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Materials

Advanced Extrusion, Inc. manufactures extruded sheet materials used in packaging, thermoforming, and specialty fabrication. The material portfolio is built around consistent production control, stable forming behavior, application-specific performance requirements, and FDA compliance for applicable food-contact applications.

The company produces PET-based sheet materials, recycled-content products, heat-resistant PET formulations, co-extruded structures, and bio-based alternatives. Each material category is developed for repeatable performance in manufacturing environments where clarity, thickness uniformity, and forming reliability matter.

PET Material Platform

PET materials serve as the foundation of Advanced Extrusion’s sheet extrusion capabilities. These materials are widely used in packaging applications due to their balance of clarity, strength, and processing efficiency.

PET sheet products are manufactured to support:

  • Stable thermoforming performance
  • Strong impact resistance
  • High optical clarity
  • Compatibility with recycling systems

This material family includes virgin PET, recycled PET blends, and heat-resistant PET variants.

Amorphous Polyethylene Terephthalate (APET)

Amorphous polyethylene terephthalate (APET) is a clear PET sheet material designed for thermoformed packaging applications where visual presentation and forming consistency are required.

Key Properties

  • High transparency for retail visibility
  • Strong impact resistance at thinner gauges
  • Consistent forming across production runs
  • Reliable sheet thickness control

Common Applications

  • Food packaging trays and containers
  • Retail clamshell packaging
  • Blister packaging
  • Display packaging requiring clarity

APET is widely used in high-volume packaging production where predictable forming performance is essential for automated manufacturing lines.

RPET Sheet (Recycled PET Materials)

RPET sheet is produced from recycled polyethylene terephthalate feedstock sourced through polyethylene terephthalate recycling streams, including post-consumer and post-industrial material recovery.

Key Properties

  • Structural strength suitable for thermoforming
  • Variable clarity based on recycled content ratios
  • Stable extrusion performance
  • Compatibility with PET blends

Applications

  • Food packaging containers and trays
  • Retail packaging formats
  • Industrial protective packaging
  • General thermoformed packaging solutions

RPET sheet supports manufacturers looking to incorporate recycled content into packaging without changing core production processes or equipment requirements.

CPET Heat-Resistant Sheet

CPET (crystallized PET) is designed for packaging applications that require resistance to high temperatures and structural stability under thermal stress.

Key Properties

  • Heat resistance for oven and microwave use
  • Rigid structure for dimensional stability
  • Performance under frozen-to-heat transitions
  • Durable thermoformed shape retention

Applications

  • Ready-meal trays
  • Ovenable food packaging
  • Frozen meal containers
  • Foodservice packaging systems

CPET supports packaging formats that move directly from freezer storage to heating applications without requiring material changes.

Co-Extruded PET Structures

Advanced Extrusion produces co-extruded sheet systems that combine multiple material layers into a single engineered structure.

Layer Options May Include

  • Virgin PET for clarity and surface quality
  • RPET layers for recycled content integration
  • Functional barrier layers for moisture or oxygen control

Performance Benefits

  • Adjustable material performance by layer design
  • Improved barrier protection
  • Efficient use of recycled and virgin materials
  • Consistent thermoforming performance

Applications

  • Extended shelf-life food packaging
  • Multi-layer protective packaging
  • Specialty thermoformed products

Co-extrusion allows material performance to be adjusted without changing the entire resin system.

Bio-Based Sheet Material

CPLA (crystallized polylactic acid) is a bio-based material option designed for applications requiring renewable content and compostable end-of-life pathways.

Key Properties

  • Derived from renewable plant-based sources
  • Improved heat resistance compared to standard PLA
  • Rigid structure suitable for packaging
  • Industrial compostability under controlled conditions

Applications

  • Eco-focused food packaging
  • Disposable packaging products
  • Sustainability-driven packaging programs

CPLA supports packaging strategies that prioritize reduced reliance on petroleum-based plastics.

Material Processing and Production Control

All materials are produced under controlled extrusion conditions to maintain consistent performance across production runs.

Production controls include:

  • Thickness consistency across sheet widths
  • Melt flow stability during extrusion
  • Optical clarity monitoring for PET-based materials
  • Forming performance validation for thermoforming applications

These controls support reliable downstream processing for converters and packaging manufacturers.

Recycling Integration and Material Strategy

Recycling integration is a core part of Advanced Extrusion’s PET material approach. The company supports material systems that incorporate recycled content and promote circular packaging flows.

Key focus areas include:

  • Expansion of RPET sheet production
  • Support for polyethylene terephthalate recycling systems
  • Use of recycled content in thermoforming applications
  • Reduction of virgin resin dependency in packaging production

These initiatives support manufacturers working toward recycled content targets and regulatory compliance.

Material Selection Overview

Each material is designed for specific performance requirements in packaging and thermoforming operations:

  • APET: clear packaging requiring strong visual presentation
  • RPET: recycled content packaging solutions
  • CPET: heat-resistant food packaging applications
  • Co-extruded PET: multi-layer performance packaging
  • CPLA: bio-based packaging alternatives

Material selection depends on forming requirements, performance targets, and sustainability goals.

Good Materials Don’t Fix Bad Packaging. These Do.

Tell us what you’re building, forming, or improving—and we’ll help match you with the right sheet material for the job. From APET clarity to RPET sustainability and CPET heat resistance, Advanced Extrusion, Inc. delivers materials that hold their shape when it matters.

Contact us and start your material selection today.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Advanced Extrusion focuses on engineered sheet materials designed for consistent thermoforming performance and production reliability. Instead of generic plastics, the materials are produced with controlled extrusion systems that support clarity, thickness stability, and application-specific performance across packaging and specialty uses.

Yes. RPET sheet is commonly used in food packaging applications where recycled content is required. The material is processed and refined to support safe, functional use in thermoformed food containers, trays, and retail packaging formats, depending on application requirements and regulatory standards.

RPET sheet performance is influenced by recycled feedstock quality, processing conditions, and blend ratios. Key factors include clarity, structural strength, and forming consistency. Advanced extrusion

Co-extruded PET structures allow multiple performance layers to be combined into a single sheet. This supports customization of barrier properties, strength, and recycled content integration without requiring a complete change in base material. It gives manufacturers more control over packaging performance characteristics.

CPET is used when packaging must withstand higher temperatures, such as oven or microwave conditions. It is typically selected for applications like ready-meal trays or frozen foods that require direct heat exposure without deformation.

Bio-based material differs from PET-based materials because it is bio-based and designed for compostable applications. While PET materials are widely used for clarity, strength, and recyclability, CPLA is chosen for programs that prioritize renewable sourcing and industrial compostability requirements.

Yes. Material performance can be adjusted through resin selection, layer structuring in co-extrusion, and processing parameters. This allows materials to be aligned with requirements such as clarity levels, barrier performance, or recycled content targets.

The materials are commonly used in packaging, food service, retail display, medical packaging, and industrial thermoforming applications. Each material type supports different performance requirements depending on the industry and end-use conditions.

Yes. The materials are designed for use in high-speed production environments, including automated thermoforming systems. Consistent thickness and forming behavior support stable processing and reduce production variation.