Plastic Moulding Processes - Calendering

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Calendering is a continuous plastic moulding process which works in much the same way as an old-fashioned clothes mangle. For plastics, there are usually four heated rollers of different sizes which rotate at slightly different speeds. The material is fed into these rollers, heated and melted, then shaped into a sheet or film. This is then cooled and rolled up. The sheets can be mono-oriented during this process. The most commonly calendered material is PVC. Paper is another material often formed using the calendering process to impart desired surface textures and patterns.

Calendering rollers can also be used to impart a texture to the surface of the material being rolled. Some common examples of this are textured shower curtains, baby nappies, car seats and plastic table cloths.