Thick Gauge food grade polypropylene Storage Bins in 1.5 mm – Marine And Boat Building Range

These food grade polypropylene storage bins are thick gauge vacuum formed parts supplied to drawing for marine and boat building. They are formed from food grade polypropylene sheet at 1.5 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
• Anti graffiti coating 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
• food contact declarations available

Typical applications

• hatch covers
• seat bases
• console shells
• battery box liners
• storage bins used across general marine and boat building builds

How it is made

1. The part cools on a jig so the shape is held while the material stabilises.
2. Tooling is cut: aluminium for production volumes, composite or printed moulds for samples and first articles.
3. Drawings are reviewed and a manufacturability report is issued with wall thickness, draft and radii marked up.
4. The sheet is formed over the mould with vacuum and, where the draw is deep, with plug assist.
5. Parts are inspected, fitted with inserts or hardware if required, packed and shipped.

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

• avoid sharp steps in the mould, which show as chill marks on the finished surface
• 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
• add ribs or returns instead of increasing sheet thickness to save weight and cycle time

Finishing and assembly options

• anti graffiti coating
• UV stabilised as formed
• matte finish
• Threaded inserts, PEM fasteners and brackets fitted before dispatch
• Mating parts can be trial assembled before the first article ships

Quality

Moulds, trim fixtures and programmes are stored against the part number, so a repeat order matches the first batch. Batch releases carry a dimensional report, material certificate and, where agreed, PPAP or ISIR documentation.

• material certificates with every batch
• food contact declarations available
• RoHS compliant grades available

Packing and delivery

Large panels are crated in made to measure wooden cases with corner protection. Standard lead time to first article is 7–15 working days, and repeat releases ship against stored tooling without a new proving run.

Frequently asked questions

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.

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.

What quantity can I order?

Sample quantities start at one piece off printed tooling. The process pays back from about 25 pieces a year and runs well into several thousand.

Request a quotation

Send the drawing or a photo of the current storage bins 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.