Home Services Capabilities Community Covid-19 Products Contact (253) 472-1440 VACUUM, DRAPE FORMING & LINE BENDING Vacuum and drape forming are both considered as types of thermoforming; both processes require heating up plastic to a malleable temperature, placing over a mold and then cooled. This allows the plastic to be made into many shapes and works well for creating products with gentle curves. Drape forming is preferred when creating large components and when using thicker materials. The most commonly used materials for drape forming are; Acrylics, ABS, Polystyrene, and Polycarbonate. Vacuum forming is a very similar process only with an additional step. This method uses vacuum pressure to force the plastic to conform to the mold. After the plastic has been heated to a pliable temperature, it is then pressed against a 3D mold by vacuuming the air in between the plastic sheet and the mold. This method is cost effective, allows for sharper details, undercuts, and tighter tolerances. This method of forming is commonly used to make P.O.P. Displays, Interior and Exterior components for Automotive, Marine and RVs. Line bending is another technique that uses heat to help produce a desired shape with the exception that you only heat the parts of the plastic you want to bend. This produces straight bends very efficiently and there are no set up costs. Additional tooling costs are low for these types of thermoforming. Since these methods don’t require many specialty tools, this is preferred for smaller production runs. If you are interested in learning more about thermoforming and how you can use it on your next project, Contact Us. Creative and Custom Projects If you’re looking for an innovative partner to design and build your concepts and make them reality, Visual Options is the team for you. Digital Printing Visual Options offers mixed-media solutions to help you stand out and create a visual storytelling experience by adding print to your marketing and display efforts. Environmental Graphics We know that the store environment can offer the ultimate immersive experience with a brand. From wayfinding to overall delivery of brand identity, it's all about maximizing those experiences. Production & Fulfillment We offer turn-key solutions to effectively house and track your inventory so it’s ready any time you need to ship. Our shipping department aims for flawless execution that's on-time, on-budget, and on-plan. P.O.P. Retail Displays Visual Options partners with national, independent, and local retailers to develop dynamic displays for the products they offer to customers. Signage Our team of experienced and creative employees is available to design and deliver the greatest amount of exposure and value for your brand. WE’RE LOCATED IN TACOMA, WA GIVE US A SHOUT // CONTACT US (253) 472-1440