a thermoforming apparatus including a pallet for use with a thermoforming machine that thermoforms a plastic billet into a usable form , the pallet including a billet support surface for supporting thereon a billet , and a gripper mounted on the pallet and arranged for movement between a first position , wherein the gripper does not grip a billet placed on the billet support surface , and a second position , wherein the gripper grips the billet placed on the billet support surface .