polycarbonate Ventilation Shrouds Vacuum Formed in 8 mm for Catering And Kitchen Equipment

These polycarbonate ventilation shrouds are thick gauge vacuum formed parts supplied to drawing for catering and kitchen equipment. They are formed from polycarbonate 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
• polycarbonate 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
• RoHS compliant grades available

Typical applications

• refrigerated well covers
• hood panels
• bain marie liners
• service trolley trays
• ventilation shrouds used across general catering and kitchen equipment builds

How it is made

1. Trimming is done on 5-axis routers or with a dedicated trim fixture to meet the drawing.
2. Sheet is dried when the material needs it, then heated to forming temperature on the machine.
3. Drawings are reviewed and a manufacturability report is issued with wall thickness, draft and radii marked up.
4. Tooling is cut: aluminium for production volumes, composite or printed moulds for samples and first articles.
5. The sheet is formed over the mould with vacuum and, where the draw is deep, with plug assist.

Material: polycarbonate

Polycarbonate is used when the housing must survive impact or carry a glazing function. It must be dried before forming or the sheet will bubble.

Design notes

• plan the trim line on a flat face so the router can hold tolerance
• keep a draft angle of at least 3 degrees on vertical walls so the part releases cleanly
• use corner radii of at least three times the sheet thickness to avoid thinning
• hold the draw ratio near 1:1 for deep parts, or specify plug assist

Finishing and assembly options

• anti static coating
• EMI shielding coating
• pad printed logos
• 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.

• ISO 9001 quality system
• food contact declarations available
• RoHS compliant grades available

Packing and delivery

Parts are stacked with interleaved film and packed in export cartons on pallets. Standard lead time to first article is 3–4 weeks, and repeat releases ship against stored tooling without a new proving run.

Frequently asked questions

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.

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 ventilation shrouds 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.