HDPE Protective Guards Vacuum Formed in 4 mm for Cleaning And Sanitation Equipment

These HDPE protective guards are thick gauge vacuum formed parts supplied to drawing for cleaning and sanitation equipment. They are formed from HDPE sheet at 4 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
• HDPE keeps the weight down while stiffness is held through the formed shape
• Anti static 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
• UL94 V-0 grades available

Typical applications

• scrubber tanks
• tool trays
• machine covers
• solution tank liners
• protective guards used across general cleaning and sanitation equipment builds

How it is made

1. Parts are inspected, fitted with inserts or hardware if required, packed and shipped.
2. The sheet is formed over the mould with vacuum and, where the draw is deep, with plug assist.
3. The part cools on a jig so the shape is held while the material stabilises.
4. Drawings are reviewed and a manufacturability report is issued with wall thickness, draft and radii marked up.
5. Trimming is done on 5-axis routers or with a dedicated trim fixture to meet the drawing.

Material: HDPE

HDPE is chosen for chemical resistance and impact strength at low temperature. It needs more heat and a longer cooling cycle than ABS, and it is painted only after flame or plasma treatment.

Design notes

• call out the finish on the drawing: mould texture, paint, or as-formed gloss
• add ribs or returns instead of increasing sheet thickness to save weight and cycle time
• plan the trim line on a flat face so the router can hold tolerance
• hold the draw ratio near 1:1 for deep parts, or specify plug assist

Finishing and assembly options

• anti static coating
• as formed gloss
• UV stabilised as formed
• 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
• dimension reports with every release
• PPAP or ISIR on request

Packing and delivery

Parts are nested to save freight, with returnable dunnage available on repeat routes. 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

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.

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 protective guards 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.