Thermoforming Resources
LINDAR Thermoforming Information & Resources
At LINDAR, we’re passionate about educating our customers about our innovative thermoforming process, top-quality materials, and standard-setting proprietary products. We strive to simplify the thermoforming process for our clients, so you can feel confident choosing LINDAR and trusting our expert guidance throughout your project. Below, you’ll find informative sales sheets, frequently asked questions, and material definitions to help answer any questions you may have.
Have a question not answered by our resources below? Reach out to the experienced LINDAR team and we’ll get back to you promptly!
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Find everything you need to know about LINDAR’s proprietary paint tray products, food packaging products, and more in our product catalogs below!
Paint Products
Food Packaging
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about the thermoforming process and its competitive advantages? As thermoforming experts, we’ve got the answers you’re looking for. Don’t see your question below? Reach out to the LINDAR team and we’ll get back to you with the information you need!
What is thermoforming?
By definition, it’s the process of heating a thermoplastic material and shaping it in a mold. Since the 1930s, thermoforming companies have been using the process to make plastic components, parts, and containers of all types and sizes. Using heat, pressure, and/or vacuum to form plastic around customized molds, this highly effective plastic molding manufacturing process is used to make everything from food containers and paint trays to custom heavy gauge parts and assemblies for equipment and machinery.
Why thermoforming?
Scale: Thermoforming is an ideal manufacturing process for medium to large run sizes of various products, especially large parts of up to 96’’ x 144’’ x 40’’. The process can also combine various parts into one assembled component. The finished product comes color-matched with many material options.
Cost: Thermoforming is a cost-effective means of producing larger parts compared to other manufacturing processes; as part size increases, thermoforming costs are less than injection molding costs. Producing a single-sided thermoforming tool is less expensive than a double-sided injection mold.
Efficiency: Thermoforming is a significantly less time-consuming process than injection molding. On average, injection molding takes 12-16 weeks for production tooling. Choosing thermoforming for the same project can cut that time in half, as thermoforming averages a production tooling time of just 6-8 weeks. This makes thermoforming ideal for projects requiring a quick turnaround.
What makes Simply Secure food packaging simple and secure?
What are the advantages of using Paintwell Products?
LINDAR’s Paintwell paint tray products were designed with all kinds of painters in mind, from commercial painting professionals to DIY’ers. Our products are specifically engineered to aid in smooth roll-off and distribute the paint evenly across rollers for faster, easier projects. Paintwell paint trays and paint tray liners have a drip guard feature to reduce the chance of spills. Our paint tray liners install easily so painters can quickly transition to a new color or to an entirely new project.
Material Definitions
The LINDAR team has years of experience thermoforming top-quality products using a variety of polymers and materials. When you choose to work with LINDAR, we’ll walk you through your options and help you select the best material for your project needs and specifications. Explore our detailed material definitions below to learn more about our most commonly-used materials.
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)
ABS is a very durable material that is ideal for many industrial applications. It has multi-layer extrusion capabilities for added gloss and various surface textures and options for increased barrier protection. ABS can offer UV and fire retardation when additives are blended into the base resin.
Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO)
TPO is an industry term that refers to a blend of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), block copolymer polypropylene (BCPP), rubber and reinforced fillers. TPO is ideal for outdoor applications due to its UV resistance, and the reinforced filler varieties of TPO are great options for improved performance and weight reduction of metal parts. TPO has exceptional strength and chemical resistance. TPO has many available surface textures and color matching options.
Polyethylene (PE)
Polyethylene is an ideal choice for many packaging and component needs. PE offers superior toughness, impact resistance, and low-temperature impact properties. PE is FDA-accepted and enhances packaging designs requiring hinged features. It folds easily without cracking or tearing, and its excellent memory allows the hinge to withstand repeated use. It is chemical resistant with excellent low-temperature performance. PE is available in custom colors, and matte, gloss, or textured finishes.
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETG)
PETG exhibits superior processing characteristics. It forms quickly under relatively low temperatures for energy-efficient forming cycles. It also resists processing flaws such as blushing, brittleness, and sag. PETG’s high clarity and gloss add consumer appeal with no odor or taste transmission. Excellent stiffness and strength add impact resistance and pilfer-control to packaging.
Kydex
Kydex is a branded plastic material made by SEKISUI SPI. It is a unique blend of polyvinyl chloride plastic and acrylic plastics. Objects made from Kydex have superior longevity and resistance to damage thanks to the material’s high level of chemical- and fire-resistant properties and high-impact strength.
Polycarbonate (PC)
Polycarbonate is a specific group of thermoplastic polymers that are easily manipulated, molded, and thermoformed. These plastics are widely used in the modern chemical industry and are ideal for a variety of additional applications. It is a very durable material with high impact resistance. PC is also highly transparent in visible light and offers better light transmission characteristics than many kinds of glass.
High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS)
HIPS is an economic sheet that forms and die-cuts easily. A wide processing window allows for fast, efficient production and minimal scrap rates. HIPS has multi-layer capabilities for added gloss and surface options or increased barrier protection. It is flash-freeze and freezer-modified, FDA-approved, and available in specialty grades. HIPS is naturally translucent but is available in many colors and textures to meet a variety of needs.
Custom Engineered Blends
LINDAR proudly works with a highly-curated network of strategic partners to develop custom-engineered plastics to meet the specific needs of our clients. Contact us to discuss your unique needs!