The four-station molds consist of several stages as follows:
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Forming stage: This is the stage where the desired shape is given to the heated sheet in the oven, through several consecutive stages of vacuuming and blowing, in addition to mechanical drives that push the material into the cavity. The most important element here is to cool it well so that it takes the desired shape.
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Punching stage: This is the stage where the formed product is punched with high precision and in various shapes, including circular and oval shapes, and creating gaps in the product to improve ventilation inside and allow the liquids to exit. The excess material resulting from the punching process is passed through the mold body to the outside through channels with unclogged paths.
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Cutting stage: This is the stage where the formed product in the forming stage is cut to the desired shape and precise frame to obtain a product with clear shape and edges. In this technique, some uncut nerves are kept to keep the product connected to the plastic sheet and facilitate its transition to the grading stage with extreme accuracy up to 0.5 mm.
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Grading stage: This is the final stage in the mold where the products coming from the cutting stage are stacked in several ways: 1. Stacking upwards 2. Stacking downwards 3. Stacking using robots, making it easier to obtain ready-to-pack sets.
Thermoforming molds are distinguished by their ability to shape plastic or organic sheets quickly and efficiently, making them the fastest in shaping packaging products.