Modern farms face increasing pressure from DEFRA regulations, Red Tractor standards and food safety audits, which means that hygiene and efficiency are under constant scrutiny. Beyond animal husbandry and crop science, the materials that are used in agricultural equipment can dramatically impact on cleanliness, durability and ease of maintenance.

In this article, Ansini, specialists in agriculture thermoforming, look at why thermoformed plastics are emerging as an ideal material choice for farms, balancing hygiene, cost and sustainability.

Hygiene advantages of thermoformed plastics

The use of smooth and seamless surfaces is incredibly important when it comes to preventing bacteria, mould, or algae from collecting. Thermoformed plastics help to avoid any cracks or joins that would appear if alternative wood or metal were used. These plastics are also non-porous, so there is no danger of them absorbing water, manure or chemicals, which helps to reduce any contamination risks.

Thermoformed plastics also provide significant chemical resistance as they can withstand daily pressure-wash cycles, disinfectants and detergents without degrading, unlike many other materials. This means that they are ideally placed to support biosecurity, food safety and healthier livestock environments.

Efficiency and maintenance benefits

The durability of thermoformed plastics means that they do not corrode like metal or rot like wood. They are also lightweight, which means that parts can be moved, removed, and reinstalled quickly on site for things like feed troughs and greenhouse panels.

Thermoformed plastics can also help to reduce agricultural downtime as there are fewer breakages and part replacement is much easier, which ensures that farm operations continue to run smoothly without interruption.

They are also extremely versatile. This is because thermoforming can produce parts in large or small sizes and are tailored to specific agricultural machinery and layouts. This means that they can be used in a variety of ways more easily than other material alternatives.

Common uses for thermoformed plastics in agriculture

Thermoformed plastics are often used in the creation of animal pens and shelters. This is because they can produce tough and hygienic panels and barriers that are capable of withstanding significant impacts. They are also useful in feed and water systems like troughs, hoppers and trays as their non-porous surfaces make them perfect for animal safety.

They can also be found in many different types of greenhouses as they are ideal for the production of propagation trays, liners and seed trays to make crop management more efficient.

Their smooth surfaces and resistance to contamination make them perfect for biosecurity stations like boot wash trays and contamination panels for disease control purposes.

Supporting sustainable and circular farming

Thermoformed plastics can also be a sustainable option as they can be made from recyclable plastics. This potential to be able to use recycled content can then align with many farming sustainability goals. It can also help to reduce agriculture’s reliance on wood, which can rot and harbour bacteria, and metal, which rusts and often requires treatment.

Thermoformed plastics also provide longevity, and with fewer replacements there is less waste created as well. These plastics fit well with a circular economy and DEFRA’s push for resource efficiency.

A clean farm is a productive farm, and thermoformed plastics can play a significant role in helping farmers to meet important hygiene standards as well as reduce downtime and continue to work sustainably.

Looking to the future, it seems that thermoforming is likely to play an even bigger role in shaping next-generation farming practises, with agriculture becoming increasingly automated and regulated, which is why now is a great time to discover how Ansini’s thermoformed agricultural solutions can support your farm’s efficiency and hygiene goals.