Thermoformed plastic enclosures play a pivotal role in multiple industries including automotive, construction, agriculture, and industrial usages. While the product might be the same, the applications vary depending on the industry and the environment in which these enclosures may serve.
That’s what makes material selection so pivotal when designers, engineers, and customers know where the product is going to serve.
Make the right material selection for your thermoformed plastic enclosures while utilizing Allied Plastics’ guide filled with key considerations.
Common Material Choices for Thermoformed Plastic Enclosures
- ABS: This material is best suited for general purpose enclosures due to its high levels of impact resistance, dimensional stability, and overall strength. While suited for general purposes, it may face difficulties in the harshest environments, so additives in the materials are recommended.
- PE: Polyethylene offers high levels of chemical resistance, including strength against acids, bases, and industrial solvents. It can also withstand extreme weather and moisture durability, and supports enclosures in severe winter environments.
- TPO: One of the premier choices for thermoformed plastic enclosures, TPO can withstand harsh environments because of its weathering properties, low-temperature tolerance, and chemical resistance.
What to Optimize
Optimization of material selection for thermoformed plastic enclosures truly is placing a priority on what specific properties come first when making a decision. When facing the knowledge that your enclosures are going to serve in a harsh environment, chemical exposure, weathering and UV exposure, impact load, operating temperature should come first.
Behind that, any flame and electrical requirements should then be considered and optimized in the design process. What looks right on paper might change once you know the actual conditions of where the enclosure is going to serve.
Design Considerations
While material selection plays a pivotal role in thermoformed plastic enclosures, there are more considerations with design aspects to make. Seam design, drainage, UV stabilizers, wall thickness, and proper draft angles all have an equal footing of importance. Consider these other factors along with the material selection to create the most dependable enclosure that will perform efficiently in field applications.
Contact Allied Plastics in Choosing Materials for Thermoformed Plastic Enclosures
Allied Plastics has served as an industry-leading custom, heavy-gauge thermoforming manufacturing company since our doors opened in 1995. Located in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, our thermoforming capabilities are specialized in large part forming with custom parts in sizes up to 9 ft x 14 ft x 60” depth of draw. And our starting sheet thicknesses can range from .060” – .550”.
We know how important material selection is, especially for thermoformed plastic enclosures. Allied Plastics offers numerous readily available material choices including HDPE, HMWPE, TPO, PETG, PE, ABS, PS, and PP. Our expert engineers have decades of experience in assisting customers selecting the right material options for their respective thermoforming programs, including enclosures in harsh environments.
Allied Plastics takes quality control and management just as seriously as we take handling the responsibility for manufacturing our customers’ products. We have held an ISO 9001 and 14001 certification for decades now, but those certifications are more than just framed papers on the wall. They are a true embodiment of what quality means to us.
Contact our team today for more information on how to select the right material for your thermoformed plastic enclosures and how we can best serve you.