AirPress Developments has just launched a new ultra high density (UHD) CNC, hotwire-cut polystyrene foam former service as an alternative to making wooden formers.

The company that sells some of the best vacuum presses in the UK, uses an expanded polystyrene foam that enables accurate, lightweight formers to be cut up to 2400 x 1200 x 600mm in one piece.

To facilitate the process of ordering, AirPress has developed an interactive configurator that allows customers to input their own dimensions into a 3D model on the AirPress website.

Once the former is designed, simply click the Get Quote button. Alternatively, users can just email a drawing to AirPress.

Managing director Peter Hoggard says: “The process saves a great deal of time making conventional wooden formers that require accurate machining on CNC machines or routing to templates – which are often only used a handful of times. These formers consume a lot of materials and can make positioning, in and out of a vacuum bag, difficult due to their weight."