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.

Acrylonitrile Butadiene StyreneAutomotiveConsumer ProductsAgricultureConstructionSignage

ABS Material Guide

ABS is a versatile engineering thermoplastic widely used in thermoforming for its excellent impact resistance, rigidity, and surface finish quality. It offers a superior balance of mechanical properties, making it ideal for automotive interiors, appliance housings, and structural components.

Forming Temp

150–180°C

Gauge Range

1.5mm – 12mm

Applications

Key Properties

High impact resistance

Good dimensional stability

Excellent surface finish

Easy to paint and bond

Good chemical resistance

Thermoformable at 150–180°C

Thermoforming with ABS

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) is processed on Machinecraft thermoforming machines at forming temperatures of 150–180°C with sheet gauges ranging from 1.5mm – 12mm. The material's unique combination of properties makes it suitable for a wide range of industrial applications.

Machinecraft's servo-driven vacuum forming machines provide the precise temperature control, uniform heating, and programmable forming profiles required to achieve optimal results with ABS sheets. Our machines' closed-chamber design ensures consistent part quality across production runs, while the motorized aperture and multi-zone heating systems accommodate the specific thermal characteristics of ABS.

Industries that commonly use thermoformed ABS components include Automotive, Consumer Products, Agriculture, Construction, Signage. Each industry benefits from the material's specific properties — whether that's impact resistance for automotive parts, chemical resistance for industrial enclosures, or surface quality for consumer-facing products.

Applications Using ABS

11 thermoforming applications using Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene

ABS Interior Parts for Electric Buses

Discover durable thermoformed ABS interior panels for electric and hybrid buses. Utilizing vacuum forming for high-quality, custom automotive components.

AutomotivePF1-X

Vehicle Roofs & Automotive Components

Durable thermoformed plastic roofs and exterior panels for automotive applications. Custom vacuum formed components for vehicles.

AutomotivePF1-X

ABS Vacuum Formed Agriculture Equipment Headliner

Durable ABS vacuum formed B-surface headliner for agriculture equipment. Custom thermoforming solutions for robust interior components.

AgriculturePF1-X

3D Signage & Gas Price Totems

Discover durable, custom thermoformed 3D signage and gas price totems. Ideal for exterior branding, vacuum formed for impact and weather resistance.

SignagePF1-X

Arboskin 3D Facade

Discover Arboskin, an innovative 3D facade made from recycled ABS with ASA coating for UV resistance. Produced using vacuum forming for sustainable architectural cladding.

Construction

ABS Vacuum Formed Interior Door Trim for EVs

Discover high-quality ABS vacuum formed interior door trims for electric vehicles. Durable, lightweight automotive components manufactured with precision thermoforming.

AutomotivePF1-X

Bus Wheel Housing

Discover how thermoforming creates durable, lightweight wheel housings for buses. Replaces multi-part metal, CNC-milled for precision. Ideal for automotive applications.

AutomotivePF1-X

Bus Interior Panel

Discover high-quality thermoformed bus interior panels. Utilizing pressure forming for robust, lightweight automotive components. Ideal for vehicle interiors.

AutomotivePF1-X

Thermoformed Truck Boxes

Durable thermoformed truck boxes made from ABS and HDPE plastic. Custom vacuum formed automotive storage solutions — lightweight, corrosion-proof, and impact-resistant.

AutomotivePF1-XPF1-C

StreetScooter Thermoformed Parts

Large-format thermoformed hoods and exterior panels for StreetScooter electric delivery vehicles. Vacuum formed on PF1 Machinecraft machines for lightweight, durable last-mile delivery parts.

AutomotivePF1-XPF1-XL

Two-Sheet ABS Panels for Agriculture

Durable two-sheet thermoformed ABS panels for agricultural equipment. Vacuum formed and ultrasonically welded for robust, lightweight agri machinery components.

AgriculturePF1-XPF1-C