There are many techniques you can use to manufacture and shape plastic products. Some require complicated designs, prototyping, and 3D printing, while other products may simply need to be joined along a seam or edge. The latter is created through hot air welding, a technique that plastic fabrication companies use to fuse two pieces. Below is an explanation about how the process works.

Understanding Hot Air Welding For Plastics

What Is Hot Air Welding?

This type of welding is when you join two pieces of a particular material together using hot air. The process usually involves a hot air gun, which applies heat to the area where the two materials, or sections of the same material, are to be joined together. It melts the component in that specific area so that it attaches to another piece. When the heat is removed, the material cools and hardens, leaving an airtight and watertight seal.

How Is This Technique Applied to Plastic Products?

Since hot air welding can be used to fuse a variety of materials—including metals—it’s a preferred method among plastic fabrication companies. It’s economically sound to produce plastic components separately so they can be used for a variety of applications. For that reason, companies use hot air welding to fuse two pieces together to create a new component for particular industries, including medical pieces, electronics, scientific devices, retail displays, and food containers.

Plastic fabrication companies use handheld hot air welders and automatic welding machines to create new components. The former is used to seal small plastic membranes while the latter is used to fuse two products with a large flat surface area coverage. This technique is ideal for thermoplastic-covered materials, including nylon, synthetics, polyethylene, polypropylene, and plastic-coated fabrics. 

The professionals at Faro Industries in Rochester, NY, use hot air welding to create plastic pieces. The custom plastic and thermoforming business provides specialty products for companies in various industries, including medical devices and food packaging. In business since 1967, the company works with each customer to determine the equipment and materials that work best for their specific needs. You can view a selection of products and services available on their website or call (585) 647-6000 to discuss your plastic product needs.