Plastic Heat Bending Services

How do you know you’ll be happy with the finished product?

Before batch production begins, we provide fully QA-checked, finalised product samples for your review and sign-off. This ensures:
- Accuracy to specification
- Confidence in materials and finish
- Peace of mind before full production
- Assurance you’re working with experienced heat bending specialists
- Only once approved do we proceed with large-scale production.

Expanding Your Heat Bending Knowledge

Understanding how heat bending works helps you make informed decisions during design, production, and material selection. We understand just how niche Heat Bending is, so we have provided an overview designed to be practical rather than overly technical, giving you the knowledge to ask the right questions and choose the best solution for your requirements.

What Is Heat Bending?

Heat bending relies on a property known as the Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT) - the temperature at which a plastic or polymer deforms under a specified load.

By carefully applying controlled heat, thermoplastic materials soften and can be bent or formed into precise shapes. Once cooled, the material retains its new form while maintaining structural integrity.
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This process is widely used in:
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- Product design and engineering
- Retail display manufacturing
- POS and signage production
- Contract packing and fulfilment

Alternatives to Polywrapping

Depending on the contents and objectives of your mailing, alternative enclosing methods may be more suitable.

Shrink Wrapping
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Shrink wrapping uses a thicker plastic film that is heat-shrunk tightly around the items. This method is ideal when you need to firmly secure heavier or more complex packs.
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Recommended for:
- Heavy catalogues combined with brochures
- Multi-item packs requiring extra stability
- Large quantities of thin or loose sheets

‍Poly Bagging
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Poly bagging involves manually placing items into pre-made poly bags. While mechanical collation can be used for some items, this method is particularly useful for non-standard or 3-dimensional products.

Common Applications:
- Protective packaging
- Containers and trays
- Retail stands and placeholders
- Menu holders and POS displays

Polystyrene is also used in EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) and XPS (Extruded Polystyrene) formats, valued for their cushioning and insulation properties.

Heat Bending Acrylic (PMMA)
Acrylic is a transparent thermoplastic often chosen as a lightweight, shatter-resistant alternative to glass.

Also Known As:
Perspex, Plexiglass, Acrylite, Lucite, Crylux, Astariglas, Perclax

Benefits:
- Excellent clarity and polish
- Strong UV resistance
- Easy to machine and heat form
- Cost-effective alternative to polycarbonate

Acrylic is ideal where appearance, transparency, and finish quality are critical. Modified PMMA grades can also offer improved scratch and impact resistance.
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Heat Bending Polycarbonate (PC)
Polycarbonate is a high-performance engineering plastic known for its durability and strength.

Key Features:
- Extremely impact resistant
- Available in optically transparent grades
- Easily moulded and thermoformed
- Suitable for high-stress retail environments

Polycarbonate is commonly used for robust POS displays, though some grades may contain BPA, which can influence material choice depending on application.
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Heat Bending Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
PVC is the third most widely produced plastic polymer globally and is highly versatile.

Available Forms:
- Rigid PVC (RPVC) – structural and signage applications
- Flexible PVC – softened using plasticisers

Typical Uses:
- POS hangers and retail stands
- Signage and display panels
- Windows and covering sheets
- Cards (membership or bank cards)
- Non-food packaging

PVC is a popular choice for POS and display manufacturing, offering durability, affordability, and flexibility in design.

Heat Bending Implementation & Fulfilment Expertise
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Since 2008, Flow Group has delivered bespoke fulfilment, contract packing, and marketing services for clients across retail, print, and manufacturing sectors.
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All heat bending work is completed in our 15,000 sq. ft. facility in West Yorkshire, supported by experienced specialists and robust quality management systems.

Our Accreditations & Memberships:
ISO 9001 – Quality Management
ISO 14001 – Environmental Management
ISO 27001 – Information Security
DMA Member (Data & Marketing Association)
IPIA Member (Independent Print Industries Association)

These credentials ensure your project is delivered with accuracy, compliance, and professionalism.

Speak to a Heat Bending Specialist

Our dedicated team of experts are ready to help you implement specialist heat bending solutions tailored to your business. To discuss your project or arrange a free consultation, contact Flow Group today, ask to speak with one of our Heat Bending Consultants, and mention that you’ve read this page.