Thursday, June 9, 2016

Understand Thermoform Trays & How They Are Created

By Lenna Stockwell


Thermoform trays generally can include things like one compartment to flat tray manufactured basically for holding merchandise and also complex cavity designs produced according to specification such as contours and shapes simply for protecting, holding and safeguarding fragile, precious and expensive items. Some designs of thermoformed trays are usually used for food packaging.

Thermoforming is considered a manufacturing process whereby some manufacturers will heat plastic sheet at very high temperature making them soft and then they are shaped into any shape the manufacturer wants. Heated plastic can actually assume any form. Once the heated plastic is shaped, it is then cooled slowly hence retaining the formed shaped. The heated plastic mold makes it easy for molders to make beautiful containers of different shapes and contours.

This is how your plastic food packaging is created. Your thermoform tray packaging can carry a large amount of one type of food or perhaps house different foods in separate cavities. Frozen food containers typically are thermoform trays that can withstand the rigors of re-heating either in an oven or in the microwave. Additionally, a thermoform tray often will hold a food item such as dozens of crackers or perhaps cookies. Once placed in the tray a foil pack will cover these food items and they further will be protected by a box.

While food products might be seen commonly in thermoform trays, other types of companies also need these trays. If you have ever noticed, you might remember that a doctor or nurse will use a medical kit where items are stored in thermoformed tray. One cavity might hold a syringe, while another cavity might hold medicines or other medical instruments. You also might buy retail products, where components are stored in a thermoform tray, resting is a perfectly designed cavity that protects each part of the product. To form a tray, different types of thermoplastic can be considered for use and these include LDPE, HDPE, OPS and commonly PVC or PET.

PVC, also known as polyvinyl chloride, is a commonly used material for thermoforming. It is quite inexpensive and very lightweight, both of which are attractive to companies needed thermoform trays. Additionally, PVC is very easy to form and, once cooled, it is also quite durable. While there are a few disadvantages as well, PVC often is a popular packaging or thermoform tray plastic.

PET also called polyethylene terephthalate is a polymer resin thermoplastic used mostly in beverages, synthetic fibers, liquid containers, food container and thermoforming applications. PET is a good barrier material that is why many plastic bottles are basically made from it. For some particular bottles, this PET sandwiches some additional or extra polyvinyl alcohol hence reducing oxygen permeability.




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