Wednesday, April 25, 2012

The ‘Buzz’ with Thermoformed Plastics


Blog Post 5

The ‘Buzz’ with Thermoformed Plastics


Plastic products created from the thermoforming process are being used around the world and are aiding in the medical, agricultural, ecological, automotive, energy, and entertainment world.  Plastics are becoming more widely used and it is quite exciting when you see what can be done.  My business has opened my eyes to some of the possibilities.  Anyone with discipline, hard work ethic, and a good idea, can make a business that can become a huge part of our society.  Thermoforming is mainly discussed more widely in the business world where equipment and new technology is a key to having success.    James Callari, a production specialist, emphasizes, when referring to thermoformed plastics, that “IT’S ALL ABOUT PRICE & PERFORMANCE ... QUALITY & DEPENDABILITY FOR THE LONG TERM.”[i]  Demands for similar items have become very competitive in recent years and the major theme that producers use in their plastic products is the importance of sustainability[ii].
            Annual conferences are held just for new technologies that thermoform and aid in its process.  New versions of software[iii] are being developed as well as parts that increase speed production.  In 2007 the main emphasis at the thermoforming conference was on equipment that aided in high-output machines for packaging, an automatic-cut-and-stack unit, and improved in-line systems for high-speed cup production.[iv]  These machines listed may not seem very important, but when hundreds of millions of products are being sold, a great deal of money is made as well.   For Example, the company Optiwind makes thermoformed wind turbines with annual sales in the range of $10 million to $15 million with more than 100 employees in the business.[v]  These products especially help our economy by generating sales and new employees.  The entire market is also worth noting.[vi]
Plastics are discussed greatly in the food world.  Tupperware, utensils, and measuring cups to bowls are examples that almost everyone uses in their home.  [vii]
Major discussions relate to their durability, flexibility, and safety.  These plastics have to be formed correctly to meet the regulations placed upon them before being sold to the public.  Dr. Crippa, a food protection specialist, has said that there is a series of technical requirements so that we are to avoid potential food hazards.  Such requirements involve the longevity of their shelf-life and their ability to prevent the contamination of food.  [viii]  People are happy with these plastic products because they are effective and because they meet all of the requirements that are enforced by the food and drug administration.  They have revolutionized how we package and store food.
The uses of thermoformed plastics are extremely unique and important in the medical field.  One plastic specialist, Joseph Grande, has mentioned that “A novel thermoforming process has emerged as a promising new method to produce highly technical micro parts such as polymer microchips for life-science.”[ix] 
Such applications involve scaffold in tissue engineering.  Scaffolds help aid in the regeneration and aids in the growth of various tissues. In the medical field “plastic scaffolds are used to relieve the impaired organ so as to expedite recovery or facilitate regeneration.”[x]  This has helped drastically reduce the cost and have been useful because they can be re-cycled and re-used.   
[xi]
The new plastic pallet has now made its inroad into logistics because of its “durability, reusability, and weight.”[xii]  Cost is the central theme of discussion when discussion these products and its process.
Plastics are mainly discussed in the business world, but are making a big scene in the entertainment world as well.  One great example is plastics being used in film.  People still Thermoform the costumes from the storm troopers in Star Wars.  

[xiii]

I also am using thermoformed plastics in my business to sell advanced terrariums and vivariums.  The qualities of the products being made are astounding and many are gravitating to this fact; the monetary wealth is ever expanding and will continue to grow and be a huge discussion throughout society.   






[i]
James Callari, "'Productive' Is More Than a Name For This Efficient Thermoformer," Plastics Technology, 57, no. 2 (2011): 34-37, http://web.ebscohost.com.hal.weber.edu:2200/ehost/results?sid=c6ddcbe4-510c-4128-ba51-2ca4dffd5581@sessionmgr114&vid=2&hid=110&bquery=thermoforming&bdata=JmRiPWFwaCZ0eXBlPTAmc2l0ZT1laG9zdC1saXZl (accessed April 6, 2012).

[ii]
James Callari, "Sustainability Is Not a Buzzword For Thin-Gauge Thermoformer," Plastics Technology, 57, no. 55 (2011): 56-56, http://web.ebscohost.com.hal.weber.edu:2200/ehost/detail?vid=15&hid=110&sid=c6ddcbe4-510c-4128-ba51-2ca4dffd5581@sessionmgr114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ==

[iii]
Grande Joseph, "Thermoforming Innovations Displayed At SPE Annual Conference," Plastics Technology, 50, no. 11 (2004): 37-39, http://web.ebscohost.com.hal.weber.edu:2200/ehost/detail?vid=21&hid=110&sid=c6ddcbe4-510c-4128-ba51-2ca4dffd5581@sessionmgr114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ==

[iv]
(cover story), "What's New at the Show in THERMOFORMING," Plastics Technology, 53, no. 9 (2011): 85-87, http://web.ebscohost.com.hal.weber.edu:2200/ehost/detail?vid=25&hid=110&sid=c6ddcbe4-510c-4128-ba51-2ca4dffd5581@sessionmgr114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ==

[v]
James Callari, " Thermoforming Helps Harvest the Wind," Plastics Technology, 57, no. 1 (2011): 48-48, http://web.ebscohost.com.hal.weber.edu:2200/ehost/detail?vid=23&hid=110&sid=c6ddcbe4-510c-4128-ba51-2ca4dffd5581@sessionmgr114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ==

[vi] Wikipedia, "Thermoforming." Accessed April 6, 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoforming.
[viii]
A. Crippa, T. H. D. Sydenstricker, and S. C. Amico, "Evaluation of Multilayer Thermoformed Films for Food Packaging," Polymer-Plastics Technology and Engineering, 47, no. 10 (2008): 991–995, http://web.ebscohost.com.hal.weber.edu:2200/ehost/results?sid=c6ddcbe4-510c-4128-ba51-2ca4dffd5581@sessionmgr114&vid=1&hid=110&bquery=thermoforming&bdata=JmRiPWFwaCZ0eXBlPTAmc2l0ZT1laG9zdC1saXZl (accessed April 6, 2012).

[ix]
Grande Joseph, "Micro-Thermoforming Makes Its Debut," Plastics Technology, 51, no. 11 (2006): 37-41, http://web.ebscohost.com.hal.weber.edu:2200/ehost/detail?vid=42&hid=110&sid=c6ddcbe4-510c-4128-ba51-2ca4dffd5581@sessionmgr114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ==

[x]
S. Giselbrecht, "Microthermoforming as a novel technique for manufacturing scaffolds in tissue engineering," IEE Proceedings -- Nanobiotechnology, 151, no. 4 (2004): 151-157, http://web.ebscohost.com.hal.weber.edu:2200/ehost/detail?sid=c9d288fb-5fcc-40a4-88ca-d1402980c849@sessionmgr104&vid=1&hid=110&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ==

[xii]
Grande Joseph, "Plastic Pallets Gain Ground In an Eco-Conscious World," Plastics Technology, 54, no. 9 (2008): 58-75, http://web.ebscohost.com.hal.weber.edu:2200/ehost/detail?vid=17&hid=110&sid=c6ddcbe4-510c-4128-ba51-2ca4dffd5581@sessionmgr114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ==

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