A blow mold system including a mold body and a base portion. The mold body includes a central bore extending from a first end of the mold body to a second end of the mold body along a longitudinal axis. The first end is configured to receive a mold preform. The base portion includes a recess, and the base portion is arranged at the second end of the mold body such that the central bore and recess define a blow mold cavity in which a container may be formed from the mold preform. In embodiments, the blow mold system has at least two interchangeable base portions that allow for containers with differently-sized or differently-shaped necks to be formed.

Non-symmetric and volume reduced preforms and containers stretch blow moulded therefrom by a continuously rotating, preform feed, stretch-blow-moulding machine dedicated to the stretch-blow-moulding of containers from non-symmetric or reduced volume injection moulded preforms; the non-symmetric or reduced volume preforms including an integral handle extending from a first junction point to a second junction point on a body of the preform; the body of the preform and the integral handle constituted from the same material.

Non-symmetric and volume reduced preforms and containers stretch blow moulded therefrom by a continuously rotating, preform feed, stretch-blow-moulding machine dedicated to the stretch-blow-moulding of containers from non-symmetric or reduced volume injection moulded preforms; the non-symmetric or reduced volume preforms including an integral handle extending from a first junction point to a second junction point on a body of the preform; the body of the preform and the integral handle constituted from the same material.

A blow mold system including a mold body and a base portion. The mold body includes a central bore extending from a first end of the mold body to a second end of the mold body along a longitudinal axis. The first end is configured to receive a mold preform. The base portion includes a recess, and the base portion is arranged at the second end of the mold body such that the central bore and recess define a blow mold cavity in which a container may be formed from the mold preform. In embodiments, the blow mold system has at least two interchangeable base portions that allow for containers with differently-sized or differently-shaped necks to be formed.

A blow mold system including a mold body and a base portion. The mold body includes a central bore extending from a first end of the mold body to a second end of the mold body along a longitudinal axis. The first end is configured to receive a mold preform. The base portion includes a recess, and the base portion is arranged at the second end of the mold body such that the central bore and recess define a blow mold cavity in which a container may be formed from the mold preform. In embodiments, the blow mold system has at least two interchangeable base portions that allow for containers with differently-sized or differently-shaped necks to be formed.

An injection moulded thermoplastic preform for blow moulding to form a container, the preform comprising a lower closed base portion, a hollow body portion, a hollow transition portion between the lower closed base portion and the hollow body portion, and an upper open end portion adjacent to an upper part of the hollow body portion, wherein the closed base portion comprises a central portion which extends over at least 50% of an internal radius of a lower end of the hollow body portion and is either substantially flat or has a shallow concave or convex internal curvature, and the transition portion comprises an upwardly and radially outwardly tapering portion extending away from the central portion to connect to the hollow body portion, the tapering portion being inclined at an angle of from 1 to 20 degrees to a longitudinal axis of the preform and the tapering portion increasing in thickness from the central portion to the hollow body portion. Also disclosed is a method of injection moulding the thermoplastic preform.

A blow mold system including a mold body and a base portion. The mold body includes a central bore extending from a first end of the mold body to a second end of the mold body along a longitudinal axis. The first end is configured to receive a mold preform. The base portion includes a recess, and the base portion is arranged at the second end of the mold body such that the central bore and recess define a blow mold cavity in which a container may be formed from the mold preform. In embodiments, the blow mold system has at least two interchangeable base portions that allow for containers with differently-sized or differently-shaped necks to be formed.

A blow-molding method for forming a squeezable or tubular plastic container is provided. The method includes molding a preform having a sidewall, an interior cavity, an open end, a closed end, and a neck adjacent the closed end of the preform. The neck of the preform has an engagement structure. The method includes providing a blow mold system including a blow mold cavity. The method includes placing at least a portion of the preform into the blow mold cavity, and blow molding a one-piece container body from the preform by inflating the preform within the blow mold cavity. The container body has an open end, a closed end and a neck adjacent to the closed end. Wherein the open end of the container body is formed from the open end of the preform, and the closed end of the container body is formed from the closed end of the preform. The method includes creating a dispensing opening through the closed end of the container body.

An injection moulded thermoplastic preform for blow moulding to form a container, the preform comprising a lower closed base portion, a hollow body portion, a hollow transition portion between the lower closed base portion and the hollow body portion, and an upper open end portion adjacent to an upper part of the hollow body portion, wherein the closed base portion comprises a central portion which extends over at least 50% of an internal radius of a lower end of the hollow body portion and is either substantially flat or has a shallow concave or convex internal curvature, and the transition portion comprises an upwardly and radially outwardly tapering portion extending away from the central portion to connect to the hollow body portion, the tapering portion being inclined at an angle of from 1 to 20 degrees to a longitudinal axis of the preform and the tapering portion increasing in thickness from the central portion to the hollow body portion. Also disclosed is a method of injection moulding the thermoplastic preform.