How the Terms Relate
Vacuum-forming machinery is thermoforming equipment, but not every thermoforming process relies on vacuum alone. Some applications use pressure, matched tools or combinations of forming methods to achieve the required shape and detail.
- Vacuum forming uses a pressure difference created by vacuum
- Pressure forming can apply additional air pressure
- Matched-mould forming uses opposing tooling
- The appropriate process depends on the product and material
Sheet-Fed and Roll-Fed Machinery
Sheet-fed machines process individual sheets and are often associated with larger components or lower-volume production. Roll-fed and inline machinery process material from a reel and may combine forming, cutting and handling for higher-volume applications.
- Individual sheet or material reel
- Product dimensions and material thickness
- Required cycle rate and annual volume
- Separate or integrated trimming
- Tool-change requirements
- Downstream stacking or handling
Information That Narrows the Search
When the exact machine is not known, describe the product and production target. This allows potential machinery to be compared against the requirement instead of relying only on labels such as vacuum former or thermoformer.
- A sample, drawing or photograph of the product
- Material and thickness
- Maximum forming dimensions and depth
- Required output per hour or shift
- Available factory space and utilities
- Budget and delivery timeframe
Confirm the Proposed Configuration
Machine terminology varies between manufacturers and industries. Before purchase, confirm the actual process, specification, tooling arrangement, included equipment and suitability for the intended product.