Luggage Shell Machines.
Purpose-built thermoforming machines for the luggage industry. The DUO-L twin-station is the primary machine for high-volume ABS and PC luggage shell production — trusted by VIP Industries and Safari.
DUO-L — PF1-810-T Twin Station
Luggage Machines in Action
Watch Machinecraft luggage thermoforming machines producing hard-shell luggage shells.
Hard-Shell Luggage Bags.
The DUO-L produces complete hard-shell luggage shells from ABS and PC sheet. A single forming cycle produces one full shell half — combine two shells to create a complete bag. The 400mm draw depth accommodates cabin bags, medium, and large checked luggage.
DUO-L Series
PF1-810-T — Twin Station Luggage Thermoforming Machine
Two forming tables share one central static heater oven. The sheet travels into the oven for sandwich heating (top + bottom), then returns to the forming station. While one station forms, the other loads — enabling continuous high-volume production.
Key Features
Two Tables, One Central Heater
Lower table holds the vacuum forming mould; upper table presses against the pre-blow box for bubble control. The sheet clamp frame moves between heating and forming positions.
- Lower table: vacuum forming mould
- Upper table: pre-blow bubble control
- Static heater oven — sheet moves in/out
Top & Bottom IR Ceramic Sandwich Heating
650W IR ceramic elements with individual zone control (4 top + 4 bottom) via SSR solid-state relays. Schott glass protection for the bottom heater oven.
- 650W IR ceramic elements (European make)
- 4 + 4 zone individual control (SSR)
- Schott glass bottom protection (optional)
- Heater current sensing system (optional)
Busch Vacuum Pump — 600 lpm
Oil-lubricated rotary vane vacuum pump (Busch Germany, RA100) with 600 lpm capacity and vacuum reservoir. 2-step vacuum for controlled forming.
- Busch Germany RA100 pump
- 600 lpm capacity
- 2-step vacuum forming (optional)
- SMC pre-blow air saving valve (optional)
Centrifugal Blower Cooling — EBM Papst
4 centrifugal blowers per station (EBM Papst) for rapid cycle times. Water mist function for additional cooling on thick materials.
- 4 centrifugal blowers per station
- EBM Papst make
- Water mist function included
Mitsubishi PLC + 10in Touchscreen HMI
Mitsubishi PLC with 10-inch touchscreen HMI and SD card for recipe storage. European standard electrical cabinet with Eaton/Siemens switchgear.
- Mitsubishi PLC + 10in HMI
- SD card recipe storage
- Mould temperature indicator (optional)
- European standard electrical cabinet
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Machine Model | PF1-810-T |
| Configuration | Twin Station |
| Max Sheet Size | 850 × 1050 mm |
| Max Forming Area | 800 × 1000 mm |
| Max Product Depth | 400 mm |
| Materials | ABS / PC |
| Heating System | IR Ceramic 500W & 350W |
| Heater Zones | 4 Top + 4 Bottom (SSR) |
| Vacuum Pump | Busch RA100 — 600 lpm |
| Cooling | Centrifugal Blowers — 4 sets/stn |
| Controller | Mitsubishi PLC + 10in HMI |
| Total Power | ~30 kW |
| Dimensions (L×W×H) | 3600 × 1700 × 2800 mm |
| Machine Weight | ~2000 kg |
Component Makes
Add DUO-L to Enquiry
| Model | Forming Area | Action |
|---|---|---|
| DUO-L-810Featured | 800 × 1000 mm |
Need a custom forming area? Contact us — custom sizes are available.
Forming Cycle — Step by Step.
Sheet Loading
Operator places the ABS/PC sheet on the machine. Two safety switches must be pressed to start the forming cycle — light guard protection active.
Sheet Clamping
Sheet is clamped tight by pneumatic cylinders (2 cylinders). The clamping frame moves into the static heater oven.
Sandwich Heating
Sheet heats inside the static oven — top and bottom IR ceramic elements heat simultaneously. Set time and temperature are controlled by Mitsubishi PLC.
Pre-Blow & Forming
Sheet clamp returns to forming position. Upper table presses against pre-blow box — heated sheet is pre-blown into a bubble for even material distribution, then vacuum is applied.
Cooling & Unloading
Centrifugal blowers (4 sets) cool the formed part. Operator unloads the finished luggage shell half.
UNO-L Series
Single Station Luggage Machine
The UNO-L is a compact single-station luggage machine with the same core technology as the DUO-L — IR ceramic heating, Mitsubishi PLC, Busch vacuum pump — in a smaller footprint. Ideal for small to medium-volume production or as an entry point into luggage shell manufacturing.
Key Features
Compact Single-Station Design
Purpose-built for luggage shell forming in a compact footprint. Ideal for smaller production facilities or entry-level luggage manufacturing.
- Single forming station
- Footprint: 3600 × 1700 × 2800 mm
- Machine weight: ~2000 kg
IR Ceramic Sandwich Heating
Top and bottom IR ceramic heating ovens with independently controlled zones for even heat distribution across the full sheet area.
- 500W & 350W IR Ceramic elements
- 4 + 4 zone individual control
- SSR solid-state relay control
Pre-Blow Bubble Control
Upper table pre-blow capability for improved material distribution before vacuum forming. Ensures even wall thickness across the full luggage shell.
- Upper table pre-blow system
- Improved material distribution
- Even wall thickness
Busch Vacuum Pump — 600 lpm
High-capacity rotary vane vacuum pump (Busch Germany, 600 lpm) with vacuum reservoir. 2-step vacuum for controlled deep-draw forming.
- Busch Germany 600 lpm pump
- Vacuum reservoir included
- 2-step vacuum forming
Mitsubishi PLC + 7in HMI
Mitsubishi PLC with 7-inch touchscreen HMI for recipe management and process control.
- Mitsubishi PLC controller
- 7in touchscreen HMI
- SD card recipe storage
UNO-L Models — Add to Enquiry
| Model | Forming Area | Action |
|---|---|---|
| PF1-810-T | 800 × 1000 mm |
Optional Add-ons.
Heater Current Sensing
Monitors each heating element for health. Alerts operator to failed elements before they affect production quality.
Schott Glass Bottom Protection
Schott glass panel protects the bottom heater oven from sheet contact. Prevents element damage and contamination.
2-Step Vacuuming
Controlled two-stage vacuum application for deep-draw luggage shells. Improves wall thickness distribution.
SMC Pre-Blow Air Saving Valve
SMC valve recovers compressed air during the pre-blow phase. Reduces air consumption and operating costs.
Mould Temperature Indicator
Monitors mould surface temperature for consistent cycle times and part quality across long production runs.
DUO-L vs UNO-L vs PF1-C-1008.
When your luggage design requires thicker material or full automation, the PF1-C-1008 is the next step up — servo-driven with closed chamber and the full PF1-C feature set.
| Spec | DUO-L | UNO-L | PF1-C-1008 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forming Area | 800 × 1,000 mm | 800 × 1,000 mm | 1,000 × 800 mm |
| Max Draw Depth | 400 mm | 400 mm | 400 mm |
| Sheet Thickness | 2–5 mm | 2–5 mm | 2–10 mm |
| Drive System | Pneumatic | Pneumatic | Servo Motor |
| Heating | IR Ceramic (top + bottom) | IR Ceramic (top + bottom) | IR Ceramic (top + bottom) |
| Pre-Blow | Yes | Yes | Yes (closed chamber) |
| Vacuum System | Busch 600 lpm | Busch 600 lpm | Rotary vane + proportional valve |
| PLC | Mitsubishi | Mitsubishi | Mitsubishi |
| Stations | Twin (shared oven) | Single | Single (servo) |
| Best For | High-volume ABS/PC luggage | Entry-level luggage | Thick materials, deep draw, automation |
Luggage Machines in Action.
DUO-L Front View
PF1-810-T twin-station machine
Internal Mechanism
Pneumatic forming station open
Sheet Loading
Operator loads sheet — light guard active
Forming Chamber
Precision mould table with pneumatic control
UNO-L Single-Station
Compact entry-level machine at Machinecraft factory
DUO-L Render
CAD render of twin-station configuration
Delivery & Terms.
Frequently Asked Questions.
The DUO-L (PF1-810-T twin station) is Machinecraft's primary luggage shell thermoforming machine. It features two forming tables — a lower table for the vacuum forming mould and an upper table for pre-blow bubble control — with top and bottom IR ceramic sandwich heating. The static heater oven allows the sheet to travel inside for even heating, making it ideal for ABS and PC luggage shell production at high throughput.
Luggage shells are primarily made from ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) and PC (Polycarbonate). ABS offers good impact resistance and is cost-effective for mid-range luggage. PC provides superior strength-to-weight ratio and premium aesthetics for high-end brands. Both materials are well-suited for vacuum forming on the DUO-L and UNO-L machines.
Both machines offer a maximum sheet size of 850 × 1050 mm with a forming area of 800 × 1000 mm and maximum product depth of 400 mm. This accommodates standard luggage sizes from cabin bags to large checked luggage. The deep-draw capability of 400 mm is essential for forming full-depth luggage shells in a single forming cycle.
The DUO-L is the twin-station machine with two forming tables sharing one central heater oven — while one station forms, the other loads, enabling continuous high-volume production. The UNO-L is a compact single-station machine ideal for smaller production volumes or entry-level luggage manufacturing. Both use IR ceramic heating, Mitsubishi PLC, and Busch vacuum pumps.
Optional upgrades include: Heater Current Sensing System (monitors element health), Schott Glass Bottom Heater Protection (prevents sheet contact with bottom elements), 2-Step Vacuuming (controlled forming for deep draws), SMC Blow-Air Valve (saves air during preblow), and Mould Temperature Indicator (monitors mould surface temperature for consistent cycle times).
Need a Luggage Machine?
Contact our team to discuss your luggage shell production requirements. We have supplied machines to VIP Industries, Safari, and other leading manufacturers.
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