Thermoformed Parts Competition 2018

‘Each entry a fascinating success Story in its own right’

European Thermoforming organisations will be invited to participate in the ‘Thermoformed Parts Competition’ which will be staged at the forthcoming European Thermoforming Division Conference to be held in Rome from 14th to 16th March, 2018.

The aim of this event is to allow an opportunity for thermoforming processors in all the industry sectors to exhibit their parts and to compete in various categories against their peers. It is one of the few opportunities for thermoforming companies to not only promote their technical processing capabilities but also to present other elements of the ‘team’ such as the Tool manufacturer, the Material supplier and of course the thermoforming machinery on which the parts were formed.

Originality, innovation and creativity, mould complexity and technical processing capability will be the judging criteria in an effort to promote advanced design and developments from a structural innovation perspective.
Categories for entry of ‘Thick gauge’ parts will include Vehicle/Automotive, Industrial, Point of Purchase/Displays, Technical Applications and Sanitary sectors.

Categories for entry of ‘Thin gauge’ parts will include Food Applications, Medical Applications, Consumer Electronic Applications and General Packaging sectors.

The aim of the European Thermoforming Parts Competition is to offer an industry Forum where examples of design-orientated applications exhibiting a successful combination of materials technology, technical innovation and creative design are recognised and rewarded

The successful entrants will be presented their awards at the 11th Biennial European Thermoforming Conference in Rome.
Take the opportunity for your Team to be recognised and rewarded – plan your entry and contact the ETD now. Contact details are below:

Information about the Conference, Sponsorship, Tabletop display and the Parts Exhibition may be obtained from

Yetty Pauwels at
SPE European Thermoforming Division,
Eric Sasselaan 51, B-2020 Antwerpen, Belgium
Tel.: +32 3 541 77 55 - E-mail: spe.etd(at)skynet.be / www.e-t-d.org

Winners of the 6th European Thermoforming Parts Competition 2016

In 2006 the European Thermoforming Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers sought the first time to initiate an independent, sector-oriented award, the European Thermoforming Parts Award.

This Award stands for first-class innovative achievements in originality, creativity, mould complexity and technical ability in order to promote advanced design and developments of thermoformed applications.

For the 6th time, in 2016 the European Thermoforming Parts Award once again highlighted applications selected by the jury at the recent European Thermoforming Conference in Sitges (Barcelona) from 9 – 11 March 2016.

The Awards Winners are:

1st Prize Winner: Heavy Gauge - Vehicle/Automotive Applications

”Engine Hood” + 50 components integrated in a Plug and Play function, produced by Technoplast Industries, France.

Material type: ABS PMMA + PA6 15% GF

Unique qualities: 150°C (continuous) /170°C (peak) high resistance to chemicals/fluids because of double skin in PA6 + 15% GF.

Jury´s motivation:
 ”A large area cosmetic forming but for an industrial application. Surface finish is good. Well formed and trimmed – both parts are well assembled, good integrity in bonding and highly functional part”.

1st Prize Winner: Heavy Gauge - Building Applications

”VELUX Roof Dome”1000x1500  produced by Formplast, Sweden.

Material type: PC UV

Unique qualities: the high optical quality on the thermoformed part.  To reach the very high demand of optical clarity by use of normal positive thermoforming is very difficult.

Jury´s motivation:
” Excellent clarity using a fairly complex sheet material which requires a great deal of preparation. Good industrial application - high risk product”.

1st Prize Winner: Thin gauge - Food Packaging Applications

”Veggiefresh” IML-T Tubs and Lids with premium decoration qualities, produced by RPC Bebo Plastik, Germany.

Material type: PP

Unique qualities: wide label coverage of body incl. stacking rim, barrier options through multilayer sheet for oxygen and UV barrier, as well as light protection, utilization of existing tools…..

Jury´s motivation:
”The way to beat injection moulding, nice volume thermoformed IML to the product”.

1st Prize Winner: Thin gauge - Vehicle/Automotive Applications

”Back lighted Day-Night effect baguette” produced by WalterPack, Spain.

Material type: PC with multi-layer of inks

Unique qualities:  a 10 layer printed foil, high pressure formed at 100 Bar, UV cured and back injected part to obtain a decorative back lighted baguette for automotive applications with a day-nigh effect..

Jury´s motivation:
”Advance high pressure forming – superbly done”.

The Members of the Jury Committee 2016 were:

Niklas Magnusson (Chair Parts Committee),
Thin Gauge: Preben Thomsen, Michel Py, Hans Lauridsen
Heavy Gauge: Rich Freeman, Jeff Pitt, Andy McGarry

Winners of the 5th European Thermoforming Parts Competition 2014

In 2006 the European Thermoforming Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers sought the first time to initiate an independent, sector-oriented award, the European Thermoforming Parts Award.

This Award stands for first-class innovative achievements in originality, creativity, mould complexity and technical ability in order to promote advanced design and developments of thermoformed applications.

Now, for the 5th time, in 2014 the European Thermoforming Parts Award once again highlighted applications selected by the jury at the recent European Thermoforming Conference in Prague from 3 – 4 April 2014.

The awards winners are:

1st Prize Winner: Thick Gauge - Automotive Applications

Door assembly for Renault Twizy electric car

Winner: Company Walter Pack

Part: Door assembly for Renault Twizy electric car

Material type: ABS-PC and ABS

Assembly of 5 plastic parts, plus 3 metallic inserts, to obtain a door with total tolerances of ±1,5 mm

Jury´s motivation:

”High quality cosmetic part respecting tight tolerances set by the highly demanding automotive application”

1st Prize Winner: Thick Gauge - Point of Purchase/Display

Telia sign

Winner: Company LOGOFORM AB 

Part: Indoor and outdoor sign for phone company TELIA

Material type: PETG

The part is formed on a positive tool with a split top and a soft hood. Screen printed on the back with rounded sides to give the impression the sign is ”hovering”

Jury´s motivation:

”An innovative tool design enabling undercut parts that are cosmetically perfect, creating new design possibilities for smaller volumes in thermoforming”.

1st Prize Winner: Thin Gauge - Electronical Applications

LO-G Retail Carry Pack

Winner: Company Protective Packaging Systems

Part: LO-G Retail Carry Pack

Material type: Black Recycled HDPE

The product to be packaged is a state of the art telecommunications unit to be either sold ‘on-line’ or through retail outlets globally.

Important factors to consider:

• The customer ‘opening experience’
• Reduce the current pack size if possible
• To incorporate a ‘carry handle’ arrangement within the pack design
• To radically improve the corporate image of the pack
• To ensure the kitting operation was a simple process fo product and multiple accessories
• To ensure adequate protection of product during storage and transportation by incorporating innovative impact absorbing features.
• Packaging materials used to be fully sustainable
• Ideally the pack should be stackable
• A sleeve system would be the ideal ‘secondary packaging’       
• Obviously, the solution needs to be competitive to current packaging systems

Jury´s motivation:

”An innovative fragility packaging design incorporating impact absorbing thermoformed features to protect sensitive electronic parts during storage and transit.

The Members of the Jury Committee were:  Niklas Magnusson (Chair, Sweden), Marc Ommeslagh (Belgium), Hannes Jacob (Germany) and Karel Kouba (Czech Republic)

4th European Thermoforming Parts Competition 2012

The Thermoforming Parts Competition attracted a diverse range of entries which offered the visitors a unique insight of how innovative product design combined with modern materials and processes can produce inspirational structural, cosmetic and highly functional parts. There were several examples of how thermoformed parts can support demands in completely new market sectors.

The winners of this year’s Parts Competition were:

Heavy Gauge Automotive

Winner: Company Walter Pack (Spain).

Part: Window for Renault Twizy. 

Jury´s motivation: “Winner due to processing highly complex polycarbonate sheet material free from moisture and dust contamination on an industrial scale which requires high level of processing control, careful logistic management and well designed tooling. A light weight innovative product in a demanding environment”.

Heavy Gauge Non-Automotive

Winner: Company Solera Thermoform Group (Italy).

Part: Long Chair Avus. 

Jury´s motivation: “Winner due to originality of design, clever use of cosmetic materials, and an excellent example of a high performing light weight structure produced using the twin sheet processing technology”

Thin Gauge  

Winner: Company Generation Tech (France).

Part: Paint Tray multi-layer. 

Jury´s motivation: “Winner due to thermoforming 5 layers simultaneously, also using recycled material; the product is not only environmentally friendly, but also potentially opens up new application areas for the thermoforming industry.

The Thermoforming Parts Competition Award goes to outstanding and innovative designs or processes in the field of thermoformed components.