SAYEAH offers forming areas ranging from 600×400mm (FSCT600/400, ideal for small plates and dessert trays) up to 820×650mm (FSCT820/650, for large dinner plates and oversized serving platters). For even larger specialty plates or industrial serving trays, our FSCT1100/900 large-format machine handles up to 1100×900mm — the largest multi-station thermoforming capability available on the market.

Output depends on plate size, material thickness, and mold cavity count. As a reference: the FSCT820/650 running a 6-cavity round plate mold at 60 cycles per minute produces 21,600 plates per hour (518,400 per day on a 24-hour shift). Smaller dessert plates on higher-cavity molds can exceed 35,000 units per hour.

Yes. By changing the mold, a single SAYEAH multi-station thermoforming machine can produce plates of different diameters, depths, and shapes — round, square, oval, or custom. Our quick mold change system allows switching between product types in under 60 minutes, so manufacturers can run round plates in the morning and compartment trays in the afternoon on the same line.

Material choice depends on the application: PS for economy party plates (lowest cost, lightweight), PP for hot food and microwave-safe plates (withstands 120°C), PET/APET for premium clear plates (crystal clarity, rigid), CPET for airline and oven-safe meal trays (heat-resistant to 220°C), and PLA for compostable eco-friendly plates. All materials are food-contact approved when sourced from certified resin suppliers.

Thermoforming processes pre-made plastic sheet, while injection molding melts pellets and injects them into a mold. For disposable plates, thermoforming is the industry standard because it offers significantly lower tooling costs (often 10% of an injection mold), much faster mold changes, and more economical per-unit costs at high volumes. Injection molding is only preferred for thick-walled reusable plates where surface finish is paramount.