Classification and varieties of PET preforms

07 November 2024

In the modern world, plastic packaging is used much more often than any other. The most popular and most environmentally friendly plastic is PET.

PET preform is a polymer product, which is a blank from which a full-fledged plastic bottle, jar or other closures, packaging is further blown. For its manufacture, synthetic material polyethylene terephthalate is used, which is transformed into the required configuration on specialized equipment, thermoplastic preform machine.

Image

Classification and varieties of PET preforms

Modern injection molding machines (thermoplastic automat) are quite productive and can produce more than 100 preforms per hour. Not only productivity, but also quality and variety of products depends on their manufacturability.

Our company operates modern machines with triple quality control, which allows us to guarantee flawlessness of preforms to our customers.

Classification of preforms  

There is a huge variety of preforms, which differ from each other in various ways. This often makes it difficult for our customers to choose the right preform for their closures. Let’s look at the most important aspects.

Classification by field of use:
- For non-alcoholic water media with gas, such as: mineral water, sparkling water, various carbonated drinks.
- For drinking water without gas.
- For juices and juice-containing beverages.
- For dairy and sour milk products.
- For low-alcohol products.
- For iced teas, coffee drinks.
- For a variety of oily substances, vegetable oils.

Image

PET preforms are not used for hot media. Only cold products can be filled.

Classification by capacity

The volume of the future container depends on the weight of the preforms, which come in different weights. For example, a preform weighing 20 grams will produce a bottle, the volume of which will correspond to 0.33 liters, and for a two-liter bottle you need a preform weighing 48 grams. A 20 liter container requires a preform weighing more than 670 grams. Also, the weight of the preform can be different, depending on the required wall thickness and other parameters. Therefore, we recommend our customers not to rely strictly on the introduced standards, but to approach the choice of preforms individually.

To choose the right preform for your products you can contact our consultant. He will professionally and clearly explain all the nuances and recommend the best closure for your product.

The strength parameters of the future bottle are not insignificant, which also depend on the weight of the preform. The thickness of the plastic bottle directly affects its strength and volume, while the weight of the preform, production processes and blow molding method affect the wall thickness of the plastic container. For example, for carbonated beverages, the wall thickness is recommended to increase from 0.25 mm to 0.4 mm from the standard. A two-liter bottle for carbonated beverages should be blown from 52 g preforms rather than 48 g preforms because the wall thickness should be thicker.

Classification by configuration

⦁    universal - the most popular preform variant, a bottle made of it is characterized by a flat surface with a cylindrical body. The cost of such preforms may be higher due to technological difficulties.
⦁    thick-walled - has a wall thickness of up to 4.5 mm, easier to manufacture, which positively affects its cost.
⦁    shortened - it is a preform, which in principle is simple in production and convenient for transportation, but there is one nuance, for blowing the bottle requires more powerful equipment. Otherwise, you can get a large number of defective products.

Image

Our specialists will always help you to choose the right preform that optimally meets your requirements. We also use equipment in our production facilities, with the help of which we produce a wide range of PET products characterized by high quality. All our products comply with international quality standards and pass strict control before reaching the customer.

Classification by neck configuration

⦁    BPF/PCO - these formats are among the most popular worldwide, they are used to produce bottles for various products, beer or lemonade, as well as milk and kefir.
⦁    Oil - used for containers for vegetable oils.
⦁    Bericap - this preform is optimally suited for various beverages, as well as drinking, technical water.
⦁    “38” - This configuration is optimal for the production of containers for filling juice, dairy and sour milk products.

Image

BPF and PCO necked preforms are most commonly used in the consumer market. In Europe and other parts of the world, PCO necked preforms are more commonly used. Both standards are suitable for good gas retention, which makes them the most popular. However, the PCO preform is lighter than BPF, which saves consumables and therefore makes the preforms slightly cheaper.

Other preform configurations

Above we have analyzed the most important configurations of PET preforms, which affect the quality and technical parameters of future containers. There are also other preform configurations that affect the quality, shape and color of the future bottle. Therefore, we recommend to use the competence of our engineers and technologists to avoid wandering in terms and scientific knowledge.

Diagrams of the other preform configurations:

Image

We always take a very responsible approach to our work, not only in production, but also in relations with our customers, so that they get the best packaging for their goods. This gives them an important competitive advantage.