Market overview
The global automatic thermoforming vacuum machine market is worth USD 861 mn in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 1.5 bn by 2036, growing at a 5.5% CAGR. China is the largest country market and Roll-fed is the largest by machine type segment.
| Scope | Automatic machines that heat plastic sheet or film and form it by vacuum into trays, cups, blisters and technical parts, in roll-fed, sheet-fed and form-fill-seal versions. |
|---|---|
| Industry | Industrial Automation |
| Value 2025 | USD 820 mn |
| Value 2026 | USD 861 mn |
| Value 2036 | USD 1.5 bn |
| CAGR 2026-2036 | 5.5% |
| Volume 2026 | 6,724 units |
| Volume 2036 | 9,897 units |
| Average price 2026 | USD 128,000 per unit |
| Report price | Starts from USD 1,999 |
| Published | November 2026 |
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Automatic Thermoforming Vacuum Machine market size and forecast, 2026-2036
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| Year | Market value |
|---|---|
| 2026 | USD 861.0 mn |
| 2027 | USD 908.4 mn |
| 2028 | USD 958.3 mn |
| 2029 | USD 1.01 bn |
| 2030 | USD 1.07 bn |
| 2031 | USD 1.13 bn |
| 2032 | USD 1.19 bn |
| 2033 | USD 1.25 bn |
| 2034 | USD 1.32 bn |
| 2035 | USD 1.39 bn |
| 2036 | USD 1.47 bn |
Automatic Thermoforming Vacuum Machine market segmentation
By machine type
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roll-fed | 52.0% | 52.0% | USD 448 mn | 5.5% |
| Sheet-fed | 30.0% | 27.3% | USD 258 mn | 4.5% |
| Form-fill-seal | 18.0% | 20.7% | USD 155 mn | 7.0% |
By application
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food and beverage packaging | 42.0% | 42.3% | USD 362 mn | 5.6% |
| Medical and pharmaceutical packaging | 20.0% | 22.1% | USD 172 mn | 6.6% |
| Consumer goods and electronics | 18.0% | 17.3% | USD 155 mn | 5.1% |
| Automotive and industrial parts | 20.0% | 18.3% | USD 172 mn | 4.6% |
By forming mechanism
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vacuum forming | 46.0% | 44.0% | USD 396 mn | 5.0% |
| Pressure forming | 30.0% | 31.0% | USD 258 mn | 5.8% |
| Twin-sheet and mechanical-assist | 24.0% | 25.0% | USD 207 mn | 5.9% |
By sheet material
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polypropylene and polystyrene | 44.0% | 43.0% | USD 379 mn | 5.3% |
| PET and PLA | 28.0% | 30.0% | USD 241 mn | 6.2% |
| PVC and others | 28.0% | 27.0% | USD 241 mn | 5.1% |
By sheet thickness
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thin gauge | 55.0% | 52.0% | USD 474 mn | 4.9% |
| Medium gauge | 25.0% | 25.0% | USD 215 mn | 5.5% |
| Heavy gauge | 20.0% | 23.0% | USD 172 mn | 7.0% |
Top 25 countries for automatic thermoforming vacuum machine by revenue
Countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales in the country, not by where the product is made. The ten largest hold 78.5% of 2026 revenue and the 25 countries below together hold 92.7%.
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| # | Country | Value 2026 | Share 2026 | Value 2036 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | USD 189 mn | 22.0% | USD 360 mn | 6.6% |
| 2 | United States | USD 138 mn | 16.0% | USD 216 mn | 4.6% |
| 3 | Germany | USD 86 mn | 10.0% | USD 129 mn | 4.2% |
| 4 | Italy | USD 52 mn | 6.0% | USD 81 mn | 4.6% |
| 5 | Japan | USD 43 mn | 5.0% | USD 62 mn | 3.7% |
| 6 | India | USD 43 mn | 5.0% | USD 94 mn | 8.1% |
| 7 | France | USD 34 mn | 4.0% | USD 54 mn | 4.7% |
| 8 | United Kingdom | USD 34 mn | 4.0% | USD 54 mn | 4.7% |
| 9 | Mexico | USD 30 mn | 3.5% | USD 54 mn | 6.1% |
| 10 | Brazil | USD 26 mn | 3.0% | USD 44 mn | 5.5% |
| 11 | Netherlands | USD 20 mn | 2.4% | USD 36 mn | 5.8% |
| 12 | Spain | USD 14 mn | 1.6% | USD 25 mn | 5.8% |
| 13 | Poland | USD 11 mn | 1.3% | USD 22 mn | 6.9% |
| 14 | Turkey | USD 9.6 mn | 1.1% | USD 19 mn | 6.8% |
| 15 | Taiwan | USD 8.4 mn | 1.0% | USD 15 mn | 5.9% |
| 16 | Canada | USD 7.7 mn | 0.9% | USD 14 mn | 5.8% |
| 17 | Thailand | USD 7.1 mn | 0.8% | USD 14 mn | 6.8% |
| 18 | Indonesia | USD 6.5 mn | 0.8% | USD 13 mn | 6.8% |
| 19 | Switzerland | USD 6.1 mn | 0.7% | USD 10 mn | 5.2% |
| 20 | Australia | USD 5.8 mn | 0.7% | USD 10 mn | 5.8% |
| 21 | Austria | USD 5.5 mn | 0.6% | USD 9.1 mn | 5.2% |
| 22 | Vietnam | USD 5.2 mn | 0.6% | USD 10 mn | 6.8% |
| 23 | Sweden | USD 5.0 mn | 0.6% | USD 8.4 mn | 5.3% |
| 24 | Czech Republic | USD 4.8 mn | 0.6% | USD 9.3 mn | 6.8% |
| 25 | Russia | USD 4.7 mn | 0.5% | USD 7.7 mn | 5.1% |
| Rest of world | USD 63 mn | 7.3% | USD 100 mn | 4.7% |
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
Competitive landscape
Group 1: Global leaders
- ILLIG
- KIEFEL
- Brown Machine Group
- GN Thermoforming Equipment
- Syntegon
- ULMA Packaging
Group 2: Regional and specialist players
- Gabler Thermoform
- Amut
- Cannon
- MULTIVAC
- Geiss
- MAAC Machinery
- Lyle Industries
- WM Thermoforming Machines
- Formech
Group 3: Emerging and niche players
- Irwin Research and Development
- Zed Industries
- Asano Laboratories
Research methodology
Every figure on this page comes from the research framework that we apply to all of the markets we cover. The 2025 base for the automatic thermoforming vacuum machine market is built from the volume sold and the price that buyers pay, and is cross-checked against the size of the wider industry the market belongs to. Where a market can be sized in more than one way, the routes are compared before a figure is set.
The forecast runs year by year from the 2025 base to 2036. Growth in each year reflects demand from the industries that buy the product, adoption of new technology, pricing, regulation and replacement cycles. Volume and price are modelled together, so revenue in each year equals volume multiplied by average price. The 2026 to 2036 compound annual growth rate of 5.5% is calculated from the resulting values.
The market is divided by machine type, by application, by forming mechanism, by sheet material, by sheet thickness. The 25 largest countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales to buyers in each country, not by where the product is made. Segment values and country values add up to the market total in every year, and every report is checked for consistency before it is published.
Companies are placed in three groups: global leaders, regional and specialist players, and emerging and niche players. The groups describe how companies compete in the market. They are not a ranking and they are not market shares.
Our analysts also carry out primary research. Customized reports add interviews with key opinion leaders, such as senior executives, technical specialists and buyers, to test the assumptions behind the numbers for the question being asked.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the automatic thermoforming vacuum machine market?
The global automatic thermoforming vacuum machine market is estimated at USD 820 mn in 2025 and USD 861 mn in 2026.
How fast will the automatic thermoforming vacuum machine market grow?
It is forecast to reach USD 1.5 bn by 2036, a compound annual growth rate of 5.5% from 2026, an increase of USD 610 mn.
Which country is the largest market for automatic thermoforming vacuum machine?
China is the largest market by revenue at USD 189 mn in 2026, 22.0% of the global total. The three largest countries together hold 48.0%.
Which country is growing fastest?
Among the ten largest markets, India is growing fastest at 8.1% a year from 2026 to 2036.
Which automatic thermoforming vacuum machine segment is largest?
In the by machine type split, Roll-fed is the largest segment with 52.0% of 2026 revenue.
Who are the leading automatic thermoforming vacuum machine companies?
Global leaders include ILLIG, KIEFEL, Brown Machine Group, GN Thermoforming Equipment.
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