The phrase denotes the process of locating providers of thermoforming services within a defined geographical proximity to the searcher. This commonly involves utilizing internet search engines with location-based extensions to identify nearby businesses offering custom plastic fabrication solutions using differential air pressure to shape heated thermoplastic sheets over a mold.
Proximity to such services offers advantages in terms of reduced transportation costs, faster turnaround times for prototyping and production, and the potential for closer collaboration with fabricators. Historically, businesses requiring custom plastic components were limited to suppliers within their immediate region, but the internet has broadened the scope while retaining the value of localized manufacturing.