OEM Skid Plates LDPE in 1.5 mm for Playground Equipment

These LDPE skid plates are thick gauge vacuum formed parts supplied to drawing for playground equipment. They are formed from LDPE 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
• LDPE 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
• UL94 V-0 grades available

Typical applications

• climbing tower caps
• seat buckets
• slide shells
• panel covers
• skid plates used across general playground equipment 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. Tooling is cut: aluminium for production volumes, composite or printed moulds for samples and first articles.
3. Parts are inspected, fitted with inserts or hardware if required, packed and shipped.
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: LDPE

LDPE is flexible and tough in thin section, used for liners and protective covers that have to bend during fitting.

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
• 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

Finishing and assembly options

• clear protective film
• pad printed logos
• EMI shielding coating
• 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. Moulds, trim fixtures and programmes are stored against the part number, so a repeat order matches the first batch.

• material certificates with every batch
• RoHS compliant grades available
• dimension reports with every release

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.

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 skid plates 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.