Solar energy, plastic recycling and investment in more efficient manufacturing.
Vacform Group provides plastic vacuum forming services from our factory in Leeds, Yorkshire. Alongside our design, tooling and manufacturing capabilities, we’re investing in how we use energy and manage production waste.
From generating renewable electricity on our roof to returning suitable plastic offcuts for recycling, we’re taking practical steps to make better use of our resources.
Solar Energy at Our Leeds Factory
We have invested in a 200 kWp rooftop solar PV system at our Leeds factory, generating renewable electricity on site to help power our manufacturing operations.
The installation helps reduce our reliance on grid electricity and forms part of our ongoing investment in more efficient manufacturing.
Recycling Plastic Waste from Vacuum Forming
Vacuum forming and CNC trimming generate plastic offcuts. We separate these by material type and colour, ready for collection and processing by our recycling partners.
Our production recycling streams include:
Working with our material suppliers and recycling partners, suitable offcuts can be reprocessed into recycled plastic sheet for use in further manufacturing.
We help customers assess recycled plastic sheet options for their vacuum forming projects.
Material selection depends on the finished component’s performance, appearance and technical requirements. We consider recycled grades where they meet the specification, alongside factors such as impact resistance, finish and any specialist material requirements.
Our design and development team also considers component design and sheet selection to help minimise unnecessary material waste during production.
Improving Manufacturing Energy Efficiency
Power consumption is part of our assessment when purchasing new machinery.
We are also upgrading existing equipment with lower-energy heaters as part of our ongoing work to improve manufacturing efficiency.
Cardboard and Polythene Recycling
Our recycling arrangements extend beyond plastic production offcuts. We also separate cardboard and polythene packaging from our operations for recycling.
Discuss Materials for Your Next Vacuum Forming Project
Whether you’re developing a new component or reviewing an existing product, our team can advise on material selection, design and manufacture.
Contact Vacform to discuss your project and suitable recycled material options.
