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The shuttle or sheet-fed machine is by far the most popular industrial thermoformer, designed to utilize all forming techniques and capable of holding great pressures between upper and lower platens. Each platen contains air and vacuum which may be controlled, depending upon the forming process used. Platens move rapidly and are capable of locking to prevent separation when air pressure is introduced between the molds The heating system is infrared electric rods, gas infrared, or ceramic electric, which heats the sheet from each side.

The clamped sheet is transported horizontally to the oven area, where an upper oven is often supplemented with a lower oven so that both sides can be heated simultaneously to speed up the cycle, especially in the case of thick sheet. The clamp frame then returns to a position over the mold and descends, or the mold moves into the sheet to effect the forming step. 

These thermoformers are all-purpose types; molds are easily accessible for quick change over. They can be used for general contour forming, blisters and skin packaging, bur do not achieve high productivity in packaging applications. Their real forte is thick sheet, industrial type thermoforming. Forming area can be small, 24 by 24 in., on up to 10 by 20 ft. or larger.