HIPS Dashboards Vacuum Formed in 8 mm for Marine And Boat Building

These HIPS dashboards are thick gauge vacuum formed parts supplied to drawing for marine and boat building. They are formed from HIPS sheet at 8 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
• HIPS 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

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

How it is made

1. The sheet is formed over the mould with vacuum and, where the draw is deep, with plug assist.
2. Drawings are reviewed and a manufacturability report is issued with wall thickness, draft and radii marked up.
3. The part cools on a jig so the shape is held while the material stabilises.
4. Tooling is cut: aluminium for production volumes, composite or printed moulds for samples and first articles.
5. Sheet is dried when the material needs it, then heated to forming temperature on the machine.

Material: HIPS

HIPS is the low cost route for indoor liners and disposable trays where impact strength is not critical.

Design notes

• plan the trim line on a flat face so the router can hold tolerance
• avoid sharp steps in the mould, which show as chill marks on the finished surface
• keep a draft angle of at least 3 degrees on vertical walls so the part releases cleanly
• call out the finish on the drawing: mould texture, paint, or as-formed gloss

Finishing and assembly options

• anti graffiti coating
• silk screened markings
• 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.

• food contact declarations available
• UL94 V-0 grades available
• PPAP or ISIR on request

Packing and delivery

Large panels are crated in made to measure wooden cases with corner protection. Standard lead time to first article is 10–15 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.

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.

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.

Request a quotation

Send the drawing or a photo of the current dashboards 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.