A system and method for hydraulic blow molding a plastic preform into a container. The system includes a nozzle having a nozzle body with a main bore extending therethrough and an outlet for ejecting molding medium into a preform positioned within a mold. A minimum internal diameter is defined within the body of the preform, which is bound on opposing ends between an open end and a closed end. To form the container, a liquid stream is injected into the preform. The liquid stream is defined by the outlet so as to have an external diameter that is less than the minimum inner diameter of the preform, allowing the stream to impinge upon the close end of the preform without impinging upon a transition of the preform, where the minimum inner diameter of the preform is reduced from the diameter of the finish.

A method of hydroforming a container from a preform. During the method, an injection nozzle is moved from a retracted position, where the nozzle is spaced away from the neck of the preform, to an intermediate position, where contact is established between a first contact surface of the nozzle and the finish of the preform. The nozzle is then moved from the intermediate position to an injection position, where a second contact surface of the nozzle abuts an abutment surface and the neck is axially compressed. With the nozzle in the injection position, a liquid is injected from the nozzle into the preform causing the preform to expand and form the container.

Assembly (30) of a preform (32) and a station (34) for hydroforming a container from the preform, wherein: the preform has a neck (44) extending along an axial direction (D), the neck comprising a support ring (46), and a finish (48), the station comprises a mold (36) in which the preform is placed, the support ring being in contact with a support surface (56) of the mold, the station comprises an injection nozzle that is movable along the axial direction with respect to the mold from a retracted position to an intermediate position, wherein a contact is established between a first contact surface (72) of the nozzle and the finish, and further to an injection position, wherein a second contact surface (74) of the nozzle abuts on an abutment surface (76) and the neck is axially compressed between the support surface and the first contact surface, the first contact surface being less deformable than the neck in the axial direction, and the station is adapted for injecting a liquid from the nozzle into the preform when the nozzle is in the injection position, and the abutment surface is fixed along the axial direction with respect to the mold at least during the injection.

A blow-molded container including a finish and a base. The finish defines an opening at a first end of the container that provides access to an internal volume. The base includes a diaphragm and a standing surface. The diaphragm extends radially outward from a central push-up portion. The standing surface of the container is at a second end of the container. In response to an internal vacuum caused by hot-filling and closing the container, the diaphragm is configured to move passively from an as-blown first configuration to a second configuration in which the diaphragm is closer to the first end of the container as compared to the as-blown first configuration. The diaphragm is configured to move from the second configuration to an activated third configuration in which the diaphragm is closer to the first end of the container in response to the diaphragm being externally actuated by a tool.