PRODUCTS & SECTORS
EXPANDED PLASTIC THERMOFORMING: A GRANDO NICHE MARKET
Thermoforming is an industrial process that is primarily applied to plastic materials and to expanded plastics that can be moulded when heated above their glass transition temperature. Only those thermoplastics that have an amorphous or semi-crystalline structure with a low rate of crystallinity are thermoformable.
The thermoplastics most commonly used for this application are:
- PE
- PP
- PVC
- Polystyrene
- Polycarbonate (PC)
- Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)
- Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), etc.
Among the various expanded platic thermoforming techniques used in industry, GRANDO has specialized in the thermocompression of foams for technical applications, i.e. the heated moulding of foam by compression. Today, GRANDO is well-known as a manufacturer of highly technical thermoformed products for small and large-sized production runs. The thermocompressed materials are essentially polyolefin foams such as PE, PP and EVA as well as certain PU foams.
This technology offers the advantage of allowing the production of items of any shape and hardness and the integration of rigid inserts during the manufacturing process.
Furthermore, our thermocompression production unit is also equipped to carry out the flame lamination or bonding of different types of material onto the foam, for example fabrics, leather, vinyl, nonwoven materials, etc., as well as the necessary finishing work such as sewing, alterations and upholstering.
Expanded plastic thermoforming is one of GRANDO’s top specialties. The applications for thermocompressed foams are vast and primarily involve sectors such as POS advertising, personal security and protection, medical, transportation, technical packaging, as well as leather goods and luxury luggage.