A method for shaping a preform made from thermoplastic material, and a facility for implementing the method, comprising the following steps: a) providing a preform made from thermoplastic material having a surface; b) supplying thermal energy to the preform by radiation in such a way as to make it ductile; and c) shaping the ductile preform inside a forming mould. Step b) further involves simultaneously spraying a gaseous fluid onto the surface of the preform in order to preserve the surface.

A method for shaping a preform made from thermoplastic material, and a facility for implementing the method, comprising the following steps: a) providing a preform made from thermoplastic material having a surface; b) supplying thermal energy to the preform by radiation in such a way as to make it ductile; and c) shaping the ductile preform inside a forming mould. Step b) further involves simultaneously spraying a gaseous fluid onto the surface of the preform in order to preserve the surface.

This disclosure provides economical and effective methods and apparatus for repairing scratches and scuffs on refillable bottle surfaces that minimally contaminates the bottle during the refurbishing process. In one aspect, the method comprises the steps of: a) adding at least one fluid into the polymeric packaging material such as a bottle to form at least a partially filled packaging material; and b) applying at least one heat source to an exterior surface of the at least partially filled packaging material to form a repaired polymeric packaging material. Apparatus and recycling systems that incorporate this method are also disclosed.

Examples of the present disclosure relate to a method of cooling objects produced by an additive manufacturing process. The method comprises obtaining a volume of build material output from the additive manufacturing process. The volume of build material comprises unsolidified build material. The volume of build material comprises a plurality of objects and a separating element between the plurality of objects, the objects and the separating element having been produced by sequentially depositing layers of build material and the separating element having been produced based on at least one of the plurality of objects. The method comprises applying gas to the volume of build material to cool the plurality of objects, wherein the separating element provides a barrier between the plurality of objects during the applying of the gas to the volume of build material.

In some examples, a carriage for a printing system includes a printhead, a conduit to carry a cooling airflow to the printhead, a return chamber to receive a heated exhaust airflow produced from heating of the cooling airflow by the printhead, and a seal between the printhead and the return chamber to prevent the heated airflow from flowing to a location below the printhead.