Injection blow molding (IBM) is the process of producing hollow glass and plastics in bulk. Containers made by IBM are strong and prevalent. These containers are used in major industries, including but not limited to food and beverages, automotive, and healthcare sectors. IBM basically involves three steps, namely the injection of plastic materials into a mold to form tubes, blowing the tubes to form hollow parts, and after the hollow parts have formed and cooled, a stripper bar ejects off the plastic molds. The final part should be tested for leaks before it is packed and rendered ready for use.
How to Know that a Container Was IBM-Manufactured
Injection blow molding falls under a major category known as blow molding, which is generally the process of manufacturing hollow plastic parts. Blow molding is divided into three major parts, namely injection blow molding, injection stretch molding, and extrusion blow molding. You may experience difficulty telling which product is manufactured by IBM. In order to determine whether a product was manufactured by IBM, check to see if the container has a gate or nipple at the bottom center. You may also know that a product was IBM-manufactured by looking at its size. These containers are usually smaller.
Why Give Priority to IBM over Other Forms of Blow Molding
There are many reasons as to why many manufacturers prefer IBM to other blow molding manufacturing processes. When using IBM, the container is molded into an enclosed form and to top it off, there is no scrap that is removed from the container. This process allows for the formation of a thick neck from a relatively thin container wall, making it strong and suitable for the manufacture of pressure bottles used in packaging pills and soft drinks, such as coke. Another advantage is the ability of this process to manufacture high volumes of containers with different shapes. Also, the parts can be sold to third parties to blow in accordance with their preferences.