Introduction: The Real Cost of Moving to Fully Automatic

Let’s address the elephant in the room immediately: why is it notoriously difficult to unearth a straightforward price list for industrial machinery online? If you have spent hours trawling through search results only to be met with endless “Request a Quote” buttons, I understand the frustration. It feels like a guarded secret.

As a Technical Sales Manager here at Leka Machine, I frequently encounter customers who are bewildered by “starting prices” they see on generic listings. These figures often represent a bare-bones chassis, devoid of the essential peripherals required to actually produce a single bottle. It is akin to buying a car without an engine or wheels.

This guide is designed to cut through the obfuscation. We are focusing specifically on PET Stretch Blow Molding machines—the gold standard for producing those crystal-clear, premium edible oil bottles that consumers associate with purity and quality. My goal is to dismantle the pricing structure, component by component, so you can understand exactly what drives the cost up or down and budget for your project with precision.

Understanding the Technology: Why Two-Stage SBM is the Industry Standard

To understand the price, you must first grasp the underlying mechanics. For premium edible oil packaging, the industry standard is the “Two-Stage” Stretch Blow Molding (SBM) process. This involves two distinct steps: first, reheating a pre-molded PET preform (which looks like a test tube), and second, stretching and blowing it into its final shape within a mold.

When we say “Fully Automatic,” we are not referring to a machine that simply cycles on its own. We mean a seamless, autonomous system where raw preforms are dumped into a hopper at one end, and finished, ready-to-fill bottles emerge from the other without a single human hand touching them. In the realm of food packaging, particularly for edible oils where rancidity and contamination are constant adversaries, this touchless technology is not a luxury—it is a hygiene imperative. The cost reflects the complex robotics and sensors required to maintain this sterile, hands-free operation.

Stretch blow molding machine with enclosed heating ovens and a roller conveyor for forming PET bottles and wide-mouth jars.

Price Driver #1: Production Speed and Cavity Count

The first and most significant multiplier on your invoice is velocity. In our world, speed is currency, measured in BPH (Bottles Per Hour). The architecture of the machine changes fundamentally as you demand higher throughputs.

High Output: The AQUA Series

For operations demanding sheer volume—think standard 1L or 2L water and oil lines running 24/7—we engineer the AQUA Series. This is your high-investment, high-efficiency powerhouse. Designed for maximum throughput (often exceeding 10,000 to 20,000 BPH), it utilizes a larger number of mold cavities. Increasing the cavity count requires a more robust chassis, larger servo motors, and a more sophisticated air distribution system, all of which elevate the initial capital expenditure.

High Flexibility: The BOTTLER Series

Conversely, if your product line is defined by variety rather than volume, the BOTTLER Series is your prudent choice. Perhaps you produce specialty oils in unique shapes, requiring frequent changeovers between a 5L handle bottle and a wide-mouth jar. The BOTTLER Series is engineered for flexibility. While it may offer a lower raw BPH compared to the AQUA, its value proposition lies in versatility. The price point here reflects a design focused on rapid tooling changes and adaptability, rather than the brute force of mass production.

Price Driver #2: The Power System (Electric vs. Hybrid)

Modern machinery is witnessing a schism in drive technology: the “E” (Full Electric) versus the “H” (Hybrid). This distinction is a massive determinant of both upfront price and long-term operational expenditure.

Full Electric machines, like our AQUA E-Series, utilize precise servo motors for every movement—clamping, stretching, and transfer. The upfront purchase price is undeniably higher. Servos are expensive components. However, the operational precision is absolute. There is no hydraulic fluid to leak, no filters to change, and the energy consumption is significantly lower. For an edible oil environment, where a single drop of hydraulic oil can contaminate a batch, the cleanliness of an all-electric system is often worth the premium.

Contrast this with Hybrid models. These utilize hydraulic systems for heavy lifting (like clamping) and electric motors for precision tasks. Initially, they are friendlier to the budget. However, they introduce a maintenance overhead—oil changes, seal replacements, and the constant vigilance against leaks. While powerful and stable, the TCO calculation must account for these ongoing “invisible” costs.

Price Driver #3: The “Invisible” Costs – Preform Loading and Heating Efficiency

A deceptively low quote often omits the lungs and heart of the system: the preform loader and the heating oven.

Automation is binary; it works perfectly, or it fails disastrously. A cheap quote might skip the Automatic Preform Loader or provide a generic “waterfall” sorter that jams with the specific 28mm or 38mm necks common in oil bottles. Precise, jam-free preform unscrambling is non-negotiable for fully automatic running. You are paying for the reliability of the feed system.

Then there is the oven. Edible oil preforms are often heavier and thicker than water bottle preforms to prevent paneling (collapsing) under the vacuum of the oil. A rudimentary oven with poor infrared penetration will heat the surface of the preform but leave the core cold, resulting in pearlescence (whitening) and rejected bottles. Paying for a sophisticated heating unit with deep-penetration IR lamps ensures uniform thermal distribution, saving you thousands in wasted resin over the machine’s life.

Mold Costs: The Custom Part of the Equation

It is imperative to remember that the machine price rarely includes the specific molds for your bottle. The mold is a bespoke component, machined specifically for your brand.

Complexity dictates cost. A simple, cylindrical 1L bottle is straightforward to machine. However, an “easy-grip” oil bottle with ergonomic indentations, complex engravings, or an off-center neck requires intricate CNC machining and potentially more complex venting systems in the mold. Our BOTTLER Series is specifically designed to accommodate these high-value, non-standard shapes, ensuring high yield rates even with complex geometries. Do not underestimate the mold budget; it is the literal shape of your success.

Auxiliary Equipment: What Else Do You Need to Buy?

A standalone blowing machine is merely a paperweight without its supporting ecosystem. To turn a machine into a production line, you must procure mandatory auxiliary equipment:

• High-Pressure Compressor: This is the lungs of the operation. While standard factory air is 7 bar, blowing intricate oil bottles requires 30 to 40 bar of pressure to force the plastic into every detail of the mold.
• Chiller: Speed requires heat extraction. A chiller circulates frigid water through the mold to solidify the plastic instantly. Without it, you cannot run at high BPH.
• Air Dryer: PET is hygroscopic. Moisture in the high-pressure air leads to hydrolysis, weakening the bottle. An air dryer is essential for quality control.

At Leka Machine, we advocate for a bundled approach. We provide the full supply chain service, sourcing and integrating these peripherals. This ensures compatibility and gives you a single “turnkey” price, rather than forcing you to become a procurement manager for five different suppliers.

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): Energy vs. Output

Smart buyers shift their mindset from “sticker price” to “cost per bottle.” This is the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

A high-speed machine like the AQUA Series, despite its higher initial tag, often drastically reduces the energy cost per unit. By producing massive volumes in the same operational window, the kilowatt-hours consumed per bottle drop significantly. Established OEM factories—our typical clientele—prioritize this metric. They understand that a machine running efficiently for five years yields a far greater return on investment than a cheaper, energy-hungry unit that struggles to meet quotas.

The “China Price” Advantage: European Quality without the Markup

Let’s discuss the competitive landscape frankly. European machinery is renowned for excellence, but it commands a price premium that can stifle ROI for years.

Leka Machine positions itself as the intelligent middle ground. Headquartered in Singapore and Hong Kong, with manufacturing bases in China, we bridge the gap. We utilize top-tier, brand-name components—valves, PLCs, and pneumatics that you would find in German or Italian machines. This grants you the reliability of Western engineering at a significantly more accessible price point.

Furthermore, in a market where lead times can stretch to a year, our 60-90 day delivery window allows you to be in production and generating revenue months sooner. Time, after all, is the most expensive commodity.

Getting a Quote: What I Need From You

To move from generalities to a concrete budget, I need specific data. Avoid vague inquiries; accuracy enables me to help you effectively. Please prepare the following:

1. Bottle Size & Weight: e.g., “1L Edible Oil, 30g preform.”
2. Neck Finish: “28mm standard” or “38mm wide mouth.” This is critical for the loader design.
3. Target Capacity: “I need 12,000 bottles per hour.” This immediately tells me if you need the velocity of the AQUA or the flexibility of the BOTTLER.

I am Slany, your Technical Sales Manager, not a mere order clerk. My role is to analyze these vectors and engineer a solution that fits your business model.

Conclusion: Invest in Reliability, Not Just Metal

Ultimately, the price on the invoice is a reflection of speed, energy efficiency, and the level of autonomy you desire. You are not just buying tons of metal; you are buying uptime, consistency, and the ability to sleep at night knowing your production line is running smoothly.

I encourage you to reach out to Leka Machine. Let’s discuss a solution that balances your immediate investment with long-term profitability.

Sincerely,

Slany Cheung
Technical Sales Manager, Leka Machine