Injection Blow Molding
The injection blow molding (IBM) process produces billions of plastic containers each year, ranging in size from 1 ml to 2 liters. These containers meet exacting standards of consistent weight, volume and tolerance, and are popular for pharmaceuticals and toiletries to automotive and household use.
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IBM Process Characteristics
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IBM Bottle Characteristics
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- Parting lines nearly invisible
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- Minimal auxiliary equipment required
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- Variety of different finishes are possible
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Typical Products for Injection Blow Molding
Jars
- Made in a wide variety of materials
- No secondary trimming is required when making the neck finish
Ovals – Cylinders & Boston Rounds
- HDPE, LDPE, PP
- Up to 24 cavity molds from 10-15 second cycles
Liquor Bottles
- Thick walls mimic the look of glass
- Intricate design
Pill Bottles
- PP, HDPE, LDPE and PS
- Can be designed with complicated injected neck finishes for Child Resistance or pilfer-proofing
- Neck finish is excellent for barrier seals against moisture with a plug seal closure
- Very flat for tamper foil application
Roll-on Deodorant
- PP and HDPE
- Close tolerance of the injection molded ball seating allows for an even application of the deodorant product
Specialty Items
- Lab Ware
- Custom Shapes
- Food Coloring/Dropper Bottles
Injection Blow Molding Advantages
- Virtually no scrap
- Excellent gram weight control
- Excellent material processing capability options
- Good material distribution consistency
- Excellent finish dimensional control
- High cavitation capability with smaller bottle sizes - up to 32 cavity tool sets
- Lower price for high volume, smaller size items
- Friendly for downstream operations like decoration
- Accommodates snap-in plugs, fitments, dispensing spouts & orifice reducers
Injection Blow Molding Disadvantages
- Longer tooling development lead times
- Unit cavity ahead is almost always required
- Higher mold equipment costs
- Injection-blown PVC has lower impact properties