Plastic Materials

Material selection failures rarely appear during procurement; they show up months later as cracked displays, warped components, and failed assemblies. For engineers and procurement teams specifying components for retail, powersports, or OEM applications, selecting the right plastic for the intended fabrication method is the single biggest factor in long-term product durability.

Generic online charts often overlook the critical interaction between plastic properties and real-world processes like plastic thermoforming, plastic CNC machining, and laser cutting. At Aubright, we help you select the right polymer for both your application and fabrication process, using deep material expertise to guide decisions before tooling investments are finalized.

Material Options

We work with a comprehensive range of plastic materials, allowing customers to choose the right option for their budget and performance requirements. Material options include:

Acrylic (PMMA). Acrylic offers exceptional optical clarity and scratch resistance, making it the gold standard for retail displays.
Polycarbonate (PC). PC delivers extreme impact strength, making it a common choice for powersports windshields and protective guards.
Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG). PETG combines clarity with impact resistance. It is a popular choice for plastic thermoforming because it generally doesn’t require pre-drying.
Polypropylene (PP). This material is known for low density and “living hinge” capabilities. Plastic polypropylene performs reliably in applications requiring repeated flexing or aggressive chemical exposure.
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS). ABS is a tough, all-purpose material that machines cleanly and accepts secondary finishes like painting.
Thermoplastic Polyolefins (TPO). TPO is a weather-resistant plastic polypropylene blend used extensively in outdoor applications requiring UV stability and low-temperature impact strength.
Expanded Polyvinyl Chloride (EPVC): EPVC is a lightweight, rigid foam plastic material known for being durable and easy to work with. It is especially popular for signage and displays.
Polyethylene (PE). PE provides excellent chemical resistance, low moisture absorption, and good impact performance, with HDPE and LDPE grades commonly used for chemical-resistant fabrication.
Wood/Metal Accents. We differentiate ourselves by combining plastic materials with wood or metal elements to achieve aesthetic and functional requirements that single-material shops cannot address.

Selecting the Right Material

Effective material selection requires evaluating the following key parameters:

Mechanical Requirements. We can help you specify the right material based on your requirements for impact resistance, flexural strength, and fatigue performance.
Processing Compatibility. Selecting a material that aligns with the fabrication process reduces scrap, distortion, and downstream rework. We evaluate material behavior across forming and machining operations to ensure predictable production outcomes.
Environmental Factors. UV resistance, chemical contact, and temperature extremes often dictate the need for weather- or chemical-resistant material grades.
Regulatory Compliance. Various industries face strict regulatory requirements. We can help you select a material that complies with all relevant standards, reducing compliance risks and avoiding costly redesigns or production delays.

Our engineering team can work with you to evaluate these factors and identify potential material or manufacturability issues before you commit to production.

Quality Plastic Fabrication from Aubright

Aubright provides a fully integrated plastic fabrication solution, combining material selection expertise, design guidance, and in-house manufacturing to support complex components. Our engineering team works closely with clients early in the design process to align material choice, fabrication method, and performance requirements, reducing risk before production begins.

With thermoforming, CNC machining, laser cutting, assembly, and secondary operations performed under one roof, we maintain tight quality control and predictable outcomes. Aubright is ISO 9001:2015 certified and supports projects with standard lead times of 4–8 weeks, depending on scope and complexity.