Dordan is happy to report it got a new water cooling tower!
What is a water cooling tower?
In thermoforming, heated plastic sheet is shaped over and into an aluminum mold by vacuum and pressure. Once formed, the material must cool quickly to lock in dimensional accuracy. Cooling towers make this possible by supplying chilled process water that circulates through channels in the mold, pulling heat out of the plastic and stabilizing temperatures for consistent parts.
The water absorbs heat as it moves through the mold and then returns to the cooling tower, where the energy is released into the atmosphere through evaporative cooling. The cooled water is recirculated in a closed loop, ready for the next cycle. Because water is reused rather than discharged, cooling towers provide a more efficient and sustainable way to manage heat in manufacturing.
Dordan pairs central cooling towers with chillers to maintain precise temperature control. This is critical for industries such as medical and automotive packaging, where repeatability and tight tolerances are required. By managing the thermal environment of the molds, cooling towers help thermoformers balance quality, efficiency, and reliability in production.
🎥 Check out our video on the installation of our new cooling tower and learn how it helps better manage the water consumption associated with thermoforming!