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L. MARTIN, Husky Injection Blow Molding Systems, Ltd.

Increasing demand for PET bottle preforms has driven the development of high output molding systems to produce top quality preforms effeciently - typically as many as 200 million preforms per year from a single mold and machine. However, emerging markets and new niche applications have much lower volume requirements. In addition, new resins and blow molding technologies may require the flexibility to cost effectively modify preform designs. The result has been the development of low-output flexible preform molding systems to help converters meet these needs and stay competitive. This paper will highlight some of the technical challenges and the solutions that have resulted.