs, and more.
While plastic thermoforming is mainly used for food packaging, it is also used by numerous industries for a wide variety of applications. Industries that use plastic thermoforming include medical, pharmaceutical, electronics, toiletries, specialty food companies, and many more.
Plastic thermoforming is used to produce products made with plastic components such as medical devices, point-of-sale display trays, blister packaging, manufacturing collation trays, bus and mass transit transportation, unmanned vehicles, aerospace transportation, kiosks/self-serving vending machines, food service equipment, industrial and heavy equipment, PPE medical face shields, electronic and sensor enclosures, and much more.
3. Plastic Thermoforming Contains Unique Properties Enabling Them to Suit Diverse Packaging Requirements
Because different types of thermoplastics contain diverse chemical properties, there is an ideal type of plastic for everything. Plastic thermoforming can accommodate products that need to be stored at different temperatures, such as in heated environments, items that require cooler settings, maybe to prevent melting or to maintain freshness, and more. They also contain anti-static properties, are lightweight, suitable for downstream sterilization, and are cheaper to produce than other plastics.
4. Most Thermoplastics Are Recyclable and Reusable
The problem with plastics is they can never be completely eliminated. The solution to this problem is simple: recycle and reuse them for other products. Virtually all thermoplastics are recyclable and can be reused. The two most common plastic brands collected from our homes are polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene. However, they are not the only plastics that can be recycled. Plastics like PVC and LDPE are also recycled and reused.
5. Thermoplastics Are Recycled and Transformed Into a Wide Array of Products
While some thermoplastics used to make packaging are recycled and reused for new packaging, they may also be reused to make other items. Recycled plastics are used to make many products, from rugs to dinner plates, and more. Even some clothing items, playground equipment, patio furniture, and more are made from recycled thermoplastics.
6. Thermoform Plastics Help Reduce Fuel Usage and Conserve Energy
While it’s true, that plastics are made with petroleum byproducts, they only use around 4% of all the petroleum processed in the entire world. However, using thermoformed plastics to make cars and other vehicle parts, reduces the vehicle’s weight, making it more fuel-efficient.
7. Plastics Make Water Safer To Drink
Before plastic piping was even invented, we used lead water pipes to supply our homes with water. However, it was later found that over time, lead corrodes and leaches into the water supply. Lead can pose health risks that are harmful to humans, especially babies and small children who are particularly at risk. Thermoformed plastics are a much safer option as they resist corrosion. Replacing lead piping with plastic pipes improved our water quality, making it safer to drink and use.
8. Plastics Replaced Many Glass Items
Before thermoformed plastics, we used glass to make things like syringes and IV bags. Although this was a good option, as it can be sterilized, glass is also breakable. By using plastic to make medical devices, we never have to worry about breakage or contamination while transporting life-saving medicines to people in need. This can be extremely beneficial to helping injured individuals after disaster strikes or by aiding soldiers on battlefields.
9. Plastics Help Preserve Foods
When it comes to creating food packages, FDA-approved plastics are probably the best option. Thermoformed plastics are unbreakable so you never have to worry about them falling off a shelf or breaking during transport, contributing to food waste. They are also moisture resistant, which can extend the shelf life of food and reduce waste. Thus, they are also capable of maintaining hot or cold temperatures for long periods.
10. Plastic Thermoforming Saves You Money
While thermoplastics are inexpensive materials, there are other reasons why they are the most economical choice. Plastic packaging is made to fit the shape of a product perfectly, reducing the size and bulk of the package. Plastic is also extremely lightweight. Both of these advantages contribute to reduced shipping costs. In addition, we use plastic to insulate the windows, attics, walls, and doors in our homes, which can trap cool or warm air for long periods.
We also use thermoformed plastics to create insulated window panes that provide even more insulation. Insulation locks cool or warm air in, ensuring our home maintains a comfortable temperature longer without increasing energy consumption. This provides us with big savings not only on our power bills but also on repairing or replacing cooling or heating systems, as they don’t have to work to maintain heating or cooling settings. Not to mention the savings of transporting items made with lightweight materials.
Get Customizable Thermoformed Plastic Packaging for Your Products
If you are looking for a reliable and affordable source to create customized, innovative packaging for your products, contact Plastiform Precision Formed Plastics today. One of our friendly representatives will get back to you right away.
