A method and device for producing containers filled with a liquid filling material from preforms made of a thermoplastic material, wherein the respective preform is at least thermally conditioned and subsequently re-formed during a forming and filling phase into the container with at least one liquid filling material as a pressure medium having a filling pressure p.sub.2. The filling material or portions of the filling material is/are supplied at at least two points in time and/or during at least two process phases having different carbon dioxide contents and/or different temperatures. The filling pressure p.sub.2 of the container formed in the first process phase is reduced to a pressure p.sub.1 and filling material is supplied in the second process phase, after which the pressure of the container is reduced to atmospheric pressure p.sub.0. In the first process phase filling material that has been previously degassed and/or uncarbonated is supplied.

In various aspects, the present disclosure provides a structural component. The structural component includes a body defining at least one hollow region. The body includes a carbon fiber composite including a plurality of substantially aligned continuous carbon fibers. The plurality of substantially aligned carbon fibers defines a major axis and a second axis perpendicular to the major axis. The plurality of substantially aligned continuous carbon fibers includes a plurality of discrete termination points staggered with respect to the second axis. Methods of making such structural components, including by blow molding and compression molding are also provided.

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.

The invention relates to a device for delivering a beverage into a thermoplastic container formed from a heated preform, the preform being approximately cylindrical and positioned in a mold, characterized in that it includes injection unit for injecting at least one beverage into a recess in the preform so as to promote expansion of the preform inside the mold, the mold defining the shape of the container, the injection unit comprising an injection head designed to inject at least one beverage through a mouth of the recess, the injection head being integrated into the mold.

An apparatus for forming a thermoplastic container from a cylindrical preform and for delivering a predetermined volume of a beverage component into the container. The apparatus includes: a mold defining a shape of the container; a member configured to inject at least one beverage component into a recess in the preform so as to promote expansion of the preform inside the mold into the shape of the container, the member being further configured to inject the at least one beverage component in a first volume intentionally greater than the predetermined volume; and the member also being configured to remove a fraction of the first volume of the beverage component until a second volume of beverage component remaining in the container is equal to the predetermined volume.

The invention relates to a method of delivering a predetermined volume of beverage into a thermoplastic container formed from a heated preform positioned in a mold, characterized in that the product includes a step of injecting at least some beverage into a recess in the preform so as to promote expansion of the preform inside the mold, the mold defining the shape of the container, a volume of beverage introduced during the injection step being at least equal to said predetermined volume, and, in addition, the method includes a step of sucking out a fraction of said volume of the beverage introduced until the volume of beverage remaining in the container is approximately equal to said predetermined volume.