Thermoforming

A high-volume process in which molten polymer, often short-fibre reinforced, is injected under high pressure into a closed metal mould, solidified and ejected. It provides tight tolerances and complex geometry at low unit cost once tooling costs are recovered.

A composite whose matrix is a thermoplastic polymer, such as polypropylene, polyamide or PEEK, rather than a curing thermoset. Thermoplastic composites can be formed and reformed with heat, joined by welding rather than bonding, and are more readily recycled at end of life.

A continuous process in which heated rollers squeeze a polymer or rubber compound into sheet of closely controlled thickness. It is widely used to produce single-ply roofing and waterproofing membranes, including EPDM and PVC sheet, as well as many industrial rubber products.