Development of Zr-based metallic glasses to utilize thermoplastic forming processes of engineering plastics

•Guideline to reduce production costs of metallic glasses (MGs) by thermoplastic forming (TPF).•Development of Be-free Zr-rich multicomponent MGs with a low Tg and a wide TPF window.•TPF ability parameter via continuous heating transformation diagram with iso-viscosity contours.•Advantage in manufacturing micro-to-nano scale products by precise control of the TPF process.•Foundation for the application of TPF facilities for advanced engineering plastics to MG.