Single-item and series production of plastic products made from PLEXIGLAS®, Makrolon® and other plastics in Cologne.
Carl Thomas Kunststoffwarenfabrik GmbH
Cologne (Butzweilerhof)New on Amplifa
About Carl Thomas
Carl Thomas Kunststoffwarenfabrik GmbH is a medium-sized family business based in Cologne with over 120 years of experience in plastics processing. The company manufactures plastic products in single-item and series production, from the prototype stage to large-scale series, for customers from industry, trades, retail, trade fair and shop fitting, advertising technology, mechanical engineering and the food sector. The product range includes technical milled and laser-cut parts, protective hoods and covers for machinery, cough and contact protection screens, merchandise display, advertising technology and signage, roofs and conservatories, light strips, furniture and decorative items. Materials processed include PLEXIGLAS® (PMMA XT/GS), Makrolon® (PC), rigid PVC films, rigid PVC foam, AluDibond as well as PE/PP/PETG semi-finished products, using processes such as CNC milling up to five axes, CO2 laser cutting, digital printing (flatbed printing up to 2500 × 1250 mm), forming, bending, folding, punching, drilling, bonding and assembly. Since the relocation in July 2012, production along with administration and showroom has been located at Claudius-Dornier-Str. 7 in Cologne-Butzweilerhof. In March 2013, the company was named 'Traditional Company of the Month' by the Cologne Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK Köln).
- Site
- Köln
- Processes
- Laser cutting (CO2 laser cutting), CNC milling (up to 5 axes), Digital printing / photo digital printing, Forming, bending and folding (thermoplastics), Cutting to size (millimetre-precise), Punching, Cutting, Drilling
- Materials
- PLEXIGLAS (acrylic glass), Makrolon, Rigid PVC films, ACRIFIX (adhesives), Dibond panels (AluDibond), PE/PP/PETG semi-finished products, Rigid PVC foam, Stainless steel (spacers)
- Founded
- 1836
- Industries
- Mechanical engineering, Trade fair and shop fitting, Retail, Advertising technology, Food sector, Trades
- 01
Consulting from enquiry to delivery
- 02
Cutting to size
- 03
CNC milling / laser cutting
- 04
Punching, drilling, folding
- 05
Bonding, deburring
- 06
Digital printing
- 07
Assembly
- 08
Delivery or pick-up
Plastics and Processing Methods
PLEXIGLAS® (acrylic glass)
Main material for hoods, glazing, merchandise display, furniture and advertising technology, XT and GS in various thicknesses and colours.
Makrolon® (polycarbonate)
Impact-resistant, transparent material for protective hoods, covers and glazing.
Rigid PVC films
Film material for cutting to size, punching and advertising applications.
Rigid PVC foam
Substrate material for digital printing and advertising technology.
Dibond panels
Composite panel for signs and advertising technology with a high-quality surface.
PE/PP/PETG semi-finished products
Semi-finished products for technical applications and construction parts.
ACRIFIX® adhesives
Adhesives for the transparent bonding of acrylic glass components.
Stainless steel (spacers)
Material for fastening hardware and spacers.
Locations
Cologne-Butzweilerhof
DEProduction, administration, showroom
- Lot size
- Single-item production to large-scale series
- Materials
- PMMA, PC, PVC, PE/PP/PETG, AluDibond
- CNC milling machines (up to 5 axes)
- CO2 laser system
- Large-format digital printer
- Cutting machines
- Punching machines
- Folding presses
Plastic Products
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laser cutting (CO2 laser cutting)Plastics | – | – | – | Large-scale series | PLEXIGLAS (PMMA), Makrolon (PC), various plastics and plastic compounds |
| CNC milling (up to 5 axes)Plastics | – | – | – | Large-scale series | PLEXIGLAS (PMMA), Makrolon (PC), various plastics |
| Digital printing / photo digital printingSurface | – | Flatbed printing 2500 mm / roll 2200 mm | – | – | PLEXIGLAS (PMMA), Makrolon (PC), rigid PVC foam, AluDibond, various types of plastics |
| Forming, bending and folding (thermoplastics)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Thermoplastics, PLEXIGLAS (PMMA), Makrolon (PC) |
| Cutting to size (millimetre-precise)Plastics | – | – | – | – | various plastics, PLEXIGLAS (PMMA), Makrolon (PC) |
| PunchingPlastics | – | – | – | – | various plastics and plastic compounds |
| CuttingPlastics | – | – | – | – | various plastics |
| DrillingPlastics | – | – | – | – | various plastics |
| Bonding (plastic joining)Joining | – | – | – | – | PLEXIGLAS (PMMA), Makrolon (PC), various plastics |
| Deburring of plastic edgesPlastics | – | – | – | – | various plastics |
| Custom production of plastic products (single-item and series production, e.g. protective hoods,Plastics | – | – | – | 1 (single-item production) – Large-scale series | PLEXIGLAS (PMMA), Makrolon (PC), various plastics and plastic compounds |
6 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CO2 laser system | – | – | – | – | Cologne Butzweilerhof |
| CNC milling machine (up to five axes) | – | – | – | – | Cologne Butzweilerhof |
| Large-format digital printer | – | – | Flatbed printing max. 2500 x 1250 mm, roll printing 900-2200 mm wide | – | Cologne Butzweilerhof |
| Cutting machines | – | – | – | – | Cologne Butzweilerhof |
| Punching machines | – | – | – | – | Cologne Butzweilerhof |
| Folding presses | – | – | – | – | Cologne Butzweilerhof |
Additional services
Company History since 1836
- 1836
Founded by Phillip Charles Thomas as a small printing shop in Bernkastel/Mosel (according to tradition).
- 1893
Relocation of the company seat to Cologne (Aachenerstraße) by the founder's nephew, Carl Thomas.
- 1899
Listed in the Cologne address book as a poster factory and press gilding business.
- Anfang 20.
Trade and processing of celluloid, Cellon and Astralon.
- Mitte der
PLEXIGLAS® became an offer focus following its invention by Dr. Otto Röhm.
- 1927
Acquisition of the Xantener Straße property (owned until 2012).
- 2012
Relocation to the new Cologne-Butzweilerhof branch (Claudius-Dornier-Str. 7) on 01.07.2012.
- 2013
Named 'Traditional Company of the Month' by the Cologne Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK Köln) in March 2013.