Review of the 2026 European Thermoforming Conference

The 14th European Thermoforming Conference was held Strasbourg, France in early March with a rich and varied program that covered technology, materials, and regulation. Organized by the SPE European Thermoforming Division, the two-day event drew presenters from across the value chain, from tool managers and digital twin developers to recycled resin producers and EU policy analysts. The result was a cross-section of an industry that finds itself navigating several simultaneous pressures, none of which are likely to ease any time soon.

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Sensitivity of thermoforming to friction and heat transfer: Simulation and experimental validation

Thermoforming is a widely used manufacturing technology for producing thin-walled thermoplastic com-ponents, ranging from packaging and travel trolleys to automotive parts. Despite its broad applications, numerical simulation of the process remains challenging, particularly due to the complex surface interactions between sheet and mold, such as friction and heat transfer, which are not yet fully understood. This study presents a coupled thermal-structural simulation of the forming step, with a particular focus on the mold-sheet interface.

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