|
|
Article: Toolmakers benefit from growing demand for thermoformed parts: the need for innovative mold design accelerates as auto OEMs specify larger and more complex parts.(End Market Report: Automotive Technology Review)
- Article from:
- MoldMaking Technology
- Article date:
- March 1, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 Gardner Publications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
The automotive market offers sizeable opportunities for thermoformed parts, and by extension thermoform tooling, but only if processors and toolmakers embrace high-tech mold designs and forming techniques.
Auto OEMs and other vehicle manufacturers are sold on thermoforming for the benefits it provides in large-part design and fabrication, and for its economy. Thermoforming can be used to produce large parts ranging from bed-liners and tonneau covers to bumper fascias and rocker panels quickly and at a tooling cost that's a fraction of that for an injection mold.
Recent developments in tool design, coupled with advances in mold materials like aluminum, ...