PET Blowing Machine for 500 ml and 1 L Bottle Production: Complete Buyer’s Guide

500 ml and 1 L PET bottles are the workhorses of water and beverage packaging. They look simple, but they decide your resin cost, line speed, and how often customers complain about leaks or deformed bottles.

This guide walks through how to choose an automatic PET blowing machine that can run 500 ml and 1 L bottles with stable quality, realistic output, and a good total cost of ownership (TCO) – not just a nice number on a brochure.

Why 500 ml and 1 L PET Water Bottles Deserve Their Own Blowing Machine Strategy

500 ml and 1 L bottles are usually your highest-volume SKUs and also the most price-sensitive. A 1–2 gram mistake on a 500 ml water bottle can quietly burn thousands of dollars in resin every month. If the machine is unstable, you pay twice: more scrap and more resin.

These formats also usually:

• Run on your fastest filling lines
• Share common neck finishes like 28 mm, 30 mm, or 38 mm
• Are the first sizes brands ask you to lightweight or convert to rPET

Because of that, they deserve a dedicated machine strategy instead of “any PET blower that can do 0.2–2 L”.

How the right PET blowing machine protects your margin on every bottle

A well-matched 500 ml / 1 L PET blowing machine protects your margin in four ways:

• Energy per 1,000 bottles – Efficient ovens and air-recovery packages reduce kWh per 1,000 bottles over the life of the machine.
• Resin grams per bottle – Stable stretch ratios and wall thickness control let you go lighter without thin spots or burst failures.
• Scrap rate – Consistent preform heating and balanced air circuits keep defects low, even in hot seasons.
• Changeover time – Fast, repeatable changeovers mean you can run both 500 ml and 1 L on the same machine without losing half a shift in adjustments.

What this guide will help you decide before you invest

By the end, you should be able to:

• Define your 500 ml / 1 L bottle and preform specifications clearly
• Choose a realistic cavity number and output range for your plant
• Understand utilities and layout impact on your factory
• Ask the right questions when comparing PET blowing machine suppliers
• Prepare a proper RFQ package so quotations are actually comparable

If you already run semi-automatic blowers, this guide will also give you a clear picture of what changes when you move to a fully automatic two-stage PET blowing machine.

Для кого это руководство

OEM PET bottle factories supplying water, juice, and edible oil brands

If you are a contract packer or independent bottle factory, you care about TCO, energy cost, and keeping tight tolerances when customers ask for lightweighting or rPET. You probably already run PET blowers. This guide helps you sharpen the next purchase and avoid machines that are “fast on paper, slow in your factory”.

Beverage brands bringing 500 ml and 1 L bottle production in-house

If you are a growing beverage brand moving away from outside suppliers, this might be your first PET blowing line. You need flexible formats, reliable качество for big retailers, and clean, simple changeovers. The goal here is to give you plain-language explanations so you can talk confidently with engineering and machine suppliers.

Engineering and maintenance teams upgrading from semi-automatic to automatic PET blowers

You already understand PET behaviour, mis-heated preforms, and how tiring manual loading can be. The key question is: what really changes with an automatic machine? This guide highlights what to watch in preform feeding, oven design, stretching, blowing, and maintenance planning.

Entrepreneurs planning a first 500 ml / 1 L PET bottling line

If you are planning your first line, the risk is to buy either an oversized monster or a cheap, under-powered machine. You do not need to become a process engineer. You just need a clear checklist and the right questions. This guide is written with that in mind.

How a 500 ml and 1 L PET Bottle Blowing Machine Really Works

From preform to finished bottle: two-stage stretch blow molding in simple language

For 500 ml and 1 L bottles, the standard technology is two-stage вытяжка с раздувом:

1. Preforms – Think of a test-tube-shaped PET part with finished neck threads. It is injection-molded first, usually by a preform supplier.
2. Reheat – Preforms enter the oven on rotating spindles. Infrared (IR) lamps heat the body of the preform; the neck is kept cool to protect its dimensions.
3. Transfer to blowing station – Warm preforms move into the blowing molds; stretch rods move down into the preforms.
4. Stretch and blow – The rod stretches the preform vertically while high-pressure air inflates it against the mold cavity, forming the final bottle.
5. Cooling and ejection – Cooling channels in the mold “freeze” the shape. The mold opens and the bottle exits to the conveyor.

This whole sequence happens in a few seconds, but the heating profile and stretch ratios are what decide clarity, top-load strength, and wall distribution.

Single-stage vs two-stage PET blowing for 500 ml and 1 L bottles

There are two main process families:

• Single-stage ISBM – Injection and blowing happen on the same machine. Often used for cosmetics, pharma, and specialty packaging where volumes are lower but precision is very high.
• Two-stage SBM – Preforms are made separately, then reheated and blown on a high-speed blowing machine. This is the standard for mass-market water, CSD, tea, juice, and edible oil in 500 ml and 1 L sizes.

For high-speed beverage lines, two-stage SBM is usually the better fit because you can source preforms from multiple suppliers, scale up cavity numbers, and separate preform production from bottle blowing.

Key components you should actually care about

Brochures list a lot of technical terms. The ones that really matter for 500 ml / 1 L lines are:

• Oven / heating system – IR lamps with zoned control let you tune heat by body, shoulder, and base. A good design keeps preforms straight, avoids bending, and saves energy per 1,000 bottles.
• Stretch rods – Control vertical stretching. They need precise stroke and speed to achieve the right stretch ratio and avoid pearlescence or weak bases.
• Blow valves and air circuits – Decide how fast and how evenly high-pressure air enters the preform. Balanced circuits give uniform wall thickness across all cavities, which matters a lot when you lightweight.
• Clamping unit and molds – Clamp force must be strong enough so molds do not flash at high pressure. Mold cooling and venting are crucial for cycle time and bottle performance.
• Controls and HMI – Recipe storage, guided changeovers, alarms, and trend curves turn operators into process owners instead of fire-fighters.

Defining Your 500 ml / 1 L PET Bottle Project Before Choosing a Machine

What will you fill – pure water, CSD, juice, tea, or edible oil?

Different products put different stresses on the bottle:

• Still / mineral water – Low internal pressure. Main focus: lightweighting, clarity, and low cost.
• Carbonated soft drinks (CSD) and sparkling water – Higher internal pressure. Need thicker walls, stronger base design, and very stable processing.
• Juice, tea, isotonics, functional drinks – May need hot-fill or warm-fill, so the bottle must withstand higher temperatures and vacuum forces.
• Edible oil – Bottles must stand upright for long periods without paneling; clarity and shelf appearance are critical for brand image.

Define your product family first, then choose the machine configuration and mold type that can satisfy the most demanding product in that family.

Neck finishes and closures: 28 mm, 30 mm, 38 mm and regional standards

Neck finish impacts closure cost, capping torque, leak rate, and line compatibility. Common choices are:

• 28 mm – still water, CSD, many juices
• 30 mm – some juices, isotonics, regional standards
• 38 mm – edible oils, dairy drinks, some functional drinks

For 500 ml / 1 L bottles, try to standardize neck finishes across as many SKUs as possible. Your blowing machine should support the main neck standards you need, with quick neck-change kits for format shifts.

Preform weight targets: how “light” you can go safely

Lightweighting is attractive, because each gram saved on a 500 ml bottle adds up quickly. But you must balance:

• Top-load strength for stacking on pallets
• Drop resistance in real distribution
• Process window width – how sensitive the bottle is to small heating or pressure changes

A practical approach is to start with a conservative preform weight, run trials on the actual machine, then step down gram by gram while monitoring wall thickness, base stability, and cap performance.

Output planning: realistic bottles-per-hour vs brochure numbers

Brochures often show “up to” speeds under ideal conditions. Real life needs output on your preform, your weight, and your bottle shape at a realistic OEE target.

Ask suppliers for:

• BPH vs cavity charts for 500 ml and 1 L formats
• Sample FAT/SAT reports with audited BPH and energy per 1,000 bottles for similar projects

Design your line around realistic output, not perfect numbers.

500 ml vs 1 L PET blowing: what really changes on the machine side

On the same blowing machine, the main changes between 500 ml and 1 L are:

• Preform weight and length
• Heating profile in the oven
• Stretch rod stroke and timing
• Mold cooling load and cycle time

A good 500 ml / 1 L machine lets you adjust stroke and recipes from the HMI, stores separate recipes for each format, and uses quick mold clamps so molds for both sizes share a similar base and neck layout.

Core Specs of an Automatic PET Blowing Machine for 500 ml and 1 L Bottles

Cavity number vs output

Typical ranges for 500 ml and 1 L water bottles on two-stage SBM machines are:

• 2 cavities – entry-level automatic, small plants
• 4 cavities – mid-size plants
• 6 cavities – regional suppliers
• 8 cavities – high-speed lines for large volumes

For 500 ml and 1 L, many plants choose 4–8 cavities to balance speed, investment, and maintenance.

Oven design and heating control

For 500 ml and 1 L bottles, look for:

• Zoned IR heating with separate control for neck, body, shoulder, and base
• Rotating preform spindles for even heating around the circumference
• Recipe-based control so each SKU has a stored heating profile
• Energy-saving functions like smart zoning and stand-by modes

A stable oven gives you less scrap when ambient temperature changes and more tolerance when you experiment with lighter weights or rPET.

Stretching and blowing for strength, clarity, and wall thickness

Key points in stretching and blowing are:

• Stretch ratios between preform and bottle dimensions
• Pre-blow and main blow pressure curves and timing
• Neck crystallinity for capping performance and leak-free seals

Ask how the шкафу controls stretch-rod position and speed, balances air circuits across cavities, and supports monitoring of wall thickness trends if you need it.

Changeover flexibility between 500 ml and 1 L

Changeovers cost real money. For 500 ml / 1 L projects, look for:

• Quick mold clamps and centering systems
• Tool-less guides and quick-connect air and water fittings
• Saved HMI recipes for each bottle
• Clear, written changeover checklists

With a well-designed system and trained team, changing from 500 ml to 1 L can be done in a short time instead of losing half a shift.

Air, power, and cooling requirements

Typical utilities for a 500 ml / 1 L PET blowing machine include:

• Electric power to drive IR ovens and servo systems
• High-pressure air (often 30–40 bar) from dedicated compressors
• Low-pressure plant air (around 6–8 bar) for actuators and valves
• Process cooling water from a chiller for molds and sometimes oven circuits

Your supplier should give a detailed utility list with flows and pressures, plus recommendations for compressor and chiller sizing.

Designing Bottle and Preform Together for Smooth 500 ml / 1 L Production

How bottle shape and label panels affect blow stability and scrap

Design choices have a big impact on blow stability:

• Simple cylindrical shapes blow more easily and evenly.
• Deep ribs or aggressive corners need more careful heating and may raise scrap.
• Label panels with sharp transitions can cause local thinning.

Try to design smooth transitions from shoulder to body, functional but not overly complicated label panels, and bases that match your приложение (water vs CSD vs oil).

Matching preform design to 500 ml vs 1 L bottle performance

Preform design includes wall thickness distribution, length, and gate design. For 500 ml vs 1 L you often need:

• Different preform lengths and weights
• Different distribution of material, especially more material in the base for 1 L bottles

The best results come when preform supplier, mold maker, and blowing machine supplier work together from the beginning and agree on a coherent design.

Typical defects in 500 ml and 1 L PET bottles – and what they tell you

Some common defects and what they usually indicate:

• Pearlescence (milky, cloudy areas) – Over-stretching or over-heating in local zones.
• Thin or unstable base “legs” – Not enough material in the base or incorrect blow sequence.
• Soft sidewalls / paneling – Too aggressive lightweighting or low top-load strength.
• Ovality (out-of-round bottles) – Uneven cooling or unbalanced air circuits.
• Short shots / incomplete shapes – Low heating, insufficient pressure, or preform blocking in the oven.

Your machine should make it easy to adjust the oven profile, stretch-rod stroke, and pre-blow / main blow settings in a structured way instead of guessing.

Working with preform and mold suppliers so all three parties stay aligned

For a smooth start-up, it helps to:

• Share your bottle drawings, 3D files, and line conditions with preform, mold, and machine suppliers early.
• Agree on target weights, output, and tolerances before molds are cut.
• Plan at least one joint sampling at the machine builder or in your plant.

This coordination reduces finger-pointing later and makes your first production weeks much less stressful.

Typical Use Cases for 500 ml and 1 L PET Bottles

Still and mineral water bottles

For still and mineral water, the goals are lowest possible gram weight, crystal-clear appearance, and very low scrap at high speed. Two-stage SBM with 4–8 cavities and lightweight-optimized recipes is the standard setup for competitive water lines.

Carbonated drinks in 500 ml and 1 L

Carbonated drinks need thicker walls and more robust bases, especially if shelf life is long. Your blowing machine must handle higher internal pressures and tighter tolerances on base and neck. Often, you will run slightly lower BPH vs still water on the same machine to protect качество.

1 L edible oil and functional drink bottles

For edible oil and functional drinks, bottles must look premium, stay stable on the shelf, and resist deformation over time. You need strong sidewalls, stable 38 mm or other wide-mouth necks, and clear label panels for branding.

Regional preferences: shapes, neck types, and branding differences

Shape, neck type, and visual style differ by region. Some markets prefer tall, slim 1 L bottles; others prefer shorter, wider designs. Certain regions standardize on 28 mm PCO, others on 30 mm or local neck finishes.

Your PET blowing machine should not lock you into one shape. Look for flexible mold design options, support for the neck standards you need, and quick-change tooling.

Integrating the PET Blowing Machine into Your 500 ml / 1 L Bottling Line

Standalone PET blowing machine feeding an existing filling line

If you already have a filling line, the PET blowing machine can be installed upstream. Bottles exit via air conveyor or belt conveyor to the rinser / filler / capper block.

Key points are to match the output of blower and filler, align bottle flow and accumulation strategy, and plan for buffer capacity so short stops do not shut down the entire line.

Fully automatic PET line from preform hopper to packed cases

Some buyers prefer a single partner for the entire PET line: preform handling, blowing, filling, labeling, inspection, packing, and palletizing. This reduces interface risk and lets you run a single integrated FAT for the full line.

For buyers who are new to in-house bottling, this “one integrator” approach is often safer.

Conveyors, air rinsers, leak testers, and inspection systems

For 500 ml and 1 L formats, think through:

• Bottle conveyors and air conveyors, including accumulation tables
• Rinsers – air rinsing or water rinsing, depending on hygiene concept
• Leak testers, especially for CSD and edible oil
• Vision inspection for short shots, deformities, label presence, and cap integrity

Ваш blowing machine supplier should help interface the discharge with the first conveyor, leak testers, and inspection systems.

Planning layout, operator flow, and maintenance access

Good layout planning gives operators clear visibility of preform loading, blowing, and inspection points, and leaves room for mold changes and preventive maintenance.

Plan where preforms arrive, where scrap exits, how pallets and forklifts move near the machine, and how maintenance can safely access ovens, valves, and clamps.

My Experience with 500 ml and 1 L PET Bottle Lines

I work with a team that has more than 20 years of выдувное формование experience, visiting water, CSD, and edible oil plants that run 500 ml and 1 L bottles every day. Certain patterns repeat again and again.

What I consistently see in 500 ml and 1 L PET water bottle plants

In stable, well-run plants, I usually see:

• Clean, organized preform storage and handling
• Standardized neck finishes across many SKUs
• Clear changeover procedures printed near the machine
• Operators who can explain the main heating and blowing parameters in simple language

In struggling plants, I often see too many different neck finishes, no clear ownership of recipes, and heavy dependence on a single “expert” to fix everything.

Common failure modes on real projects

The most common problems on 500 ml / 1 L projects include:

• Under-sized compressors and chillers, causing pressure drops and overheating in hot seasons
• Oven mis-tuning, with scrap spikes whenever ambient temperature changes
• Weak changeover processes, where every changeover is different and output only stabilizes after many hours

Projects that quietly run 5–10 years with stable orders

On the other side, there are lines that simply run. The same machine blows 500 ml and 1 L bottles for many years, with reasonable lightweighting, well-maintained molds and ovens, and clear preventive maintenance schedules. These plants rarely post on social media – they just deliver bottles with predictable margin.

When to keep your existing blower vs when to upgrade

In some cases, it is smarter to keep existing blowers and refresh molds, utilities, and training. In other cases, especially when energy cost is high, scrap is high, changeovers are slow, or new SKUs require very light bottles or new necks, upgrading to a modern two-stage PET blowing machine is a better long-term decision.

Real-World Configuration Scenarios for 500 ml / 1 L PET Blowing Machines

OEM bottle factory upgrading from semi-automatic to fully automatic 500 ml PET blowing

A typical configuration is a 4–8 cavity automatic blower with integrated preform feeder, air-recovery package, and basic leak testing or vision inspection. The goal is to replace manual work, stabilize output, and achieve consistent quality with fewer operators.

New water brand starting with 500 ml bottles and planning future 1 L SKUs

A practical starting point is a 4–6 cavity machine designed for 500 ml at your target output, with molds and utilities sized so you can add 1 L molds later without changing compressors or chillers. You start with one main SKU and add 1 L once the brand grows.

Edible oil producer switching from HDPE to 1 L PET bottles for better shelf appeal

Moving from ПНД to PET usually gives better shelf appeal and clearer view of the oil. You need 1 L bottle molds with 38 mm or other required necks, strong top-load and sidewalls, and a PET blower that can integrate with your existing filling and capping systems.

Co-packer adding 500 ml and 1 L PET bottles for multiple brand customers

Co-packers need very fast, frequent changeovers and flexible labeling and packing. On the blowing side, that means quick-change molds and neck kits plus strong recipe management for many SKUs. The machine must be flexible enough to handle different bottle designs from different brand owners.

Common Mistakes in Buying a PET Blowing Machine for 500 ml and 1 L Bottles

Choosing a machine purely on “maximum speed” instead of audited output

Speed claims like “up to 16,000 BPH” look attractive, but comparing only this number is risky. Always ask for demo or FAT/SAT on similar formats and written test results with output and energy per 1,000 bottles.

Underestimating compressor and chiller capacity

Often, the machine is fine but utilities are not. Under-sized compressors and chillers lead to pressure drops, overheating, and unstable quality in hot weather. Let your blowing machine supplier size utilities with a safety margin based on your climate and production plan.

Ignoring neck standardization and ending up with too many change parts

Running too many different neck finishes increases mold and change-part costs, slows changeovers, and raises the risk of mixing caps and bottles. Agree early on the main neck standards for 500 ml and 1 L and build SKUs around them.

Jumping to ultra-light preforms before your team and process are ready

If your team and process are not stable, going too light can explode scrap and create constant customer issues. A better path is to stabilize on a safe weight, improve process capability, then reduce weight step by step with controlled trials.

Skipping proper factory and site acceptance tests

Some buyers accept machines without proper FAT or SAT. At minimum, insist on:

• FAT with tested output, energy, air, and bottles measured to your tolerances
• SAT in your plant with your utilities and team, at the agreed BPH and quality

How to Evaluate PET Blowing Machine Suppliers for 500 ml and 1 L Projects

Technical evaluation: bottle samples, reports, and demos

Ask suppliers for sample bottles similar to your target, test reports showing wall thickness and top-load, and demo videos or live demos of machines running 500 ml and 1 L bottles. Look beyond aesthetics: check consistency and repeatability.

Comparing energy and air consumption in a fair way

Energy and air claims should be expressed as kWh and Nm³ per 1,000 bottles under clearly described conditions. Ask if the supplier provides energy and air reports during FAT or SAT and whether energy-saving options like air-recovery are available.

Controls, HMI, and training

Good controls and training reduce dependency on one expert, shorten the learning curve, and help operators react faster. Look for clear HMI screens, recipe management, guided changeover steps, and structured training packages during commissioning.

Spare parts, service response, and remote support

A real long-term partner offers:

• Spare parts stock for critical components
• Defined service response times
• Remote diagnostics via PLC/HMI connection where possible

Ask for a written spare parts list, recommended first-year kit, warranty terms, and options for preventive maintenance contracts.

Red flags in quotations and “special offers”

Be careful if you see very vague specs, no utility list, no mention of FAT/SAT, no references for similar 500 ml / 1 L projects, or unrealistic delivery times. A slightly higher цена from a supplier with proper documentation and references is usually cheaper over the life of the machine.

Where LEKA Machine Fits: Two-Stage PET Stretch Blow Molding for 500 ml and 1 L Bottles

LEKA Machine focuses on extrusion blow molding and stretch blow molding solutions, including two-stage PET машины для выдувного формования (stretch blow molding machines) for beverage applications.

Overview of LEKA’s AQUA series for high-speed 500 ml and 1 L beverage bottles

The AQUA series is designed for high-speed beverage bottles such as water, tea, and juice. Typical configurations include 4–8 cavities and are optimized for standard beverage necks like 28 mm PCO. For 500 ml and 1 L water and soft drinks, this series is a natural fit.

How LEKA’s two-stage stretch blow molding machines handle 28 / 30 / 38 mm necks and rPET

LEKA’s two-stage PET machines can be configured for 28 mm, 30 mm, and 38 mm neck finishes with the required change parts. They are designed to run PET and food-grade rPET preforms within validated process windows and use high-efficiency IR ovens with optional air-recovery to reduce energy and air consumption.

Line-level support: from bottle design and layout review to FAT / SAT and training

Beyond the machine itself, LEKA supports customers with bottle and preform feasibility checks, line layout consulting, FAT with documented performance, SAT in your plant, operator training, and ongoing remote support. For buyers who want one partner for blowing plus filling, LEKA can also coordinate complete PET lines from preform to packed cases through trusted partners.

Typical lead times, service model, and global support

Typical machine lead times are often in the 60–90 day range depending on configuration, with separate timing for blow molds after drawing approval. LEKA serves customers in Europe, the Americas, and Asia with a combination of remote diagnostics and on-site service, and works closely with local partners where needed.

Technical Specification Snapshot for a 500 ml / 1 L PET Blowing Machine

A typical AQUA-series configuration for 500 ml and 1 L might look like this (exact values depend on model):

• Cavities: 4–8
• Bottle volume window: approximately 200 ml to 2 L
• Neck finishes: 28 mm, 30 mm, 38 mm (others on request)
• Output range: up to around 16,000 BPH on small formats; lower on 1 L bottles depending on design and weight

Utility requirements usually include electrical power for ovens and drives, high-pressure air for blowing, low-pressure air for actuators, and cooling water via chiller. Quality and compliance options include food-grade materials and CE/UL-compliant designs, along with documented FAT and SAT reports when required.

Optional packages can include energy-saving oven configurations, air-recovery systems, integrated vision inspection, leak testing, and remote diagnostics.

Ready-to-Use RFQ Checklist for 500 ml and 1 L PET Bottle Projects

Bottle and preform data you should prepare

• Bottle volumes: 500 ml / 1 L (and any others you plan)
• Bottle drawings or 3D models with label panel, base type, and any handle options
• Target preform weights and neck finishes (28 / 30 / 38 mm, etc.)
• Resin type and planned rPET percentage
• Required mechanical properties such as top-load, drop test, and internal pressure for CSD

Machine requirements

• Target output (BPH) per format
• Desired OEE target (for example 85–90%)
• Acceptable scrap rate (for example ≤ 1–2%)
• Changeover time targets between 500 ml and 1 L
• Need for energy-saving and air-recovery options
• Whether you need only the blowing machine or a complete PET line

Site information

• Available floor space and height (layouts if possible)
• Existing utilities: power, HP/LP air, chiller capacity
• Integration points with existing filling/packing lines (if any)
• Local regulatory requirements such as CE, UL, or food safety standards

Service, warranty, and spare parts expectations

• Preferred warranty duration
• Expectations for remote support and on-site service response times
• Spare parts stock plan and first-year spare parts kit
• Training requirements for operators and maintenance staff

Sending this as part of your RFQ helps suppliers respond with a clear model recommendation, realistic BPH, and a complete utility list instead of vague ballpark offers.

Watch: 500 ml and 1 L PET Blowing Machine Running in Production

The video below shows a PET машина для выдувного формования с вытяжкой running PET water bottles. You can observe how preforms are heated, transferred, and blown into final bottles, and how finished bottles are handled at the discharge.

When you watch, pay attention to preform orientation, oven stability, mold open/close timing, and the overall cycle rhythm. These details tell you a lot more than a brochure.

FAQ: PET Blowing Machine for 500 ml and 1 L Bottle Production

What output (BPH) should I expect from a 4–8 cavity 500 ml PET blowing machine?

As a rough guide on modern two-stage SBM machines:

• 4 cavities often run in the 6,000–8,000 BPH range on 500 ml water
• 6 cavities often run in the 9,000–12,000 BPH range
• 8 cavities can reach up to around 16,000 BPH on small formats under the right conditions

Exact numbers depend on bottle design, preform weight, and your quality margins. Your supplier should share tested curves for your target formats.

How fast can I change over between 500 ml and 1 L bottles on the same machine?

With quick-change molds, neck change kits, tool-less guides, and saved recipes, changeover can be done in a relatively short time when the team is trained and molds are prepared. If mechanical design is old or undocumented, changeovers may still take a few hours.

Can the machine handle lightweight bottles and high rPET content for 500 ml water?

Yes, if the oven and stretch system can control heating and stretch ratios precisely and if recipes are tuned correctly. Preforms must be designed for rPET in terms of colour, IV, and wall distribution. Always validate your target rPET percentage during FAT or SAT.

What compressor and chiller size do I need for a typical 500 ml / 1 L water line?

There is no single answer because it depends on cavity number, BPH, climate, and whether you use air-recovery. In general, you need a dedicated high-pressure air system for blowing and cooling capacity sized for both oven and mold loads with safety margin. Ask your machine supplier for a utility calculation sheet for your formats and layout.

Is it better to buy just the PET blowing machine or a complete PET line?

Both options can work:

• Just the blowing machine is better if you already have a filling/packing line you trust and have strong in-house engineering.
• Complete line from one integrator is often safer if you are new to in-house bottling, because one partner is responsible for performance and integration from preform to packed cases.

About the Author and Next Steps

About the author – Slany Cheuang, Technical Sales Manager at LEKA Machine

I am the Technical Sales Manager at LEKA Machine, focusing on extrusion blow molding machines and stretch blow molding machines. Day to day, I help factories match machines to real SKUs and output targets, review bottle and preform drawings, plan utilities and layouts, and troubleshoot issues on existing lines.

How to request a 500 ml / 1 L PET bottle feasibility check and model recommendation

If you are planning a new 500 ml / 1 L project or upgrading from semi-automatic production, you can prepare:

• Bottle drawing or sample photos (500 ml / 1 L)
• Preform specification (weight, neck, resin type, target rPET %)
• Target output (BPH) and working shifts
• Basic site information (country, utilities, new or existing filling line)

With this information, it is possible to provide a suggested machine model, expected BPH ranges, a utility list, and, if needed, an initial line layout concept.

Simple next step

Prepare your bottle drawing, preform details, and target output in a short RFQ document or email. Once that is ready, you can start a focused discussion with LEKA Machine and move from a rough idea to a clear, budgeted project plan for your 500 ml and 1 L PET bottle production.