Plastic thermoforming has become increasingly popular as a top manufacturing process in various industries. Using heat and pressure to shape plastic sheet into proper forms provides an efficient and cost-effective solution for product manufacturing. Moreover, it presents numerous benefits over alternative manufacturing methods, including decreased tooling costs and improved material efficiency. Here are some of the industries and sectors that have integrated custom plastic thermoforming into their operations: Automotive Industry The automobile industry uses thermoforming to fabricate various interior and exterior components. These components range from door panels and dashboards to bumpers and wheel well liners. Moreover, the process is suitable for manufacturing huge vehicle parts with uniform quality, enabling mass production with minimal to no defects. Thermoforming’s capacity to create lightweight parts can contribute to decreasing a vehicle’s weight, leading to enhanced fuel efficiency and reduced emissions. Jamestown Plastics possesses extensive proficiency in manufacturing automotive products, which include, but are not restricted to, the following: Automotive component transport dunnage trays Bumper guards Exterior trim components Interior trim components Wind deflectors Medical Industry The ability of custom plastic thermoforming to make parts with exceptional accuracy is one of its most significant advantages for the medical sector. Particularly, the process is beneficial for creating medical supplies and equipment, such as device packaging, drug dispensers, cabinet systems, and face shields. Jamestown Plastics manufactures medical and healthcare-related products that are utilized in various sections of a healthcare facility. Several ISO cleanroom facilities allow the company to manufacture components requiring precise particulate control and contaminant levels. Some of the products include the following: Autoclavable tray systems Blisters Custom medical device trays Reservoir trays Unit dose packaging Electronics Industry Thermoforming enables the creation of intricate and customized plastic components used in electronic devices, such as bezels, enclosures, and covers. This can help manufacturers reduce production costs, increase productivity, and meet delivery schedules. Additionally, thermoformed plastic parts can be designed with features that enhance the functionality of electronic devices. Jamestown Plastics has been a popular option for clients seeking unique protection solutions for their electronic components. The company’s approach to product creation has generated various solutions utilized at different phases, from manufacture and assembly to retail sales. Examples of products include the following: Assembly systems Conductive packaging Electrostatic dissipative (ESD) packaging Housings Satellite dish components Consumer Goods Industry Consumer goods manufacturers have increasingly turned to custom plastic thermoforming to create unique forms for their packaging, display cases, and product casings. This approach gives companies a competitive advantage by offering their products distinctive branding prospects. One of Jamestown Plastics’ most innovative products is the Clamtainer®, a patented clamshell design that provides a frustration-free packaging solution. In addition, the company offers a range of other high-quality products, such as: Blisters Clamshells Insert trays for cosmetics applications POP displays and merchandisers Signage General Industries Thermoforming offers several advantages to the general industry, including producing high-quality products efficiently and cost-effectively. Compared to other traditional manufacturing methods, it requires lower upfront tooling costs and allows for efficient batch production. This ultimately leads to lower per-unit costs. The general industrial products that Jamestown Plastics has designed or redesigned for customers include: Component assembly fixtures Custom pallet systems Dunnage trays Material handling systems Shrouds Choose Jamestown Plastics for Your Custom Plastic Thermoforming Needs At Jamestown Plastics, we can provide you with high-quality thermoforming solutions for your application! Our facilities feature state-of-the-art equipment, including high-speed thermoforming lines with robotic automation and heavy gauge sheet equipment with automatic and CNC router lines. We maintain an ISO 9001:2015 certification, demonstrating our commitment to quality. Our facilities also offer ISO Class 7 and ISO Class 8 cleanrooms. Contact us today for more information or to get started with us!
Understanding the Plastic Manufacturing Process Click to Expand Plastic is a versatile material that can be molded into a wide range of shapes and sizes, making it ideal for various applications. From food packaging and containers to medical equipment and car parts, plastic manufacturing plays a crucial role in the production of items. The process begins with the selection of raw [...]
What Is Thermoforming? Thermoforming transforms thermoplastics through a series of processes, including heat, vacuum, and pressure, applied to a plastic sheet material. It utilizes a variety of machines to produce plastic products, including high-speed in-line thermoforming lines with robotic automation, light-gauge roll-fed machines, and larger sheet-fed machines for heavy-gauge products. This process allows parts to be produced with lower [...]
The Ultimate Guide to Plastic ManufacturingIn the plastics industry, each polymer option presents unique mechanical characteristics. As a result, it is possible to fabricate almost anything with every material, and most plastic manufacturing processes cover a vast array of product development requirements. In […]
Reshoring and Nearshoring In recent years, global supply chains have encountered challenges such as trade conflicts, political volatility, natural calamities, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, numerous companies in the United States have had to reconsider their supply chain approaches. For instance, some are halting decades of outsourcing and offshoring by bringing their production back home or closer to [...]
Electronics Thermoforming Applications While the origin of thermoforming can be traced back to the 19th Century, it was the mid-20th century when it was first introduced to the electronics sector. The process entails heating plastic sheet and shaping it into a specific form to manufacture various electronic products or packaging for those products. This approach has revolutionized the [...]
Dunnage Trays: Protecting Products Every Step of the Way Click to Expand Dunnage or packaging trays are specialized containers used in the manufacturing and logistics industries to securely hold and transport products or components. They are made from materials like plastic or metal and are designed to protect items from damage during storage or transit. Moreover, their configuration often matches the form of the things [...]
Unlocking the Future of Design With Plastic Thermoforming Techniques Thermoforming is a manufacturing process employed to shape thermoplastic sheet into specific designs. This method involves heating plastic sheet until it becomes pliable, then forming it over or into a mold to achieve the desired shape. Its versatility and efficiency make it a preferred choice for creating products ranging from disposable containers to intricate parts [...]
Medical Thermoforming Applications Thermoforming is a versatile manufacturing process that entails heating plastic sheets to a malleable state and then forming it with molds. Its significance in the medical field stems from its ability to produce cost-effective, lightweight, and disposable products that meet stringent quality requirements. Moreover, its accessibility, dependability, and efficacy make it indispensable for delivering safe [...]
Choosing the Right Plastic Products Manufacturing Partner Click to ExpandPlastic is one of the most preferred manufacturing materials due to its durability and ductility, with different components used in the medical, automotive, electrical, aerospace, marine, and construction industries. In particular, the plastic thermoforming process has upsides over other plastic, metal, and FRP manufacturing techniques, including low tooling costs and faster product development. Establishing [...]
Material Matters: Choosing the Right Medical Tray Plastic for Safety and Durability Click to Expand A medical tray serves a variety of purposes in healthcare settings, primarily in holding sterilized parts and equipment. It is also used for organizing and transporting medical instruments or facilitating efficient workflows during medical procedures. A medical tray plastic is a specialized material used to manufacture these trays. This blog discusses the types of [...]
Why Thermoforming Could Be The Best Choice For Manufacturing Your Product Click to ExpandThis blog will cover the basics of thermoforming and how it helps different industries stay on top of the market with its practical and financial benefits. What Is Thermoforming? Thermoforming transforms plastic sheet into a 3-dimensional shape using heat, vacuum, and pressure. In this process, plastic is heated to its softening point and then [...]
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle: How to Incorporate the 3R’s Into Any Business That Deals With Plastics There is a lot of plastic in the world, with 31.9 million metric tons of plastic waste being improperly disposed of globally. Luckily, green packaging is making an indent in our society, but until it’s fully implemented, it is important to do the most we can, at both a manufacturer and consumer level, to reduce [...]
Why Plastic Medical Trays Are Essential for Safe and Sterile Procedures Click to Expand Plastic medical trays are often used in healthcare settings to assist in keeping those areas contamination-free. These trays can also be used for organizing and sterilizing healthcare instruments and equipment, transporting medications and supplies, for specimen collection (providing a clean and secure environment for handling biological samples), or found within labs. Plastic medical [...]
Buffalo Business First: Clamtainer® revolutionizes packaging industry Buffalo Business First: It’s an exciting time at Jamestown Plastics, thanks to a brand-new product line with a catchy name and an innovative design that continues this company’s reputation for excellence. Clamtainer is a game changer in the field of transparent “clamshell” packaging and a vast improvement over flimsy traditional methodologies. Retailers and consumers alike are [...]
Thermoforming 101: The Process That’s Revolutionizing Product DesignThermoforming is a manufacturing process that shapes plastic sheet into specific forms using heat and pressure. It is commonly employed to produce various products, such as packaging, trays, containers, and automotive components. This method offers cost-effectiveness, rapid production cycles, and the ability to easily create complex shapes. What is thermoforming? In this article, we will answer [...]
Automotive Thermoforming Applications As the automotive industry continues to evolve, the need for fuel-efficient and lightweight vehicles has grown exponentially. This has led to a renewed interest in thermoforming, a technique that has existed since the 1940s. It is the process of producing parts by heating thermoplastic sheet material until it becomes pliable, then forming it into a [...]
Heavy Gauge vs. Light Gauge Thermoforming Thermoforming is a versatile and cost-effective manufacturing method to create plastic parts and products. One key consideration in the process is choosing between heavy gauge and light gauge materials, which refer to the plastic sheet’s thickness. Both options have distinct benefits, contingent upon the specific project application and requirements. In this blog article, we will examine [...]
Clamshells vs. Blisters Packaging is often the first point of contact between a customer and a product. As such, it can impact consumer perceptions. Therefore, choosing the most suitable type of packaging that protects the product and conveys the brand’s message effectively is essential. Clamshells and blisters are two popular packaging types that can provide various benefits, from [...]
