The process of heating and reshaping plastics sheet and film materials has been in use since the beginning of the plastics industry. This process is known as thermoforming. Today this process is used for industrial products including signage, housings, and hot tubs. It also produces much of the packaging in use today including blister packs, egg cartons, and food storage containers. This process has many advantages over other methods of producing these products, but it has some limitations. This book has a twofold purpose. It is designed to be used as a text book for a course on thermoforming. It is also intended to be an application guide for professionals in the field of thermoforming including manufacturing, process and quality engineers, and managers. This book is focused on process application rather than theory. It refers to real products and processes with the intent of understanding the real issues faced in this industry. In addition to materials and processes, part and tool design are covered. Quality control is critical to any operation and this is also covered in this text. Two areas of focus in today's industry include Lean operations and environmental issues. Both of these topics are also included. Table of Contents: Introduction / Plastics Materials / Thermoforming Process Overview / The Forming Process / Part Design Mold / Tool Design / Quality Control Issues / Lean Operations / Environmental Issues

This second edition serves as a foundational guide to plastics thermoforming, covering the essential topics of the industry today. The authors take a process application approach to the topic, rather than focusing on theory. The book explains materials and processes, as well as part and tool design. This second edition includes thorough discussion of green plastics within an expanded chapter on environmental issues. The authors also cover quality control, which is critical to any operation. The book provides information about actual products and processes with the intent of understanding practical issues in the industry, which makes the book a valuable resource for students and professionals in the field of thermoforming, including manufacturing, managers, process engineers, and quality engineers. This second edition expands upon the original book and brings it up to date with additional data and key updates.

The process of heating and reshaping plastics sheet and film materials has been in use since the beginning of the plastics industry. This process is known as thermoforming. Today this process is used for industrial products including signage, housings, and hot tubs. It also produces much of the packaging in use today including blister packs, egg cartons, and food storage containers. This process has many advantages over other methods of producing these products, but it has some limitations. This book has a twofold purpose. It is designed to be used as a text book for a course on thermoforming. It is also intended to be an application guide for professionals in the field of thermoforming including manufacturing, process and quality engineers, and managers. This book is focused on process application rather than theory. It refers to real products and processes with the intent of understanding the real issues faced in this industry. In addition to materials and processes, part and tool design are covered. Quality control is critical to any operation and this is also covered in this text. Two areas of focus in today's industry include Lean operations and environmental issues. Both of these topics are also included. Table of Contents: Introduction / Plastics Materials / Thermoforming Process Overview / The Forming Process / Part Design Mold / Tool Design / Quality Control Issues / Lean Operations / Environmental Issues

FROM THE FOREWORD Dr. Gruenwald has indicated the desirable properties of polymerics for differing applications; thus, his text is especially useful for polymer chemists who must ""tailor"" plastic materials for specific groups of applications. Engineers in extruding and calendering film and sheet will benefit from the intimate relationships elucidated between processing parameters imposed upon stocks employed in thermoforming and the products thereof. Mold designers are provided with a complete guide that will enable them to avoid the less obvious pitfalls and wasted effort so often experienced in the evolution of molds for (especially) complex parts.. Quite likely, Dr. Gruenwald's suggestions willl lead to considerable benefits to those who read and practice by this remarkable exposition of thermoforming technology. Robert K. Jordan Director-Metalliding Institute, Director-Engineering Research Institute, Scientist in Residence, Gannon University

"Provides in-depth coverage of the entire thermoforming molding process from market domain and materials options to manufacturing methods and peripheral support. Second Edition furnishes entirely new information on twin sheet forming, corrugated tubing and pipe manufacturin gtechniques, plastics recycling, forthcoming equipment, and energy and labor costs."

Thermoforming is an area of plastics processing with especially high growth, applying to both production of technical parts as well as for packaging. In the area of plastics packaging, thermoforming is unrivaled as a processing method. This popular and unparalleled book has been substantially extended and revised in its second edition. New topics include thermoforming tools, decoration in thermoforming, and energy usage in thermoforming. In addition to the thermoplastic materials, all procedural steps of thermoforming as well as the essential machine types and fundamentals of making tools and molds are described comprehensively and illustrated with practical examples. This is a practical manual for both beginners and experienced professionals, based on a well-proven teaching program employed in training courses, with detailed descriptions of the principles and processes of thermoforming. It provides an introduction to the topic for students, as well as the fundamental knowledge for deeper treatment of specific problems for working engineers and technicians with practical field experience.