Plastic bowl

PP is the most widely used material for plastic bowls due to its excellent heat resistance, durability, and food-contact safety. PS is a cost-effective alternative for disposable bowls, while PET offers superior clarity for cold food presentations. PLA is increasingly popular for eco-friendly bowl applications in the food service sector.

Bowls typically have wider diameters and shallower depths compared to cups, but still require deep-draw forming capability. The forming process uses similar steps: heating the sheet, forming with vacuum or pressure, cooling, and trimming. However, bowl molds often feature simpler geometries than cup molds, potentially allowing for higher cavity counts.

Cycle times of 5 to 10 seconds per stroke are typical, achieving 6 to 12 units per minute with single-cavity operation. Multi-cavity molds can significantly increase the production rate to 20+ units per minute, depending on bowl size and material thickness.

Uniform sheet heating is critical, as uneven heating creates temperature variations that lead to inconsistent stretching and thin spots, particularly at the bottom and corners. Proper plug-assist design helps pre-stretch the material evenly before vacuum or pressure forming, ensuring uniform wall thickness across the entire bowl.

Yes, biodegradable materials such as PLA (polylactic acid) are increasingly used for bowls in the food service sector. These materials respond to growing sustainability requirements and offer comparable performance to conventional plastics for cold or room-temperature applications. However, they require lower forming temperatures and careful moisture control.