Open a fridge, pop a car hood, or walk past a road site, and you’ll spot hollow plastic parts made by moulage par soufflage-extrusion without even thinking about it.

I work with this process daily, so I’ll show where it truly shines and give quick examples you can picture fast.

Quick refresher

Extrusion blow molding (EBM) forms a molten tube called a parison, closes a mold around it, and uses air to inflate the plastic into the final hollow shape.

It’s great for simple to large parts, from eye-drop bottles to septic tanks, with efficient production and reasonable tooling.

A useful fact: PEHD is the most used resin in EBM, especially for bottles, tanks, and drums.

Emballage

• Water, juice, milk, and cooking-oil bottles are classic EBM parts because the process makes repeatable, lightweight containers at scale.

• Household-cleaner jugs and detergent canisters rely on EBM for chemical resistance and easy-squeeze walls.

• Cosmetic and personal-care bottles use EBM when wall thickness and squeeze feel matter more than glass-like clarity.

Example: A 1 L HDPE milk bottle with a handle is a textbook EBM container—strong, light, and fast to mold.

Automobile

• Fuel tanks, washer-fluid, and coolant reservoirs use EBM to get seamless walls that reduce leak risk and weight versus many traditional builds.

• Air-ducts and complex tubes are blow molded to snake through tight spaces while keeping airflow smooth.

If you’ve handled a blow-molded tank, you know why it’s common: large size, hollow build, and durability in one package.

Industrial & Chemical

• Lubricant and motor-oil containers are blow molded for shape control and chemical compatibility.

• Large containers like drums, jerry cans, and even IBC-related liners lean on EBM for volume, stiffness, and cost efficiency.

Think of a 20–220 L industrial drum—EBM is a go-to because it handles big formats with consistent wall distribution.

Household goods

• Storage totes and toolboxes often choose EBM when designers want tough walls without heavy weight.

• Watering cans and similar garden containers show how EBM supports handles, spouts, and integrated shapes in one shot.

These parts feel sturdy but stay light, which is a practical win for daily use.

Toys & recreation

• Balls, cones, and simple hollow toys come off EBM lines quickly and survive rough play.

• Water guns and pool toys benefit from hollow, buoyant bodies and impact resistance.

If you’ve tossed a hollow plastic ball on a field, chances are it came from a blow mold.

Medical & pharma

• Specimen containers and medical bottles are common EBM items where cleanliness, repeatability, and rugged walls matter.

• Single-use lab bottles and some healthcare fluid containers use EBM for leak resistance and easy handling.

Here the resin choice and process control matter most; medical-grade polyolefins are typical for safe, consistent results.

Construction & outdoor

• Traffic barrels, channelizers, and safety barricade components use blow molding for high visibility and impact resistance.

• Outdoor furniture and mower fuel tanks show how EBM covers both large panels and tough, fluid-ready parts.

Road gear is a good mental model: hollow, tough, and shaped to be seen and to last.

Why EBM fits these jobs

• Low to moderate tooling cost and fast cycle times for simple and large shapes keep programs viable.

• Big parts are no problem—drums, tanks, and cases are common in EBM’s “sweet spot.”

• Materials like HDPE and PP balance impact strength, chemical resistance, and cost across many markets.

Ever wonder why one process spans milk bottles to fuel tanks? It’s the same hollow-part logic, just scaled and tuned to the job.

One quick comparison thought

When parts are large, need handles, or have long duct-like paths, EBM is often the practical pick versus other blow routes thanks to size range and cycle efficiency.

And that’s why you see it everywhere—from the kitchen to the highway.