Strong and stable: 3.3 litre PET containers with a new base design

3.3 litres is the capacity of the largest containers that the Krones Contiform S is currently able to produce. The Mexican market, in particular, utilises these formats for carbonated soft drinks. Empirical feedback from the entire Mexican market has shown that this bottle size exhibits a high potential for optimisation in terms of physical and thermal stability.

In the continuous improvement process to which all Krones machines are subjected, crucial design enhancements have meanwhile been introduced for these container formats as well, with a diameter of 118 – 119 mm. The newly conceived design of the moulds factors in the higher temperatures encountered in the blow-moulding process, indispensable for these large-size containers. In addition, the new base design prevents the bottles from bulging under the pressure exerted by the carbonated beverages, which creates major advantages when the bottles are being handled downstream in the packing and palletising systems, and in the warehouse.

The new moulds, which produced very good results in the tests conducted at Krones’ Plastics Technology Centre, are being operationally premiered on a new line in Mexico. Another machine – likewise in Mexico – is being retrofitted with a set of moulds in this new design.