The Thermoforming RFQ Checklist: What to Send for a Fast, Accurate Quote

The difference between a quote that comes back in a day and one that drags on for two weeks is almost always the information in the request. Give a thermoforming supplier the right details up front and you get a fast, accurate, technical quote — not a string of clarifying emails. Here’s exactly what to send.

The essentials

1. Geometry — a drawing, STEP file or a sample. A 3D model (STEP/IGES) is best; a 2D drawing with key dimensions works; the physical part is ideal for a conversion. This lets us assess draw ratio, wall sections, radii and features.

2. Annual volume and order pattern. Are we talking hundreds, thousands or hundreds of thousands per year? One large run or regular releases? Volume drives the tooling recommendation and the economics.

3. Material or performance requirement. Either name the grade, or — better — tell us what the part must do:

• Impact / structural loading
• Temperature (including hot-fill, microwave, outdoor heat)
• Flame retardance (e.g. UL 94 V-0)
• ESD / static-dissipative
• UV / weather exposure
• Food-contact or medical compliance
• Chemical exposure

We’ll match the grade — and because we extrude our own sheet, we’re not limited to stock thicknesses.

4. Finished-wall / thickness expectations, if you have them, or the loads the part must carry so we can work them out.

The details that sharpen a quote

5. Tolerances. Which dimensions are critical? Thermoformed parts are made to ISO 2768 (coarse class as standard) with tighter tolerances on critical, CNC-trimmed datum features — tell us which features must be tight and to which datums.

6. Finish and colour. Gloss or matt? A specific texture (haircell, leather)? A Pantone/RAL colour? Cosmetic Class-A surface or purely functional?

7. Secondary operations. Cut-outs, drilled holes, inserts, bonding, EMI shielding, assembly, printing — anything beyond the formed shape.

8. Documentation needs. FAIR, COA, MTC, PPAP, compliance declarations (FDA, RoHS/REACH, UL) — tell us up front so it’s built into the programme.

9. Target timeline. When do you need first articles, and when production?

10. Destination. Domestic or export? Export programmes get packaging and documentation planned for the journey.

Copy-ready checklist

• 3D model / drawing / sample
• Annual volume & release pattern
• Material or performance requirement (impact, temp, FR, ESD, UV, food/medical, chemical)
• Critical dimensions / tolerances & datums
• Finish, texture, colour (Pantone/RAL)
• Secondary operations (cut-outs, inserts, assembly)
• Documentation (FAIR/COA/MTC/PPAP/compliance)
• Timeline for first articles & production
• Domestic or export

Send those and you’ll get a technical, costed reply — usually within 24 hours. Start an RFQ here.