What is vacuum forming?

Vacuum forming is a thermoforming process where a thermoplastic sheet is heated to a pliable forming temperature, stretched over a mold, and shaped using vacuum pressure. It is one of the most cost-effective methods for producing large plastic parts with relatively low tooling costs compared to injection molding.

What is the difference between vacuum forming and thermoforming?

Thermoforming is the broad category of plastic forming processes that use heat. Vacuum forming is a specific type of thermoforming that uses vacuum pressure to shape heated plastic sheets over a mold. Other thermoforming methods include pressure forming and twin-sheet forming.

What materials can be vacuum formed?

Common vacuum forming materials include ABS, PMMA (acrylic), Polycarbonate (PC), TPO, HDPE, Polystyrene (PS), PET, Polypropylene (PP), PVC, and PLA.

What is heavy gauge vs light gauge thermoforming?

Heavy gauge thermoforming processes cut sheets typically 2-12mm thick for structural parts. Light gauge thermoforming uses thin roll-fed film under 2mm for high-volume packaging. Machinecraft manufactures machines for both.

What industries use vacuum forming machines?

Vacuum forming machines are used across automotive, aerospace, medical, packaging, sanitary, agriculture, signage, and many more industries.

What sizes of vacuum forming machines does Machinecraft manufacture?

Machinecraft manufactures custom vacuum forming machines ranging from 1000x1200mm forming area up to 6000x2200mm (XL).

What is a closed chamber vacuum forming machine?

A closed chamber vacuum forming machine features an air-sealed forming chamber that enables pre-blow bubble formation and zero sag control. This European-concept design is standard on all Machinecraft PF1-X Series machines.

What are the AM-V and AM-P thin gauge roll-fed forming machines?

The Machinecraft AM-V (vacuum forming) and AM-P (pressure forming) are continuous roll-fed forming machines designed for thin gauge packaging, medical trays, and deep draw containers.

What is the PF1-UL Ultra Lab?

The PF1-UL "Ultra Lab" is Machinecraft's compact lab-sized thermoforming machine that packs full production-grade technology into a 2.4m × 3m footprint. It features servo-driven forming table, IR quartz dual heating, Mitsubishi PLC with 15" touchscreen, closed chamber with pre-blow bubble, and CE certification. Designed for R&D labs, universities, prototyping facilities, and small-batch production.

How does the PF1-UL compare to the PF1-X Pro?

The PF1-UL uses the same core technology as the PF1-X Pro — servo-driven table, quartz heaters, Mitsubishi PLC, closed chamber, multi-step vacuum with servo valve — but in a compact 700×700mm forming area vs the PF1-X's 1200×800mm to 4500×2500mm range. The PF1-UL is purpose-built for labs and prototyping, while the PF1-X is designed for full-scale production.

What materials can the PF1-UL process?

The PF1-UL processes all standard thermoplastics including ABS, PMMA (Acrylic), PC (Polycarbonate), TPO, HDPE, PP, PE, PVC, and PETG. Sheet thickness range is 0.5–10mm, making it suitable for both thin and heavy gauge prototyping.

What is the minimum sheet size?

The universal servo aperture adjusts down to 300×300mm (sheet size 350×350mm), allowing you to prototype with small material samples. Maximum sheet size is 750×750mm for the PF1-UL-0707 model.

Is the PF1-UL CE certified?

Yes, the PF1-UL is fully CE certified to EN 12409:2008+A1:2011. Safety features include pneumatic clamp locks, servo motor brake table, separate air tank for heater retraction on power failure, front door switch, light guards, and emergency stops.

The PF1-UL is ideal for R&D departments developing new thermoformed products, universities teaching plastics processing, material suppliers testing formability, tooling companies validating mold designs, and small manufacturers doing short-run production. It's also used by companies that need a production-quality machine but don't have the floor space for a full-size PF1-X.

What is the lead time?

Typical lead time is 5–6 months from order confirmation. Each PF1-UL is custom-built to your specifications.

PF1-UL Ultra Lab SeriesNewLab

Production-Grade
Lab Forming.

The PF1-UL "Ultra Lab" is Machinecraft's compact lab-sized thermoforming machine that packs full production-grade technology into a 2.4m × 3m footprint. Featuring servo-driven forming table, IR quartz dual heating (top & bottom), Mitsubishi PLC with 15" touchscreen HMI, closed chamber with pre-blow bubble, and CE certification — everything you'd find in a full-size PF1-X, scaled down for R&D labs, universities, prototyping facilities, and small-batch production. Forming area: 700 × 700 mm, sheet thickness: 0.5–10 mm, max mold height: 400 mm.

700×700

Forming Area (mm)

2.4×3m

Machine Footprint

Safety Certified

Request Quote Compare with PF1-X Pro

Machinecraft PF1-UL Ultra Lab vacuum forming machine — front view

PF1-UL Ultra Lab — Compact Production-Grade Forming

PF1-UL forming area close-up with Machinecraft branding

Closed Chamber

15" Mitsubishi HMI

Why PF1-UL?

Full PF1-X Technology. Lab-Sized Footprint.

The PF1-UL isn't a stripped-down lab machine — it's a full-spec PF1-X compressed into a 2.4 × 3 metre footprint. Every feature that makes the PF1-X the industry benchmark is here.

R&D & Prototyping

Develop new products with production-grade forming quality. Test materials, validate mold designs, and iterate faster than outsourcing.

Compact Footprint

2.4 × 3m floor space — fits in most R&D labs, university workshops, and small production areas without structural modifications.

CE Certified

Full CE certification (EN 12409:2008+A1:2011) with comprehensive safety features. Ready for European and international installations.

Production Quality

Same Mitsubishi PLC, Ceramicx heaters, Becker vacuum, and servo drives as the full-size PF1-X. Parts formed on the UL are production-representative.

Inside the Factory

Walk through Machinecraft's factory floor and see the PF1-UL Ultra Lab series alongside our full machine lineup.

PF1-UL Ultra Lab — Shopfloor Walkthrough

3 Lab Models

From 500×500mm to 1000×800mm. All models feature servo drive, quartz heating, and Mitsubishi PLC as standard.

← Scroll to see all specs →

Model	Forming Area	Max Mold Height	Sheet Thickness	Heater Power	Footprint
PF1-UL-0505	500 × 500 mm	300 mm	0.5–8 mm	18 kW	2.0 × 2.5 m
PF1-UL-0707	700 × 700 mm	400 mm	0.5–10 mm	36 kW	2.4 × 3.0 m
PF1-UL-1008	1000 × 800 mm	400 mm	0.5–10 mm	48 kW	2.8 × 3.5 m

🛒 Click "Add to Enquiry" to configure options and add to your inquiry cart

⏱ Typical lead time: 5–6 months from order confirmation

* All models custom-built to your specifications. Contact [email protected] for pricing.

Need larger? See PF1-X Pro Series (1208 – 4525)

Full Technical Specifications

PF1-UL-0707 detailed specifications — based on actual production machine data.

Forming Area700 × 700 mm (standard)

Sheet Size750 × 750 mm

Min. Aperture300 × 300 mm

Max Mold Height400 mm

Max Mold Weight500 kg

Sheet Thickness0.5 – 10 mm

Heater TypeIR Quartz (Ceramicx Ireland)

Heater Elements72 pcs (36 top + 36 bottom)

Table DriveServo Motor (3.5 kW)

Table SpeedMax 250 mm/s

Vacuum Pump40 m³/hr Rotary Vane

Vacuum Tank1000 litres

Cooling4× Centrifugal Fans (26 m³/hr each)

HMI15" Mitsubishi Touchscreen

SafetyCE (EN 12409:2008+A1:2011)

Machine Footprint2370 × 2963 mm (~2.4 × 3 m)

Lead Time5–6 months

Warranty12 months from installation

Machine Features

Servo-Driven Forming Table

3.5 kW servo motor with Bonfiglioli gearbox and chain system. Max speed 250 mm/s with programmable acceleration and deceleration profiles — same precision as full-size PF1-X machines.

IR Quartz Dual Heating

72 quartz heater elements (36 top + 36 bottom, 0.5 kW each) from Ceramicx Ireland. SSR solid-state control with 2 elements per SSR, individually settable or grouped in zones via touchscreen.

Closed Chamber + Pre-Blow

Air-sealed chamber below sheet line allows controlled pre-blow bubble during heating. Light sensors detect sheet sag (150mm below) and pre-blow height (adjustable above sheet line) for consistent forming.

Universal Servo Aperture

Motorised aperture size adjustment via servo motors. Change sheet size from 350×350mm to 750×750mm directly from the touchscreen — no manual frame swaps needed.

Mitsubishi PLC + 15" HMI

Mitsubishi PLC, servo drives, and 15-inch colour touchscreen with recipe storage on SD card. English and Italian language support. Full diagnostics, cycle counter, and safety interlocks.

Multi-Step Vacuum + Servo Valve

40 m³/hr oil rotary vane vacuum pump (Becker/Busch) with 1000L tank. Proportional servo valve enables multi-step vacuum profiles for complex geometries.

Quick Tool Change

Ball transfer units with pneumatic cylinders for auto-centering tool loading. Manual bolting with M10 blind holes. Supports molds up to 500 kg.

Radiation Pyrometer

Non-contact temperature measurement (0–300°C) with air jacket support for real-time sheet temperature monitoring during heating cycle.

CE Safety Certified

Full CE certification to EN 12409:2008+A1:2011. Pneumatic clamp locks, servo brake table, separate air tank for heater retraction on power failure, front door switch, light guards, and emergency stops.

Compatible Materials

ABSPMMAPCTPOHDPEPPPEPVCPETG

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Premium Components

Every PF1-UL is built with the same premium European and international components used in our full-size production machines.

MitsubishiPLC, HMI

BonfiglioliGearbox

Sick / P+FSensors

Becker / BuschVacuum Pumps

Rittal / HoffmanElectrical Panel

Ceramicx IrelandIR Quartz Heaters

FestoPneumatics

EatonSwitch Gear

Ideal For

R&D Departments

Develop and test new thermoformed products with production-representative quality before committing to full-scale tooling.

Universities & Training

Teach plastics processing with a real industrial machine. Students learn on the same Mitsubishi PLC and servo technology used in production.

Material Suppliers

Test formability of new thermoplastic compounds and provide customers with formed samples and processing parameters.

Tooling Companies

Validate mold designs and prove out forming parameters before shipping tooling to end customers.

Small-Batch Production

Produce short runs of thermoformed parts — medical device housings, custom enclosures, architectural panels — without a full production line.

Pre-blow bubble forming inside closed chamber

Same as PF1-X Pro

Closed Chamber + Pre-Blow Bubble

The PF1-UL features the same closed chamber design as the full-size PF1-X. Compressed air inflates the heated sheet into a uniform bubble before forming, ensuring even wall thickness distribution — critical for deep-draw prototypes and production parts alike.

Uniform material distribution across the mold
Light sensor detects sag at 150mm below sheet line
Adjustable pre-blow height sensor above sheet line
Multi-step vacuum via proportional servo valve

PF1-UL vs PF1-X Pro

Same technology, different scale. See how the Ultra Lab compares to our full-size production flagship.

Feature	PF1-UL Ultra Lab	PF1-X Pro
Forming Area	500×500 to 1000×800 mm	1200×800 to 4500×2500 mm
Sheet Thickness	0.5 – 10 mm	2 – 12 mm
Table Drive	Servo Motor	Servo Motor
Heater Type	IR Quartz (standard)	Ceramic / Quartz / Halogen
Heating	Top + Bottom (dual)	Top + Bottom (dual)
Closed Chamber	✓	✓
Pre-Blow Bubble	✓	✓
Multi-Step Vacuum	✓ (Servo Valve)	✓ (Servo Valve)
Universal Aperture	✓ (Servo)	✓ (Servo)
PLC / HMI	Mitsubishi / 15"	Mitsubishi / 15"
Pyrometer	✓	✓
Autoloader	Manual loading	Optional auto
CE Certified	✓	✓
Footprint	2.4 × 3 m	3.5 × 5 m+
Best For	R&D, prototyping, small batch	Full-scale production

Machine Gallery

PF1-UL Ultra Lab and related PF1 series machines in our factory.

PF1-UL Ultra Lab machine — rear angle on factory floor

PF1-UL forming chamber interior with mold

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to bring production-grade forming to your lab?

Our engineers will help you select the right PF1-UL model and configuration for your R&D or small-batch production needs.

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Production-GradeLab Forming.