How to Choose the Right Mold in the Bottle Industry
Your mold decides bottle quality, output speed and final cost. This guide walks through the key criteria.
The preform mold is the heart of a bottle line. A wrong decision here shows up later as scrap, downtime and wasted resin.
1. Define your product precisely
Bottle size, beverage type (still or carbonated), filling conditions (cold or hot) and closure type determine the weight and neck you need.
- Mineral water: usually a 30/25 neck and light weight
- Soft drinks: PCO 1881 or 1810 with thicker walls
- Oil: 38 or 48 mm neck
2. Cavitation and output
16, 32 or 48-cavity molds deliver very different output. Choose cavitation based on annual demand and your injection machine, not just on price.
3. Hot runner system
Hot runner quality directly affects weight consistency and acetaldehyde levels. Independent temperature control per nozzle is a real advantage.
4. After-sales service
Fast access to spare parts and technical support matters more than the purchase price. Check the maker's track record before you buy.