What Is an Automatic PET Blow Molding Machine?
An automatic PET blow molding machine (also called a PET bottle blowing machine or stretch blow moulding machine) turns injection-molded PET preforms into finished bottles. Preforms are loaded, heated in an infrared oven, then stretched and blown with high-pressure air inside a mold until the PET takes the exact shape of the bottle. The finished bottles leave the machine ready for air conveying to the filler.
iBottling's BMA-series machines use the two-stage process: preforms are made first, then reheated and blown on a separate machine. This lets a bottling plant buy preforms or make them in-house, change bottle designs by changing molds, and run the blower directly in front of the filling line.
How the PET Blowing Process Works
- Preform feeding – preforms are sorted and fed neck-up into the machine automatically.
- Infrared heating – zone-wise oven heating conditions each preform to the right temperature profile. A correct profile is what makes lightweight bottles and stable necks possible.
- Stretching and blowing – a stretch rod stretches the preform axially while staged high-pressure air expands it in the hoop direction. Biaxial orientation gives the bottle its top load, clarity and drop resistance.
- Cooling and discharge – the mold is chilled so the bottle sets quickly; finished bottles are transferred out to the air conveyor.
Key Specifications (BMA Series)
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Throughput at 500 ml | 2,000 – 11,000 bottles/hour |
| Max cavities | 8 |
| Max container volume | 2 L |
| Clamping force | 320 kN |
| Installed power (stated) | 120 kW |
| Footprint (L × W × H) | 3,600 × 2,000 × 2,210 mm |
Final figures depend on bottle size, weight and cavity count, and are confirmed on the quotation.
Which Bottles Can It Blow?
- Still and mineral water – lightweight PET bottles for high-volume water lines.
- Carbonated soft drinks (CSD) – petaloid-base bottles that hold carbonation pressure, matched to CSD fillers such as our 12,000 B/H carbonated filling line.
- Hot-fill juice and tea – heat-set bottle designs for hot-fill routes (hot-fill blowing machines need the correct mold and process set-up, discussed at quotation stage).
How to Choose a PET Blowing Machine
- Match the filler speed. Size the blower slightly above the filler's rated output so the filler never waits for bottles.
- Decide the cavity count. More cavities mean more bottles per hour; choose based on bottle size and target output.
- List all bottle sizes. Each bottle shape needs its own mold set; planning sizes early keeps changeovers simple.
- Plan utilities. High-pressure air, chilled water for the molds and electrical power should be included in the plant layout from day one.
- Think about line integration. A blower placed directly in front of the filler (with air conveyor) saves storage space and avoids bottle contamination.
Why Source Your Blow Molding Machine from iBottling
- Beverage equipment supplier since 1995, exporting to 150+ countries.
- Factory certified to CE and ISO 9001.
- One supplier for the whole line: blower, water treatment, filling, labeling and packaging, so bottle neck, mold and filler change parts are matched.
- FAT before shipment and SAT on site, with installation and line-integration support.
Related Equipment
See the full blow molding machine range, complete water bottling lines, and the PET water filling machine that the blower feeds.
Request a quote for a PET blow molding machine → Tell us your bottle sizes, target output and preform weight, and we will recommend a cavity configuration.
