Providien has been a world-leading vacuum forming company of highly aesthetic, complex medical device enclosures and other plastic vacuum formed products for more than 40 years. These decades of experience have helped to make Providien a trusted and competent leader in the plastics industry and a valued source for all your plastic forming needs.
Providien’s proprietary approach to vacuum formed manufacturing allows for better design, improved functionality, reduced cost and increased aesthetic appeal.
What is Vacuum Forming?
Vacuum forming is a simplified version of Thermoforming. With the forming process, an extruded sheet of plastic is heated until it is brought to a formable temperature. The sheet is then removed from the oven and placed over the mold. Vacuum is then applied and the part takes on the geometry of the tool or mold. An optional plug assist may be used to help maintain uniform wall thickness and reduce thinning for parts with deep draws. The sheet is then placed into a 5-axis CNC trimming station, where the part is trimmed to its final dimensions. Any necessary holes are also drilled at this stage, completing the product for its final use in the device it was manufactured for.
This technique is used to make a wide variety of plastic parts and can be manufactured into any number of different required shapes for your company’s manufacturing needs. Some specific parts that Providien specializes in manufacturing include:
- products for the aerospace industry such as seat backs, tray tables, overhead bins and bezels
- products for the medical industry such as medical furniture, imaging systems, tissue staining equipment and gene sequencing systems
- products for the commercial industry such as kiosks, carts, radomes and security/scanning devices