SPE Thermoforming Quarterly - SPE Thermoforming Division

Thermoforming Quarterly is a journal published quarterly by the Thermoforming Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers. The magazine is a great way to keep up with industry trends and developments. SPE Thermoforming Division members receive the magazine by mail four times a year. Non-members can access old issues here via PDF file. If you are not an SPE member this is a great reason to join! Become a member today to start receiving this valuable information in your mailbox.

We welcome objective, technical and related articles that provide valuable information to our community of thermoformers, toolmakers, material suppliers and OEMs. Articles are typically 1500-2000 words. We recommend viewing past articles for further guidance. All submissions should be in MS Word, 12-pt Times New Roman.

Artwork, illustrations, photos and graphics should be 300 dpi. We prefer .eps .jpeg and .pdf files

2025 Deadlines for content and artwork: First Quarter: February 14; Second Quarter: April 8; Third Quarter: August 15; Fourth Quarter: November 3.

Thermoforming Quarterly Sponsorship Sales Contact:
Lesley Kyle,
E: lesleykyleink@gmail.com
T: 914-671-9524

First Quarter 2025

Innovation Brief – Collaborative Case Study in EV Charging Infrastructure

A collaboration between Ray Products, the OEM, and SEKISUI KYDEX originated from a shared vision: to develop a material solution that would exceed the demanding requirements of the DC block housing application in the EV charging sector. With decades of expertise in custom thermoforming and a commitment to solving complex manufacturing challenges, Ray Products took a proactive approach to this project. From the outset, Ray Products recognized the innovation potential not only in material selection but also in advanced processing techniques that would simplify production and reduce costs.

Considering the charging unit contained eleven parts with an average part size of 3’x3′, the client sought a solution with lower tooling costs than injection molding. The project required material that would not only meet the UL746C F1 and V-0 standards but also match the aesthetics of aluminum and withstand UV exposure and severe weather conditions. In addition, the goal was to simplify assembly by minimizing attachment points, which required molded-in features to eliminate the need for secondary bonding of blocks or bosses.

Thermoform Recycling Study – Phase 2 Report

This report outlines the results of Phase 2 of the PET Thermoform Recycling Costs & Material Flow Project. Phase 1 of this project evaluated the presence of thermoforms in the US and Canadian reclamation system and identified key recovery routes for this steam. Phase 2 was designed to understand the recycling and material flow of PET thermoform in today’s system. In Phase 2, the project sought to determine the possible interventions that would be required to enable greater collection, sorting, processing, and recycling of thermoforms; evaluate the costs and technical factors related to those interventions; and prioritize opportunities for investment to improve overall PET thermoform recycling.

The project found that PET thermoforms can be effectively sorted in a MRF environment, and that the mixed thermoform / bottle flake met most end market specifications. The results suggest that the major impediment to expanding PET thermoform reclamation in the current system is yield loss at the PET reclaimer. It is important to note that the reclaimer trial was intentionally conducted in a facility that is not designed to accommodate significant volumes of PET thermoform. There are PET reclamation facilities that successfully process bales with high volumes of PET thermoform into bottle-grade outputs. By conducting the testing in a facility that was not optimized for thermoforms, we sought to understand the impacts of thermoforms on typical curbside facilities and the extent to which changes would be necessary to accommodate greater quantities of thermoforms.

Complete articles are published in the magazine and mailed to SPE Thermoforming Division Members.

2025