Custom vacuum forming is characterized by extremely low tooling and parts costs. Like pressure forming, vacuum forming features sheets of virtually unlimited size heated to a point of maximum flexibility, then formed to a mold. Also like pressure forming, the air between the mold and the material is removed by a powerful vacuum as the heated plastic melds to the mold and takes on its new shape. Although vacuum forming lacks some of the refined detail of pressure formed parts, its dramatic economies make vacuum forming a sensible alternative for many simple designs, large parts, small to high quantity production runs and molded components that need to progress from concept to tooling to finished product in a big hurry.