- Injection Blow Molding (IBM)
- Extrusion Blow Molding (EBM)
- Injection Stretch Blow Molding (ISBM)
- Reheat Stretch Blow Molding (RHSB)
These terms are used on a daily basis in the plastic blow molding machine business. They can be very confusing to blow molding machinery users.
Many users mix up Injection Stretch Blow Molding (ISBM) and Injection Blow Molding (IBM) in particular. The difference between these two is the word “stretch”, which refers almost exclusively to PET which is stretched to give added strength. HDPE and PP are rarely “stretched”, but injection blow molded without “stretch”. The neck is injected, and the body blown in the same process (IBM).
Reheat Stretch Blow Molding (RHSB) is the same as Injection Stretch Blow Molding (ISBM), except that the preform is already manufactured (injected) and fed into the “reheat” machine in two stages. Because “reheat” requires a ring and the neck of the preform to be transferred and re-fed for blowing, it is more suitable for markets such as beverages. ISBM is more often used for cosmetic type bottles with no neck ring.
Extrusion Blow Molding has some sub-categories, but the name is self explanatory. Containers are extruded and blow molded in sizes anywhere between ½ oz and 20,000 liters.
