Plastic Covers
Plastic covers is a broad category that includes a variety of products that differ in shape, size and material, but mainly perform the same function-to protect an object from outside elements such as weather conditions, dust or water and extend the life of what it is covering. Their most common use, though, is to cover the tops of containers such as drums, barrels, storage bins, pails and Tupperware. In the home, they are employed to protect products such as grills, keyboards, or outdoor furniture or cover home storage containers. In an industrial setting, plastic covers are mainly used as transparent machinery covers to protect from dust or as lids to packaging or storage containers. Grocery stores often use plastic covers to fit over their refrigerated sections to insulate, save on energy costs and protect in case a brownout occurs.
They are made through thermoforming, where a plastic sheet made of polycarbonate, noryl, PVC, royalite, polyurethane or vinyl is heated to a temperature that makes them pliable. Once heated, they are formed to a specific shape (usually round) in a mold, left to dry and then trimmed. They can be made out of fabric plastic like nylon and come in different shapes and sizes to fit different objects, or molded to fit the shape of a specific object or a certain sized container. They are rigid and hard or near-hard, and are able to fit securely and air-tight on top of many different containers. They are commonly made out of clear plastic, although they can come in just about any color or transparency.