Many different processes are used to transform raw plastics into the thousands of everyday objects that we use. To mould or shape thermoplastics, they are basically softened to allow the plastic to flow through a die, to be injected into, formed in or over a mould.
 
These processes usually allow any scrap material to be recycled. On this and the following pages, you will find short explanations of some of the more common processes such as injection moulding, extrusion, blow moulding, rotational moulding, calendering, thermoforming (which includes vacuum forming) and coating.