Our Vac Forming Services: Step-by-Step
At Plas-Tech, we’ve been delivering vac forming services across the UK for over 30 years. As one of the leading plastic forming manufacturers, we work with businesses in automotive, construction, healthcare, retail, and more. Today, we want to show you exactly how our vacuum forming service works, step-by-step.
If you’re new to vac forming or want to understand what makes our process different, this guide is for you.
Step 1: Understanding Your Project
Everything starts with a conversation. We take time to understand your needs. That includes:
– What part you need
– What it must do
– Which environment it will work in
Our team offers advice on materials, finishes, and function right from the start. This ensures your product will look good and perform well.
Step 2: Design & Prototyping
We help you turn your idea into a real design. Once the design is ready, we build a prototype using Ureol or 3D printing. This step lets you:
– See how the part looks and feels
– Test fit and function
– Make changes early before committing to tooling
Fast prototyping saves time and avoids costly mistakes later on.
Step 3: Tooling & Mould Creation
Next, we create your mould in-house. Our toolmakers use CNC machines for high accuracy. The mould shapes the plastic exactly as needed. At this stage, we can include:
– Validate any changes prior to production tooling
– Firm up production material specifications, textures, colours etc.
– Create tooling in market leading speed
Because we control tooling ourselves, we ensure tight tolerances and quicker lead times.
Step 4: The Vac Forming Process
Now comes the main part of the process. Here’s how vac forming works:
1. We heat a plastic sheet until it becomes soft.
2. We place it over the mould.
3. A vacuum pulls the sheet tightly against the mould.
4. It cools in shape and becomes solid again.
This method gives consistent results and strong, lightweight parts.
Step 5: Trimming & Finishing
After forming, we trim each part to its final shape. Our CNC routers provide neat, clean edges. If needed, we add:
– Holes
– Slots
– Assembly features
We can also add finishes like paint, flocking, or foil lamination.
Step 6: Assembly & Delivery
If your part needs to be assembled or packed, we do that too. Many of our clients choose value-added services like:
– Bonding parts together
– Adding inserts or brackets
– Custom packaging
We aim to make things easy from start to finish.
Why Use Plas-Tech for Vac Forming?
Choosing Plas-Tech means:
– Full in-house production
– Fast turnaround times
– ISO 9001:2015 quality control
– Sustainable manufacturing with solar-powered facilities
– Support at every stage of your project
We’re proud to be one of the UK’s most trusted vacuum forming providers. Whether you need 4,000 units or 40,000, we’re ready to help.
Ready to Start Your Process?
If you need a reliable partner for vac forming based in the UK, we’re here to help. Contact our team today, and we will guide you every step of the way.