You might be wondering which type of manufacturing is best for your business. It’s an intricate question because the two processes have advantages and disadvantages. Thermoforming uses heat to mold plastic into complex shapes, while fiberglass uses resin and glass fibers to create something similar from scratch.
Suppose you need to consistently produce large quantities of products — Thermoforming may be the way to go. Thermoforming can quickly produce large parts with intricate details. If you want to make prototypes or execute a one-off job, Fiberglass is a better choice.
In the end, the superior strength and flexibility of thermoforming make it a better choice. The material can be used in packaging, automotive parts, medical devices, and more. This is because thermoplastic material can be easily molded into different shapes and commissioned to meet your specific requirements.
The thermoforming process is automated, requiring the least manual labor and thus ideal for large-scale production. In addition, it also has an excellent surface finish, making it easy for you to use in multiple areas. Below is a rundown of what you need to know about these manufacturing processes.
Thermoforming vs. Fiberglass Manufacturing
The success of your business is very critical. You must invest in the right tools and resources for your company to succeed. Manufacturing is an essential resource for any business. But, when deciding which process to use for manufacturing — determine the strengths and weaknesses of each technique.
Grand Canyon Plastics has the largest pressure-forming machine ever built in the United States to manufacture plastic.
Below are the advantages of using our large scale molds as compared to using a fiberglass mold for your plastics manufacturing:
Unlike fiberglass, our large-scale molds are water-resistant and can be reused for multiple parts.
Fiberglass isn’t reusable as it requires a laborious process to remove the mold release agent from the part being cast. Each of your pieces will need an additional step to ensure you don’t end up with bubbles or variations in shape when throwing them into the final product.
It isn’t easy getting around sharp edges on fiberglass — this may make finishing off painted surfaces challenging if done by hand. Fiberglass is nasty…
At Grand Canyon Plastics, we have 6 custom-made thermoforming machines that can thermoform parts up to 60″x96″ and 40″ deep and produce high-quality plastic products in various shapes and sizes for domestic and international markets using our large format “SureForm” process.
Our customers have high standards, which is why we take pride in our customer service, quality and an efficient production process so that you can use your time to focus on other essential aspects of your business. Contact us today to learn more.