An apparatus for thermoforming plastic containers comprising a pickup station (24), a feeder (25) for feeding flat sheets (8) of thermoformable plastic material to the pickup station (24), at least one thermoforming device (3), and a transferring device (26) for transferring the flat sheets (8) from the pickup station (24) to the thermoforming device (3), the feeder (25) comprising at least one support (50) for a reel (51) of a web (52) of thermoformable plastic material, unwinding means (53) for unwinding the reel (51) of web (52) which are designed, in use, to feed the web (52) along a sliding path extending from the at least one support (50) to the pickup station (24), and a cutting device (54) for cutting the web (52), positioned along the sliding path, for dividing the web (52) into a plurality of pieces each of which corresponds to a flat sheet (8) to be fed to the pickup station (24).

Methods and apparatus are provided for forming a patient-specific surgical implant based on mold system. The apparatus comprises a forming tool and a mold that may be generated using imaging and processing techniques and rapid prototyping methods. The mold apparatus includes at least two non-adjacent surface features for securing an implant forming material (such as a titanium mesh) during the forming process, enabling the implant forming material to be stretched beyond its elastic and thus permanently deformed with the correct patient-specific curvature. The implant may include one or more anatomic surface features for guidance and registration when transferring the implant to a patient.

Methods and apparatus are provided for forming a patient-specific surgical implant based on mold system. The apparatus comprises a forming tool and a mold that may be generated using imaging and processing techniques and rapid prototyping methods. The mold apparatus includes at least two non-adjacent surface features for securing an implant forming material (such as a titanium mesh) during the forming process, enabling the implant forming material to be stretched beyond its elastic and thus permanently deformed with the correct patient-specific curvature. The implant may include one or more anatomic surface features for guidance and registration when transferring the implant to a patient.

A thermoforming mould for producing cup-shaped articles from a heated film of plastic is provided. The thermoforming mould comprises a first mould part and a second mould part which are movable in relation to one another, wherein at least one cavity for moulding a cup-shaped article is formed in one of the two mould parts. The thermoforming mould also comprises a measuring device which is designed to determine a tilting of the first mould part and the second mould part with respect to one another. Furthermore, a thermoforming machine comprising the thermoforming mould and also a method for determining a tilting between a first mould part and a second mould part of a thermoforming mould are provided.

A thermoforming mould for producing cup-shaped articles from a heated film of plastic is provided. The thermoforming mould comprises a first mould part and a second mould part which are movable in relation to one another, wherein at least one cavity for moulding a cup-shaped article is formed in one of the two mould parts. The thermoforming mould also comprises a measuring device which is designed to determine a tilting of the first mould part and the second mould part with respect to one another. Furthermore, a thermoforming machine comprising the thermoforming mould and also a method for determining a tilting between a first mould part and a second mould part of a thermoforming mould are provided.

A thermoforming machine and a thermoforming method are provided, in particular for producing capsules for obtaining beverages. The capsules (C) are produced from a film (F) of thermoformable material by thermoforming one or more predefined portions (X) of the film. The one or more predefined portions (X) of the film of thermoformable material are pre-heated, i.e. they are heated before being subjected to thermoforming so as to minimize the probability that the film of thermoformable material tears or breaks during thermoforming or after thermoforming.

A thermoforming machine and a thermoforming method are provided, in particular for producing capsules for obtaining beverages. The capsules (C) are produced from a film (F) of thermoformable material by thermoforming one or more predefined portions (X) of the film. The one or more predefined portions (X) of the film of thermoformable material are pre-heated, i.e. they are heated before being subjected to thermoforming so as to minimize the probability that the film of thermoformable material tears or breaks during thermoforming or after thermoforming.

Process of making a plastic component (1), in particular luggage shell, from self-reinforced thermoplastic material, to a plastic component (1) made of self-reinforced thermoplastic material and an apparatus for making such a plastic component, in particular luggage shell (7). The invention provides a new product and process for manufacturing same on the basis of self-reinforced thermoplastic material by means of the step of tensioning said material (lamina), at least partially tensioning said lamina during all follow-up component shaping and/or molding steps up to a release of a component pre-form shape from the remainder lamina, to form the component. The present invention allow the manufacturing of an ultra-light weight luggage shell (7) on the basis of using self-reinforced thermoplastic material, the manufacturing of same can be further enhanced by permanently tensioning said material during all manufacturing steps up to the final finishing of the product.

Process of making a plastic component (1), in particular luggage shell, from self-reinforced thermoplastic material, to a plastic component (1) made of self-reinforced thermoplastic material and an apparatus for making such a plastic component, in particular luggage shell (7). The invention provides a new product and process for manufacturing same on the basis of self-reinforced thermoplastic material by means of the step of tensioning said material (lamina), at least partially tensioning said lamina during all follow-up component shaping and/or molding steps up to a release of a component pre-form shape from the remainder lamina, to form the component. The present invention allow the manufacturing of an ultra-light weight luggage shell (7) on the basis of using self-reinforced thermoplastic material, the manufacturing of same can be further enhanced by permanently tensioning said material during all manufacturing steps up to the final finishing of the product.

Methods and apparatuses for mounting a material (1) on a carrier (6) are provided. To this end, the material is arranged on a porous layer (2) of an air bearing arrangement (2, 3).