food grade polypropylene Fenders Vacuum Formed in 12 mm for Office Furniture

These food grade polypropylene fenders are thick gauge vacuum formed parts supplied to drawing for office furniture. They are formed from food grade polypropylene sheet at 12 mm, trimmed on 5-axis routers and inspected against the drawing before packing. Buyers choose this route where a metal fabrication is too heavy, or where injection moulding tooling cannot be justified for the volume.

Product specification

Key features

• One piece shell replaces a fabrication, so assembly hours drop
• food grade polypropylene keeps the weight down while stiffness is held through the formed shape
• Clear protective film finish as standard, further finishes on request
• Trimmed on 5-axis routers, so mounting holes and cut outs match the drawing
• Tooling stored against the part number for repeat and spare orders
• REACH compliant sheet available

Typical applications

• screen frames
• chair shells
• desk modesty panels
• cable trays
• fenders used across general office furniture builds

How it is made

1. The part cools on a jig so the shape is held while the material stabilises.
2. The sheet is formed over the mould with vacuum and, where the draw is deep, with plug assist.
3. Trimming is done on 5-axis routers or with a dedicated trim fixture to meet the drawing.
4. Tooling is cut: aluminium for production volumes, composite or printed moulds for samples and first articles.
5. Drawings are reviewed and a manufacturability report is issued with wall thickness, draft and radii marked up.

Material: food grade polypropylene

Food grade polypropylene is used for trays, hoppers and liners that touch product, and it can be washed with caustic cleaners.

Design notes

• call out the finish on the drawing: mould texture, paint, or as-formed gloss
• hold the draw ratio near 1:1 for deep parts, or specify plug assist
• plan the trim line on a flat face so the router can hold tolerance
• use corner radii of at least three times the sheet thickness to avoid thinning

Finishing and assembly options

• clear protective film
• anti static coating
• two coat polyurethane paint
• Threaded inserts, PEM fasteners and brackets fitted before dispatch
• Mating parts can be trial assembled before the first article ships

Quality

Sheet thickness is checked on the formed part at the points shown on the drawing, and the readings go into the report. Batch releases carry a dimensional report, material certificate and, where agreed, PPAP or ISIR documentation.

• RoHS compliant grades available
• UL94 V-0 grades available
• PPAP or ISIR on request

Packing and delivery

Parts are stacked with interleaved film and packed in export cartons on pallets. Standard lead time to first article is 2–3 weeks, and repeat releases ship against stored tooling without a new proving run.

Frequently asked questions

Are spare parts available later?

Tooling is stored against the part number for the life of the programme, so replacements or spare panels can be released at any time.

How fast is the first article?

Seven to fifteen working days from drawing release for sample tooling, with production tooling in three to four weeks.

Can you make it in another material?

Any grade in this family can be swapped in. Send the requirement and the material will be quoted with the price difference shown.

Request a quotation

Send the drawing or a photo of the current fenders with the quantity and the finish required. The reply covers material choice, wall thickness, tooling route and price, so the decision is made on a complete picture.