PET #1

Polyethylene terephthalate (abbreviated PET) represents the most common type of plastic material used in the food and beverage FMCG market for packaging consumables.

Common applications include:

•             Bottled water

•             Carbonated drinks

•             Juices bottles

•             Cooking oils

•             Cosmetic containers

•             Household chemical containers

•             Rigid thermoformed trays.

Due to its superior strength, high clarity, lightweight, and perpetual recyclability, PET is one of the best performing and most cost-effective packaging options.

There are two common methods used to manufacture a PET bottle or container: 

1.            Two-stage: reheat stretch blow moulding.

2.            Single-stage: injection stretch blow moulding.

Two-Stage

Alluded by the name, two-stage reheat stretch blow moulding is a two-stage process for making PET bottles or containers. In the initial stage, the molten resin is injected into a chilled preform mould, which creates a semi-finished product referred to as a preform. The neck of the preform is complete at this stage, however, the length and diameter are much smaller than the bottle or container size it will subsequently adapt. The second stage involves heating the preform where it is blown (stretched and orientated) within a chilled mould to form the final bottle or container shape. A two-stage process is typically more aligned to larger-scale operations.

Single-Stage

In single-stage production, the entire process from injection through to blow is completed within one integrated system. Molten resin is injected into a chilled preform mould, the preform is then transferred to the blow moulding unit where it blown (stretched and orientated) to form the shape of a bottle or container.