ABS Thermoforming

At Lerner Molded Plastics, we provide precision ABS thermoforming services to create precisely molded products for companies in a wide variety of industries. With the use of advanced in-line equipment, rotary machines, and single station equipment, we can produce thin-gauge, high production output thermoforming as well as heavy-gauge thermoforming. Our manufacturing capabilities can accommodate components up to 15′ in length with both male and female tooling, and all products are trimmed through CNC trimming equipment to produce accurate tolerances.

What is ABS Plastic?

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ABS plastic is a thermoplastic polymer ideal for injection molding applications and is comprised of three separate monomers — acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene. Since it becomes flexible under specific temperatures, ABS plastic can be molded into a variety of shapes to create useful products for many industries. This engineering material is widely used by plastic manufacturers due to its low production cost and high machinability. One of the biggest advantages of ABS plastic is that its physical properties remain intact during the machining process.

Thermoplastic polymers become moldable when they’re heated and solidify when cooled. Throughout the process, they maintain the following valuable properties that make them useful across different industries:

Structural Strength and Stiffness
Excellent High- and Low-Temperature Performance
Impact Resistance
Great Electrical Insulation Properties
Chemical Resistance
Easy to Paint and Glue

Plastic Thermoforming Applications

The resistant nature of ABS plastics and the flexibility of the material makes ABS useful in many industries. Known as engineering plastic because of its versatility, ABS plastic sheeting can often replace other plastics as a low-cost alternative that’s more durable and better suited for the application. ABS plastic is used in these industries:

Automotive

The automotive industry requires materials that meet specific criteria and specifications while maintaining the lightest weight possible. ABS plastic is much lighter than other plastics and boasts benefits like impact resistance and strength, making it a superior choice for many applications in the automotive industry. Properties like low-temperature resistance and a rugged surface that can’t be easily scratched make it useful for these applications on the exterior and interior of vehicles:

Dashboard Assemblies
Interior Door Panels
Seating Parts
Bumpers
Air Ducts

Aerospace & Aviation

In an industry where lightweight components are crucial, ABS plastics are the perfect choice to construct many aviation components. ABS plastic’s high moldability and excellent tensile strength make ABS thermoforming the preferred process for creating these critical parts:

Aircraft Interior Paneling
Galley Components
Light Housing
Overhead Luggage Bins

Building and Construction

Working in the building and construction industry requires the use of heavy tools in a variety of hard-to-access locations. This means the materials to protect these tools should eliminate weight and bulk as much as possible. Due to its strength and moldability, ABS thermoforming offers an excellent method to create safe and durable machinery covers and enclosures and lightweight cases for tools. It is also an ideal material choice for certain building components that must be lightweight and moisture/chemical resistant. ABS thermoforming is commonly used in these building and construction applications:

Equipment Enclosures
Skylights
Tool Cases
Machinery Covers

Mass Transit

Large vehicles for mass transit require materials that are inexpensive and lightweight. These vehicles must also be as streamlined as possible to offer room for passengers, luggage, and large mechanical components. ABS thermoforming is used in the mass transit industry to create these essential components:

Seating
Interior paneling
Exterior vehicle body panels
Gap covers

Medical Equipment

The flexibility derived from the ABS thermoforming process makes it adaptable for the unique needs of the medical equipment industry. The natural properties of the material also make it ideal for preventing contamination, easy labeling and adhesion, and strength. ABS thermoforming is used in these components in the medical equipment industry:

Medical electronics housing
Sterile packaging
Bins and trays
Hospital room panels

Packaging

Moldabiity, anti-corrosion properties, adhesion, and labeling capabilities make ABS plastics ideal for formed packaging to protect materials or shipping durable objects. Its lightweight properties make it useful for packing materials as well. ABS thermoforming is used in these products in the packaging industry:

Blister Packaging
Dunnage