APPLICATIONS
This technology is particularly suitable to the manufacturing of simple objects and production volumes of some thousand pieces. There are two types of VF: a) under vacuum; b) under pressure. A lot of products can be realized using these methods; the use of different moulds and VF machines allows to range from the production of tubs for food (using a mixture of polystyrene and polythene 400 micron thick) to the moulding of cowling in ABS from 2 to 7 millimetres thick. MATERIAL - ABS or PVC plates from 0.4 to o.7 millimetres thick.

TECHNOLOGY :The VF makes possible to shape thermoplastic rigid film by heat and pressure, creating openings and cavities. Differently from the injection moulding, this technique makes possible to mould very thick thicknesses very precisely. Therefore PVC can be worked in such a way to get packaging and containers, even transparent, shaped on the basis of the object they are going to contain.

The following technologies can be used:
- under vacuum form : the plastic sheet is fixed to a support rising above the mould and is heated; then air is sucked by the distance which separates the sheet from the mould and is heated, creating a depression: the plastic sheet is pushed against the mould by the rising above atmospheric pressure and takes its shape.

- under pressure form: the plastic plate preheated adheres to the mould by the pressure exerted by compressive air(at about3-5 atm). Under pressure form makes possible the realization of very detailed items, like closing hooks for blisters.

MODEL SUPERFICIAL FINISH
The superficial finish can be smooth, bright/opaque or goffered.