August 2008
When you're shopping around for a thermoforming company, don't consider only the company's
thermoforming process. Consider what other custom processes--if any--it offers.
Why does this matter? Well, if the company handles some of these processes in-house, it can help cut down on costs and time--two incredibly critical components to your product's bottom line.
Are you still unsure of what custom processes are important? Take it as a good sign if the
thermoforming company offers the following in-house (but, as always, double check your
sources and get references):
Custom Processes: Understanding Their Value
Custom Painting
When a thermoforming company handles all painting in-house, it can ensure maximum control over color, gloss, and texture. And expert custom painting creates specific attention to detail required by industrial designers.
EMI Shielding
EMI stands for electromagnetic interference, something you don't (usually) want to happen to any parts, like computers, that house delicate electronic components. To protect your products from EMI, you'll need EMI shielding. At ThermoFab, this involves our applying Electrodag 440, a conductive stable nickel coating. Keep in mind that proper EMI shielding requires certification. Find out if the company you're considering is certified by searching the Underwriter Laboratories Online Certifications Directory.
Custom Assembly
Another custom process that helps reduce the time it takes for your product to get to market is when the thermoforming company assembles your plastic enclosure to any base components. When talking to the thermoforming company, make sure you ask yourself the right questions first, like do you need attachment hardware in your enclosure? (And be sure to provide the company with the answer!)
Custom Finishing
From silk screening to pad printing to other detailed finishings, a thermoforming company that provides these services shows its commitment to providing you
with a complete quality product rather than just thermoformed parts.
Learn more about ThermoFab's custom processes by setting up a tour of our plant so that we can discuss your project's specific needs in person.
ThermoFab in Action: Customer Stories
In a Flash--Tight Deadlines, Specific Design Requirements, Busy Client--No Problem!
Digimarc Relies on ThermoFab for Speed and Accuracy
Challenge
A new contract with specific delivery requirements means little time for planning and no room for error.
Digimarc's Government ID solutions protect identities, secure commercial transactions, and enhance homeland security and personal safety. And when a state government places an order--they want product now!
This was exactly the situation Digimarc was in when Texas said yes to 824 units of their tamper proof id system. Driven by the REAL ID Act's pending regulations, many states are getting a jump on complying with the new rules. And Digimarc is ready to respond thanks to their long standing relationship with ThermoFab.
"Our products integrate with computer systems and we wanted to achieve one seamless look," stated Terry Baker, Senior Supply Chain Manager for Digimarc. "But we needed to do it quickly to meet the demand of incoming orders. ThermoFab is incredibly customer driven and we knew we could count on them to react to short deadlines and deliver exactly what we needed."
Solution: One Call Does It All
Well, almost. Though it took a few calls and meetings to get everything in order, ThermoFab quickly identified a local designer to help them make the Digimarc products look like a seamless part of the computer tower. From these designs they turned to tooling--a vital part of the process to ensure that the base fit of the product would be flawless.
But color and materials were also a concern. Digimarc wanted a modern design and a
streamlined look--a "Dell black" as they refer to it. Thanks to ThermoFab's custom color
matching expertise, it wasn't long before they achieved an exact match with the computer
equipment bundled with the Digimarc technology.
Results
On time, no surprises. What more could you ask for?
Read more ThermoFab customer stories here.
ThermoFab is committed to being the leader in custom plastic enclosures.
Contact us today to learn how we can take you from files to finished product in just 4-6 weeks!
Sincerely,
Tom King, Jr., President
ThermoFab
email: engineering@thermofab.com
phone: 888-494-9777
web: http://www.thermofab.com