A method of forming a container from bi-axially orientable plastics material and having an integral handle with the steps of forming a preform having a neck portion and an expandable portion below the neck portion, with the neck portion including a locating ring above the expandable portion and a handle molded to the non expandable at one end and molded to the expandable portion at the other end. Where the molded-in handle is the approximate length of the handle of the finished container. The unblown preform of orientable plastics is inserted into a blow molder and thereafter stretched by a stretch rod. During the stretch process the handle on the preform unbends rather than stretching to form the approximate shape of the handle in the finished container. The blow mold then closes on the stretched preform thus capturing the handle. Blow gas is then injected into the interior.

A method of forming a blow molded container in the form of a tub, the method comprising the steps of: providing an injection molded preform composed of a biaxially-orientable thermoplastic material, the preform being substantially planar; heating the preform; and stretch blow molding the heated preform within a mold cavity to form a tub having a bottom wall and an annular sidewall having an upper edge, the tub comprising biaxially oriented thermoplastic material in the annular sidewall and at least an outer portion of the bottom wall, the stretch blow molding step using at least one stretch rod to engage an inner side of the preform and axially to stretch at least a part of the preform prior to blowing a pressurized gas against the inner side which urges the opposite side of the preform radially outwardly against the mold.

A method of forming a blow moulded container in the form of a tub, the method comprising the steps of: providing an injection moulded preform composed of a biaxially-orientable thermoplastic material, the preform being substantially planar; heating the preform; and stretch blow moulding the heated preform within a mould cavity to form a tub having a bottom wall and an annular sidewall having an upper edge, the tub comprising biaxially oriented thermoplastic material in the annular sidewall and at least an outer portion of the bottom wall, the stretch blow moulding step using at least one stretch rod to engage an inner side of the preform and axially to stretch at least a part of the preform prior to blowing a pressurized gas against the inner side which urges the opposite side of the preform radially outwardly against the mould.

A method of forming a container from bi-axially orientable plastics material and having an integral handle with the steps of forming a preform having a neck portion and an expandable portion below the neck portion with the neck portion including a locating ring above the expandable portion and a handle molded to the non expandable at one end and molded to the expandable portion at the other end. Where the molded-in handle is the approximate length of the handle of the finished container. The unblown preform of orientable plastics is inserted into a blow molder and thereafter stretched by a stretch rod. During the stretch process the handle on the preform unbends rather than stretching to form the approximate shape of the handle in the finished container. The blow mold then closes on the stretched preform thus capturing the handle. Blow gas is then injected into the interior.