This section provides a concise overview of the Blow Molding Process, detailing its fundamental steps and explaining how blow molds are utilized to create hollow plastic products. It explores the three main types of blow molding—extrusion, injection, and stretch blow molding—and identifies the most commonly blow molded products. Additionally, it lists 9 global Blow Molding Machine manufacturers as of July 2025—including Sidel, Kautex Maschinenbau, and Bekum Maschinenfabriken—highlighting their contributions to the plastics packaging industry.
What is the Blow Molding Process?
Blow molding is a manufacturing technique used to create hollow plastic parts by inflating heated plastic into a mold. This process is essential for producing bottles, containers, and other hollow shapes efficiently.
The blow molding process involves three primary steps:
- Extrusion: Plastic material, usually in the form of pellets, is melted and extruded into a tube called a parison.
- Molding: The parison is clamped in a mold, and air is blown into it, causing the plastic to expand and conform to the mold’s shape.
- Cooling and Ejection: Once the plastic has cooled and solidified, the mold is opened, and the finished product is ejected.
Blow molding is widely used in industries like packaging, automotive, and consumer goods due to its cost-effectiveness and ability to produce complex shapes. This technique is particularly suitable for manufacturing lightweight, durable containers ranging from small bottles to large tanks.
What is a blow mold used for?
A blow mold is used to shape hollow plastic products through a manufacturing process known as blow molding. It is instrumental in creating containers like bottles and tanks.
In blow molding, there are several steps involved:
- Plastic Parison Creation: A parison, or a hollow plastic tube, is formed using melted plastic.
- Mold Clamping: The parison is placed into a mold, which is then clamped shut.
- Air Inflation: Compressed air is blown into the parison, forcing it to expand and take the shape of the mold.
- Cooling and Ejection: Once formed, the product is cooled and ejected from the mold.
Blow molds are commonly used in industries such as beverage, automotive, and consumer goods for the efficient production of uniform, lightweight, and durable items. They are essential in mass-producing items with complex shapes and are particularly valued for their speed and cost-effectiveness in large-scale manufacturing scenarios.
What are the three types of blow molding?
Blow molding is a manufacturing process used to create hollow plastic parts. The three main types of blow molding are extrusion blow molding, injection blow molding, and stretch blow molding.
1. Extrusion Blow Molding
In this process, a plastic tube is extruded and captured in a mold. Air is then blown into the tube, expanding it to fill the mold cavity. It’s commonly used for making bottles, containers, and other large hollow parts.
2. Injection Blow Molding
This method involves injecting molten plastic into a preform mold, which is then transferred to a blow mold. Air is injected to shape the product. It’s ideal for small, precise containers like medicine bottles.
3. Stretch Blow Molding
The preform is first stretched axially and then radially by blowing air. This results in stronger containers with improved clarity. It’s primarily used for making PET bottles, such as those for beverages.
Each type offers unique benefits suited to specific applications, balancing factors like production speed, material efficiency, and product characteristics.
What is the most commonly blow molded product?
The most commonly blow molded product is plastic bottles, particularly those used for beverages like water, soda, and juice. These bottles are lightweight, durable, and cost-effective to produce, making them ideal for mass production and global distribution.
Blow molding is a manufacturing process that involves inflating heated plastic into a mold cavity. Here’s a simplified breakdown of how it works:
- Extrusion: Plastic is melted and extruded into a hollow tube called a parison.
- Molding: The parison is clamped into a mold and air is blown into it, expanding the plastic against the mold walls.
- Cooling: The plastic cools and solidifies in the shape of the mold.
- Ejection: The finished product is ejected from the mold.
This process is favored for creating uniform, hollow shapes and is extensively used in industries requiring large quantities of consistent, high-quality plastic containers.
Of course. Here is the list of the top 15 global blow molding machine manufacturers, presented entirely in English.
9 Blow Molding Machine Suppliers Worldwide
This ranking synthesizes market share, technology leadership, and brand influence to list the leading companies in the global blow molding industry, covering major technologies such as Extrusion Blow Molding (EBM), Stretch Blow Molding (SBM), and Injection Blow Molding (IBM).
- Sidel
Part of the Tetra Laval Group, Sidel is a leading global provider of packaging solutions for beverages, food, home, and personal care products. The company has over 40 years of experience in PET stretch blow molding (SBM), and its equipment is known for high performance, flexibility, and sustainability, helping customers optimize their packaging lines.
Country: Italy / France (HQ in Parma, Italy)
Address: Via La Spezia 241/A, 43126 Parma, Italy
TEI: +39-0521-9991
Website:https://www.sidel.com
Products:
- EvoBLOW Series: Modular stretch blow molding machines.
- Combi (Blow-Fill-Cap) solutions.
- Aseptic and ultra-clean filling solutions.
- Molds, line engineering, and packaging optimization services.
- Kautex Maschinenbau GmbH
Kautex is a German-based, world-leading manufacturer of extrusion blow molding (EBM) machines. The company is known for its innovative technology and high-quality machines, specializing in providing customized blow molding solutions for the automotive (e.g., fuel tanks), industrial packaging (e.g., IBC containers), and consumer goods industries.
Country: Germany
Address: Kautexstrasse 54, 53229 Bonn, Germany
TEI: +49-228-489-0
Website:https://www.kautex-group.com
Products:
- KBB Series: All-purpose shuttle extrusion blow molding machines.
- KCS Series: Machines for consumer packaging.
- KCC Series: Compact shuttle blow molding machines.
- Accumulator head machines and 3D blow molding technology.
- Bekum Maschinenfabriken GmbH
Bekum is one of the pioneers in blow molding technology. A German family-owned company, it is globally renowned for its high-quality and reliable extrusion blow molding (EBM) machines. The company invented the neck-to-neck blow molding process and continues to provide innovative solutions for the packaging, automotive, and industrial sectors.
Country: Germany
Address: Hannoversche Strasse 131, 12055 Berlin, Germany
TEI: +49-30-7490-0
Website:https://www.bekum.com
Products:
- BA Series: Large industrial packaging blow molding machines.
- EBLOW Series: All-electric extrusion blow molding machines.
- HYBLOW Series: Hybrid blow molding machines.
- Single and double station machines.
- Nissei ASB Machine Co., Ltd.
Nissei ASB is a world-leading Japanese manufacturer of injection stretch blow molding (ISBM) machines, with a special focus on “one-step” ISBM technology. Founded in 1978, its machines can produce finished containers from resin in a single compact unit, and are widely used to manufacture high-quality, scratch-free containers from PET and other resins.
Country: Japan
Address: 4586-3 Koo, Komoro-shi, Nagano-ken, 384-8585, Japan
TEI: +81-267-23-1560
Website:https://www.nisseiasb.co.jp/en/
Products:
- ASB Series: One-step injection stretch blow molding machines.
- PF Series: Preform injection molding systems.
- Solutions for complex shapes, wide-mouth jars, and thick-wall containers.
- Molds and auxiliary equipment.
- Graham Engineering Corporation (GEC)
Graham Engineering Corporation is a leading American manufacturer of extrusion equipment with a very broad line of blow molding machines. Known for its innovative technology and robust machinery, the company offers various types of EBM machines, including shuttle, wheel, and accumulator head models, serving the packaging, automotive, and recreational product markets.
Country: USA
Address: 1203 Eden Road, York, PA 17402, USA
TEI: +1-717-848-3755
Website:https://www.grahamengineering.com
Products:
- Rotary wheel blow molding systems.
- Reciprocating screw blow molding machines.
- Accumulator head blow molding machines.
- Extruders and sheet extrusion lines.
- Magic MP S.p.A.
Magic is an innovative Italian manufacturer of blow molding machines, particularly known for its all-electric extrusion blow molding (EBM) technology. The company is committed to developing energy-saving, environmentally friendly, and high-precision blow molding solutions. Its compact and efficient machines have gained wide recognition in the global packaging industry.
Country: Italy
Address: Via Giacomo Balla 20, 20900 Monza (MB), Italy
TEI: +39-039-204121
Website:https://www.magicmp.it/en/
Products:
- ME Series: All-electric extrusion blow molding machines.
- IB Series: Injection blow molding machines.
- High-speed models for small bottles and containers.
- Jomar Corporation
Jomar is the world’s leading manufacturer of injection blow molding (IBM) machines. This American company has specialized in IBM technology since 1968. Its machines are known for being robust, reliable, and efficient, making them ideal for producing high-precision, high-quality bottles and jars for the pharmaceutical, healthcare, and cosmetics industries.
Country: USA
Address: 1729-T Route 34, Wall Township, NJ 07727, USA
TEI: +1-609-395-1000
Website:https://jomarcorp.com
Products:
- IBM Series: Injection Blow Molding Machines.
- TechnoDrive Series: High-efficiency hybrid IBM machines.
- Molds and downstream automation equipment.
- Aoki Technical Laboratory, Inc.
Aoki Technical Laboratory is another leading Japanese manufacturer of injection stretch blow molding (ISBM) machines, specializing in one-step technology like Nissei ASB. The company’s machines are acclaimed for their energy efficiency, small footprint, and ability to produce uniquely shaped containers.
Country: Japan
Address: 4963-3 Minamijo, Sakaki-machi, Hanishina-gun, Nagano-ken, 389-0601, Japan
TEI: +81-268-82-0111
Website:https://www.aokitech.co.jp/en/
Products:
- SBIII Series: One-step injection stretch blow molding machines.
- Direct Gating preform molding technology.
- Solutions for various materials like PET, PP, and PC.
- Plastiblow S.r.l.
Plastiblow is an Italian company that has specialized in the design and manufacture of extrusion blow molding machines since 1964. The company is known for its all-electric blow molding technology, offering energy-efficient, low-noise, and high-precision machines that are particularly suitable for containers requiring a clean environment, such as in the pharmaceutical and food industries.
Country: Italy
Address: Via Salvemini 20, 20094 Corsico (MI), Italy
TEI: +39-02-440-5476
Website:https://www.plastiblow.it/en/
Products:
- All-electric extrusion blow molding machines.
- Single and double station models.
- Technology for co-extrusion and sterile applications.
