Plastic Trays

Plastic trays are very important in domestic and commercial use for storing food products and keeping them clean from contamination. Each tray is different, so its manufacturing process depends on its size, shape, and purpose. Plastic trays are also valuable for transporting materials from one place to another because they are light and easy to stack. A good plastic tray is lightweight and can be used for long-term, heavy-duty use. Many different types of plastic materials are used for making plastic trays, and all serve different purposes.

Plastic Materials used for Plastic Trays

The five types of plastic material used for manufacturing plastic trays are:

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)

• This plastic has a high resistance to stains, scratches, and breakage.
• It can tolerate temperatures from 0 °F to 180 °F (-17.8 °C to 82.2 °C).
• It is a durable material and is safe to use in dishwashers.
• These trays are not suitable for use in microwaves.
• ABS trays are cheaper than other material trays, and due to their durability, they are widely used in restaurants.

Melamine

• Melamine is the oldest plastic material used in tray making.
• It is a durable and stain-resistant material that can tolerate temperatures from 0 °F to 212 °F (-17.7 °C to 100 °C).
• It is not suitable for microwaves but is safe for dishwashing.

Polycarbonate

• Polycarbonate has low scratch resistance, moderate stain resistance, and high breakage resistance.
• Polycarbonate material offers a greater range than melamine and ABS.
• It is a safe material for dishwashers and microwaves.
• It can tolerate temperatures from 40 °F to 212 °F (4.4 °C to 100 °C), making it good for freezers and high temperatures.

Polypropylene

• Polypropylene is also among the oldest materials and gives moderate breakage and scratch resistance.
• Polypropylene also offers high stain resistance. Its temperature tolerance is from 32 °F up to 180 °F (0 °C to 82.2 °C).
• It is microwaveable and safe for dishwashers as well.

Co-polymer

• Co-polymer material has high stain, breakage, and scratch resistance.
• It is microwaveable and dishwasher safe.
• The temperature tolerance for this material is 40°F to 212°F (4.4 °C to 100 °C).

Manufacturing Process of Plastic Trays

For manufacturing plastic trays, the plastic pallets are first heated and poured into molds to make trays of desired shapes. Three types of processes are used for making plastic trays, which are:

Injection Molding

• The materials used for making plastic trays are thermosetting polymer and thermoplastic.
• The plastic pallets are melted and mixed in hot tanks.
• These melted pallets are then injected into the molds shaped as trays.
• The molds used in this process are mostly made of aluminum and steel.
• The trays made from this method are flat, spacious, and supple.

Extrusion Blow Molding

• The plastic is melted and compressed in a hollow tube called a parison.
• The melted plastic is then poured into cooled metal molds, which are closed.
• Air is blown into the cooled mold to cool down the plastic and cause it to take the shape of the mold.
• The trays made from this method are bigger and can withstand high and low temperatures.
• It is the quickest, easiest, and most time-saving method.
• The trays made are durable and rigid but expensive.

Vacuum Forming

• It is the oldest and a common method for plastic manufacturing.
• The plastic sheet is melted to the point that it is only smoothened.
• This smoothened plastic is then placed on the mold that is in the shape of a tray.
• A vacuum is applied to the mold to remove any air particles and cool down the plastic.
• After that, the plastic tray is removed from the mold.
• This method needs heavy machinery but it is affordable as compared to other methods.
• There will be an uneven thickness if the vacuum is not applied evenly to the mold.

Applications of Plastic Trays

Plastic trays are used in numerous industries as food containers in cafeterias, restaurants, homes, offices, etc. Plastic trays are also used in the electronics industry to pack and arrange products. The medical industry also uses plastic trays for packing equipment. Furthermore, plastic trays are used in the transportation industry to transport and conveniently stack products. Finally, the automotive industry uses plastic trays to arrange different products in one place.

Choosing the Right Plastic Tray Supplier

To make sure you obtain the most beneficial outcome when purchasing plastic trays from a plastic tray supplier, it is important to compare several companies using our directory of plastic tray suppliers. Each supplier has a business profile page highlighting their areas of experience and capabilities, as well as a contact form to directly communicate with the supplier for more information or request a quote. Review each plastic tray business website using our proprietary website previewer to get an understanding of what each company specializes in. Then, use our simple RFQ form to contact multiple plastic tray businesses with the same form.