Advantages and Disadvantages Of Using Thermoforming As A Packaging Option

The process of thermoforming has been around for quite some time now. The process is actually quite easy to understand – it involves heating sheets of plastic to a high temperature till they become pliable and can be moulded for use in different applications. This process has been widely used by the manufacturing and packaging industries across the world to create containers of different shapes and sizes for storing and transportation of products of all kinds. Thermoforming companies also use the process of vacuum forming for fashioning various specific shapes and sizes of package containers upon the request from clients who need custom designed solutions to get their product in the market. Other sub processes like drape forming and pressure application are also used to get specific results in the created packages. When you think about the pros and cons of thermoforming as an option for product packaging, there are several factors that you will have to consider. Let us check out a few of them:

Advantages

• Thermoforming is the only viable process that allows for the creation of packages of larges sizes from plastic sheets.
• Thermoforming companies usually find the machinery used to carry out these processes to be quite cheap. In fact, if you consider the capital expenditure one shall have to make for setting up an injection molding plant, you will find thermoforming machines to be as much as 30% cheaper.
• The process of thermoforming allows for easy customization of product packages. Machines can be set in accordance with product requirements to create a container that is custom made to store the material. This flexibility and versatility happens to be a major advantage.
• Thermoforming as a technology has been around for quite some time now. It is a tried, tested and safe process and skilled engineers for operating these machines is also easily available in the market. You will not face any difficulties in setting up a thermoforming plant.
• The containers fashioned through thermoforming happen to be much more durable, strong and resilient to the effect of elements. They are ideally suited to store all kinds of products and can provide adequate protection to the contents inside.

Disadvantages

• The process of thermoforming requires the use of large size plastic sheets that will have to be fed into the machine over and over again. Because of the very nature of the process, increased extrusion happens to be a big problem.
• The plastic street is stretched in the under pressure in this method. Hence the products formed using thermoforming break at a certain temperature.
• Thermoforming uses more plastic than other methods. Nearly 10 to 20% more plastic is used to make any product in this method. This adds to cost and creates extensive wastage too.
• If you are in need of an environment friendly format of packaging, thermoform containers might not be the right option for you. Extensive use of non-biodegradable plastics is the very foundation of this process.

To know more about thermoforming companies, visit Southpack.com.

About The Author

Christina O’Leary is a professional beautician and has been practicing since a period of over 8 years. She is skilled at preservation of cosmetics for optimal use, and advocates that proper packaging and storage holds the key. She recommends www.southpack.com for all packaging solutions.

Southpack.com provides the highest quality product packaging services at the most competitive prices.