Advanced Plastiform, Inc.

PRESSURE FORMING PLASTIC

Using Pressure Forming For Plastics Manufacturing

Pressure forming is the advanced process of using vacuum technology and pressure on polar sides of the plastic sheet in order to create the desired shape or mold.

This technique generally works in the opposite way of vacuum forming. Instead of removing the air between the plastic and the mold by drawing it out via vacuum, pressure forming pushes the plastic down into the underbelly of the mold using high air pressure. In pressure forming, the machine used to hold the plastic molds in place will make sure the material is heated to the correct temperature for proper pliability.

How it Works

The force used in pressure forming is air pressure. This force pushes the plastic against the heated mold. Pressure forming can use more than triple the amount of air pressure than vacuum forming. This extra air pressure allows the heated plastic to better adhere to the mold in the thermoforming machine, leading to quality edges. Pressure forming, the heat is able to transfer to the plastic faster, reducing the amount of time it takes to complete the thermoforming process. Pressure Forming uses resources very efficiently and applies less stress to the product and machinery than injection molding.