A preform is sterilized by a preform sterilizer. The preform is blow-molded by a blow-molding device to manufacture a container. Next, the container is filled with a culture medium by a filling device without sterilizing the container by a container sterilizer, and the container is plugged by a plugging device. Thereafter, it is verified how much microorganism survive or propagate in the culture medium in the container. A degree of sterilization in the container sterilizer is adjusted on the basis of a verification result.

Disclosed is a method analysing plastic preforms, wherein plastic preforms are transported along a predetermined transport path by a transport device and an infrared absorption coefficient is determined in at least one region of the plastic preform, wherein, in order to determine the infrared absorption coefficient of the plastic preform, infrared radiation is applied to the plastic preform by a first radiation device and radiation passing through the plastic preform is received by at least one receiving device and an infrared absorption behaviour of the plastic preform is determined from this received radiation, wherein the radiation device acts upon the plastic preforms with infrared radiation in a predetermined wavelength range and an evaluation device evaluates the radiation as a function of its wavelength in a wavelength range from 1500 nm to 2000 nm.

Disclosed is a method analysing plastic preforms, wherein plastic preforms are transported along a predetermined transport path by a transport device and an infrared absorption coefficient is determined in at least one region of the plastic preform, wherein, in order to determine the infrared absorption coefficient of the plastic preform, infrared radiation is applied to the plastic preform by a first radiation device and radiation passing through the plastic preform is received by at least one receiving device and an infrared absorption behaviour of the plastic preform is determined from this received radiation, wherein the radiation device acts upon the plastic preforms with infrared radiation in a predetermined wavelength range and an evaluation device evaluates the radiation as a function of its wavelength in a wavelength range from 1500 nm to 2000 nm.

A method for detecting metal particles (21) present in a wall (20) of a glass container (2) intended to contain food or pharmaceutical products, said method comprising the steps of: —heating the metal particles (21) present in the wall (20); —inspecting the container (2) during or after said step of heating the metal particles (21) present in the wall (20). The step of heating the metal particles (21) envisages increasing the temperature of the metal particles (21) to a greater extent than the remaining glass parts (22) of the wall (20). The method comprises the step of inspecting the container (2) using means (71) for detecting the metal particles (21) which are hotter than the glass parts (22) of the wall (20).

A device and method tests preforms that are rotationally symmetrical with respect to an axis of rotation during their conveyance along a conveyance path. The device and method tests only a statistically relevant number of produced preforms, thus allowing substantial reduction in the constructive complexity required for aligning the preforms prior to being tested. A certain number of preforms that have not been correctly aligned are allowed to continue along the conveyance path without being tested.

Systems and methods for rapid measurement of the chemical and structural properties of plastic articles are provided. The systems and methods involve measuring both mechanical deformation of the plastic article and x-ray fluorescence of the plastic article in order to determine changes in composition as a result of contamination and/or issues associated with plastic article manufacturing lines. The systems and methods can be performed in minutes, compared to hours or days for typical testing methods.

Systems and methods for rapid measurement of the chemical and structural properties of plastic articles are provided. The systems and methods involve measuring both mechanical deformation of the plastic article and x-ray fluorescence of the plastic article in order to determine changes in composition as a result of contamination and/or issues associated with plastic article manufacturing lines. The systems and methods can be performed in minutes, compared to hours or days for typical testing methods.

ABSTRACT The invention provides a method for leakage detection in a device for shaping container preforms, comprising a compressed air system which is connected to a compressed air source and comprises at least two fluidically connected regions that can be separated from each other and/or from the environment by shut-off elements. The method comprises a leakage test run conducted in an automated manner in which at least one of the blocking elements and/or the compressed air supply into the compressed air system is controlled in such a way that it can be determined separately for each region whether compressed air escapes therefrom.

ABSTRACT The invention provides a method for leakage detection in a device for shaping container preforms, comprising a compressed air system which is connected to a compressed air source and comprises at least two fluidically connected regions that can be separated from each other and/or from the environment by shut-off elements. The method comprises a leakage test run conducted in an automated manner in which at least one of the blocking elements and/or the compressed air supply into the compressed air system is controlled in such a way that it can be determined separately for each region whether compressed air escapes therefrom.

A method of post mold manufacturing a container having an integral collapsible spout molded in an extended position with flashing surrounding the integral collapsible spout. An outflow transporting means is moving the container from a blow molding machine to a trimming finishing station where flashing is removed and the container trimmed to specifications. The container is then transported to a spout collapsing station with integral collapsible spout in the molded extended position where it is compressed to a fully collapsed position. This process is completed while the material used in molding the integral collapsible spout is thermally pliable, permitting the integral collapsible spout to be transformed from the molded extended position, to the fully collapsed position.