Food Jars, Cans Series Blow Molding Machine

Stage 1 — Preform Production (Separate Machine)

Food-grade PET resin is injection-moulded into precision preforms at a dedicated injection machine. The preforms are produced to an exact weight and neck finish, then cooled and stored. This separation allows independent quality control at the preform stage — a critical advantage when working with wide-neck food-grade designs where consistency of neck geometry is non-negotiable.

Stage 2 — Reheating and Stretch Blow Moulding (This Machine)

Stored preforms are loaded into the HGA series machine, where an infrared heating carousel brings them to precise blow temperature. Stretch rods then extend the preform axially while high-pressure air (26–35 kg/cm²) expands it radially against the mould cavity. The result is a biaxially oriented PET container with excellent clarity, barrier properties, and top-load strength — all essential for UK retail food packaging.

Material Compatibility

• Food-grade PET (polyethylene terephthalate) — primary material
• Recycled PET (rPET) — compatible with food-grade rPET preforms
• PP (polypropylene) — selected model configurations on request
• PEN (polyethylene naphthalate) — for high-barrier food applications

PET remains the dominant choice across UK food packaging due to its combination of transparency, chemical resistance, and recyclability — all factors that align with UK Government packaging targets under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework.

Typical Application Sectors (UK)

• Dried fruits, nuts, and snack packaging
• Condiment and sauce jars (wide-mouth)
• Edible oil containers — 1 L to 5 L
• Food-service bulk canisters — up to 15,000 ml
• Peanut butter, spreads, and paste containers
• Pet food supplement jars
• Vitamin and supplement wide-mouth bottles
• Honey and syrup containers

What is the price or cost of a two-step blow molding machine for wide-mouth food jars in the UK, and how does it compare to single-stage options?

The HGA series covers a range of price points depending on model, cavity count, and any custom tooling requirements. Two-step machines typically require a higher initial capital outlay than single-stage alternatives, but the operating cost per container is substantially lower at volume — particularly when preform production is already available in-house. For a current UK supply price and lead time, please contact us at [email protected] with your container specification and target output volume.

How does a two-step blow molding machine differ from a one-step injection blow molding machine when producing wide-mouth food containers for UK retail packaging lines?

In a two-step process, preform production and container blowing are separated into distinct operations. This means preforms can be quality-checked independently before blowing, and the blowing machine can be run at its optimal cycle rate without being tied to the injection cycle. For wide-mouth food containers — where neck geometry consistency is critical for cap fit and seal integrity — the two-step approach delivers more reliable dimensional repeatability across long production runs than a single-stage process.

Which model in the HGA series is best suited for producing 5-litre or larger PET food canisters for UK food-service distribution?

The HGA.ES-2C200 handles containers up to 5,000 ml, while the HGA.ES-2C260 extends this to 15,000 ml with a maximum container diameter of 240 mm. For UK food-service distributors requiring large-volume canisters with wide neck openings, the HGA.ES-2C260 is the model of choice. It operates with a theoretical output of 900 bottles per hour, which typically aligns well with filling line speeds in food-service bulk packaging operations.

Where can a UK food packaging manufacturer find a reliable supplier of two-step stretch blow molding machines for wide-mouth PET jar production, and what lead times should they expect?

We supply the HGA series directly to UK food packaging manufacturers, with machines built to UK utility specifications and shipped with full documentation. Lead times vary by model configuration — standard models typically ship within 8–14 weeks of order confirmation, while custom tooling configurations may extend this by 4–6 weeks. We recommend contacting our team early in the capital planning cycle so that commissioning can be scheduled without disrupting production ramp-up timelines.

What is the maximum neck diameter this blow molding machine can produce, and is it suitable for UK condiment jar formats that require a 100 mm or larger neck finish?

The HGA.FS-1CG220 reaches a neck diameter of up to 180 mm — the widest in the series and a domestic first in its machine class. This makes it directly suitable for UK condiment, sauce, and wide-mouth food jar formats where a 100 mm or larger neck finish is required. Standard models in the HGA.ES range cover neck diameters from 68 mm up to 168 mm, giving the series broad coverage across the common neck standards used in UK food and speciality retail packaging.

How much energy does a two-step PET blow molding machine consume per hour when running wide-mouth food jar production on a UK industrial site?

Continuous heating power in the HGA series ranges from 8 kW to 35 kW depending on model and container size — well below the rated maximum heating capacity, which exists to support initial heat-up cycles. For a mid-range model such as the HGA.ES-2C150 running standard food jar production, operators typically see continuous draw in the 18–22 kW range during steady-state production. For UK sites operating on time-of-use tariffs, this profile is generally compatible with standard industrial metering arrangements without requiring a dedicated supply upgrade.