PET & RPET Preforms
An empty plastic bottle is a commodity product with a large volume relative to its weight. To reduce transportation costs, the manufacturing process is carried out in the same bottling plant as the final product.
In the bottling industry, “PET preform” refers to the portion of PET plastic in the final stage of shaping by high-pressure air blowing, but with the predefined neck type of an empty PET plastic bottle.
PET: This is the acronym for the plastic material used to make bottles. PET: “PolyEthylene Terephthalate.” This type of material has the necessary properties to be able to come into contact with beverages for human consumption and has the ideal mechanical properties of rigidity and deformation temperature for the “In Place” bottle forming process using high-pressure, oil-free air blowing.
PET is a very stable material with an extremely long natural degradation process; it takes hundreds of years for it to degrade naturally. PET bottles are therefore perfectly suitable for human consumption, but once used, they pose an environmental problem if not properly recycled. This is why the European Union has implemented regulations requiring all PET containers with a volume of less than 3 liters to contain a percentage of recycled PET. This recycled PET is called RPET.
Our preforms can be made from 100% virgin PET, 100% RPET, or a combination of both, in accordance with current legislation and the cost and performance objectives of each customer. Bottles manufactured outside the European Union must also comply with these regulations to be imported into the EU.
Different types of bottles can be manufactured with different PET preforms, as each type of bottle is designed for bottling a specific beverage, resulting in different neck shapes, weights, colors, shapes, etc. The different shapes of the preforms necks, give rise to different models of PET preforms.At CALIDIS GROUPE, we offer a wide range of PET preforms for the manufacture of bottles for bottling various beverages: CSD carbonated soft drinks, juices, nectars and fruit drinks, mineral water, olive oil or other types of oil, dairy products, and other specialty products.
At CALIDIS GROUPE, we offer a wide range of PET preforms for the manufacture of bottles for bottling various beverages: CSD carbonated soft drinks, juices, nectars and fruit drinks, mineral water, olive oil or other types of oil, dairy products, and other specialty products.
A. PET PREFORMS FOR CARBONATED DRINKS
These preforms are characterized by a relatively small diameter bottle neck, so that the cap mounted on it is able to withstand the pressure caused by carbon dioxide CO2:
A1. MODEL PCO1810
- Material/Composition: PET & RPET / single-layer.
- Color: Clear, green, and other colors upon request.
- Neck diameter/Connection: 28 mm / thread and thread with degassing slots.
- Typical preform weights: 17 to 54 g.
- Bottle volume: 0.25 to 2.5 L.
A2. MODEL PCO1881
Material/Composition: PET & RPET / single-layer.
Color: Clear, green, and other colors upon request.
Neck diameter/Connection: 28 mm / thread and thread with degassing slots.
Typical preform weights: 13 to 50 g.
Bottle volume: 0.25 to 2.5 L.
NOTE: Other models such as HIGHT PCO, BPF and OBRIST-26 are also available. Verify availability.
B. PET PREFORMS FOR JUICE
These preforms are characterized by a relatively wide bottle neck diameter, since the cap is not subjected to high stresses. This allows for faster bottle filling.
B1. MODEL 38×3
Material/Composition: PET & RPET / single-layer, multi-layer
layerColor: Clear, blue, opaque white, and other colors and special (UV) properties upon request.
Neck diameter/connection: 38 mm / threaded.
Number of inlets: 3 inlets, for aseptic/ultra-clean filling.
Typical preform weights: 14 to 67 g.
Bottle volumes: 0.25 to 8 L.
B2. MODEL 38×2
Material/Composition: PET & RPET / single-layer, multi-layer
Color: Transparent, and special properties available upon request.
Neck diameter/connection: 38 mm / threaded.
Number of inlets: 2 inlets, for hot filling.
Typical preform weights: 25 to 80 g.
Bottle volumes: 0.33 to 2 L.
B3. MODEL 33×2
Material/Composition: PET & RPET / single-layer, multi-layer
Color: Transparent, other colors and special (UV) properties available upon request.
Neck diameter/connection: 33 mm / threaded
Number of inlets: 2 inlets, for aseptic/ultra-clean filling
Typical preform weights: 13 to 50 g.
Bottle volume: 0.25 to 2 L
NOTE: Other models are available, such as: AFFABA, FERRARI, 48×3. Please check availability.
C. PET PREFORMS FOR MINERAL WATER
These preforms are characterized by their very light weight, thus maximizing raw material costs. The shape given to the bottle by the design of the blow molding process is key to achieving bottles with varying rigidity, which is a key factor in cost savings. This type of preform is also characterized by its ability to adapt to the mold’s shape. Mineral water preforms typically contain an added blue colorant, with varying intensities available.
C1. MODEL 30/25
Material/Composition: PET & RPET / single-layer.
Color: Clear, blue, and other colors upon request
Neck diameter/Connection: 30 mm / threaded.
Typical preform weights: 11 to 40 g.
Bottle volume: 0.25 to 2 L
C2. MODEL 29/25
Material/Composition: PET & RPET / single-layer.
Color: Clear, blue, and other colors upon request
Neck diameter/Connection: 30 mm / threaded.
Typical preform weights: 9 to 32 g.
Bottle volume: 0.25 to 2 L
NOTE: Other models can be supplied, such as: 26/22, 38×3. Please check availability.
D. PET PREFORMS FOR OIL
These preforms are characterized by a non-threaded neck, pressure-connected cap, using the “PRES-ON” system. A dark green preform is typically used for olive oils, while a transparent preform is used for other types of oil.
D1. OIL MODEL 29/21
Material/Composition: PET & RPET / single-layer.
Color: Clear, green, and other colors upon request.
Neck Diameter/Connection: 29 mm / Press-On
Typical preform weights: 18 to 46 g.
Bottle volume: 0.25 to 2.5 L.
D2. OIL MODEL 36/29
Material/Composition: PET & RPET / single-layer.
Color: Clear, green, and other colors upon request.
Neck Diameter/Connection: 36 mm / Press-On
Typical preform weights: 20 to 52 g.
Bottle volume: 0.25 to 2.5 L.
NOTE: Other models are available, sizes: 29/21CTR, 38×3. Check availability.
E. DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING PREFORM BLOWING TEMPERATURES
At Calidis Groupe, we know that implementing a new preform model can require reconfiguring the various preform preheating temperatures currently required by most blow molding machines.
Depending on the preheating temperature and the section of the preform where it is applied, the PET flows differently within the mold. This results in different distributions of the plastic within the mold, affecting the strength of the finished blown bottle.
To assist with this temperature configuration task, we have developed a highly economical device that allows us to check blown bottles through a destructive test, recording the pressure at the break point and studying the shape of the bottle’s break, thus concluding that the PET plastic is correctly distributed within the blow molding machine’s mold.
This device is simple and intuitive, without electronic complications or the use of artificial vision systems, but it provides the basic information required for this setup process and allows us to carry out the exercise with maximum safety.
