Disclosed is a locking device for a molding unit for containers of thermoplastic material. The device includes a lock with at least one locking pin, the at least one locking pin being made of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and advantageously has at least one metal insert.

A base assembly configured to cooperate with an injection blow molding machine for forming a polymeric container from a preform by injection blow molding. The base assembly includes a base insert defining a base mold configured to form a base of the polymeric container during injection blow molding. The base insert is slidably seated within the base assembly. The base insert is slidably movable between a retracted position and an extended position during injection blow molding of the polymeric container.

A superplastic forming machine comprising first and second parallel spaced apart platens, each arranged in a plane normal to a displacement axis; a first displacement mechanism connected to the first platen and configured to displace the first platen along the displacement axis; a locking mechanism which can be configured in a locked configuration in which the first locking mechanism prevents displacement of the first platen along the displacement axis and an unlocked configuration in which the locking mechanism does not prevent displacement of the first platen along the displacement axis; and, a second displacement mechanism connected to the second platen and configured to displace the second platen along the displacement axis towards the first platen the second displacement mechanism being a self-locking displacement mechanism.

A method for forming containers from preforms. The method includes loading successive preforms into successive molds at a mold loading station, each mold having a mold cavity in the shape of the containers to be produced. The containers being formed in a forming station by injecting a gaseous or liquid fluid into the preform in order to expand the preform and acquires the shape of the container defined by the mold cavity. The steps performed at the mold loading station and the forming station are distinct from each other, and a transferring step occurs at a transferring station arranged between the mold loading station and the forming station where successive molds containing the preforms are transferred from the mold loading station to the forming station.

An apparatus for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers, including a rotatable carrier on which a plurality of forming stations for forming the plastic preforms into plastic containers are arranged. The forming stations each have application devices for applying a flowable medium to expand the plastic preforms. The forming stations each have blow mold carriers on which blow molds are arranged, within which the plastic preforms are formed into plastic containers. A first movement mechanism is provided for opening and/or closing the blow molds, and wherein a locking mechanism is provided for locking the blow molds together at least temporarily during the expansion process. The apparatus has at least one sensor device which detects a locking state of the locking mechanism of at least one forming station and which outputs at least one signal which is characteristic of said locking state.