Page 53 - Plastics News November 2025
P. 53
TECHNOLOGY NEWS
another manufacturer into a new PET Technolo-
gies system. This adaptation reduced costs and
simplified the transition between suppliers with-
out interrupting production schedules. In Slo-
vakia, the company designed interchangeable
mold bases that allowed easy changeovers be-
tween bottles for still and sparkling water.
Meanwhile, in Hawaii, engineers modified heat-
ing systems to handle recycled PET preforms
collected from ocean plastics. Each project
Similarly in Hawaii — They adapted the ma- shows how tailored engineering can extend ma-
chine’s heating system to work with preforms chine capability while advancing sustainability
containing rPET, recycled plastic collected from goals. Through these efforts, customization has
the ocean. Courtesy of PET Technologies. evolved from a convenience to a critical enabler
of circular manufacturing strategies.
Redefining What Customization Means
The Broader Significance of Custom Engineer-
Customization in blow molding no longer fo- ing
cuses solely on producing new bottle shapes or
decorative variations. Instead, it encompasses The rise of custom blow molding mirrors a
complete system integration and operational broader industrial shift toward flexibility and
adaptation. Engineers modify control systems, continuous improvement. Modern machinery
adjust power configurations, and tailor automa- must now combine digital control, automation,
tion logic to meet regional standards and facto- and modular design to remain globally competi-
ry requirements. They also ensure compatibility tive. For manufacturers, these advancements
with molds from other suppliers, allowing cus- create stronger process reliability, reduced
tomers to preserve previous investments and waste, and faster adaptation to new packaging
avoid costly retooling. Layouts are optimized for standards. PET Technologies and other equip-
space efficiency, while pneumatic and electrical ment developers recognize that collaboration
systems evolve with energy-saving technolo- with customers drives these results more effec-
gies. Even user interfaces and documentation tively than rigid, preconfigured designs. Custom
are localized to improve accessibility for opera- engineering aligns equipment performance with
tors in different regions. As a result, customi- real-world production challenges, reinforcing
zation delivers consistent quality, predictable both efficiency and sustainability. As markets
costs, and shorter response times to shifting continue to diversify, manufacturers that inte-
market demands. grate adaptable technologies will gain resilience
and long-term growth potential. In this evolving
Case Studies in Applied Flexibility environment, flexibility has become the defining
Several recent projects demonstrate how cus- benchmark of technological progress.
tomized solutions deliver practical results. In Sal- Source – Plastics Engineering
vador, engineers integrated existing molds from
November 2025 PLASTICS NEWS 53
