Typically made from thermoformed plastic. The more commonly used materials in thermoforming packaging are: PETG, PVC, styrene, polycarbonate, HDPE and ABS. ...thermoforming is a plastic tray made using a thermoforming process in which a heated plastic sheet is stretched into a mold. According to the raw materials of plastics, the manufacturing process, etc., the prices of plastic pallets in the market are also different. The average selling price of these pallets ranges from a few dozen to a hundred.
1. High pressure injection molding
The injection molding machine includes a heated barrel with a rotating screw. The virgin plastic and colorant are melted together in the barrel. The molten plastic is then injected together into the mold and pressure is applied. Injection and clamping forces are high. Copolymer polypropylene or high density polyethylene resins are often used for injection trays. The cost of high pressure injection molds is high, but the process cycle is fast. High pressure can also create pallets or other products with detailed properties.
2. Structural foam molding
Structural foam molding is a form of low pressure injection molding. The cavity is filled with polyethylene or polypropylene plastic pellets and nitrogen. Heat activates the foaming agent, resulting in a core with solid skin. The method requires less raw materials, and the produced plastic has a high strength-to-weight ratio. The mold itself is less expensive than the mold used for high pressure injection molding.
3. Thermoforming
The most common one we can see is the thermoforming tray, which is widely used in supermarkets, logistics, chemical and other industries. Thermoforming is a two-step process. It first heats plastic pellets, usually polyethylene, to form the desired thickness of the extruded plastic sheet. Then, when the air between the mold and the sheet is emptied, one or two sheets are formed on the mold. Thermoforming molds are much cheaper than injection molds, but have slower cycle times. Thermoformed plastic pallets are generally very light and durable. The double-panel thermoformed trays are hollow for easy drainage, and there is no risk of breakage if the perforations are exposed to rain.
4. Compression molding
Compression molding is commonly used to make plastic and molded pallets made from other materials such as wood chips and resins. Two-piece dies are loaded with material manually, mechanically or through an extruder. Once loaded, the pressure forces the mold to close and the pressure forces the material to fill the mold cavity. In the compression molding process, many different types of recycled materials are used, including various plastics, rubber, synthetic resins, and other recycled waste.
