Choose a used injection stretch blow moulding machine by matching the finished container, resin, complete tooling set and required production rate to the exact machine configuration. Model name and clamping tonnage help identify equipment, but they do not establish which containers it can produce or at what output.

This guide covers used injection stretch blow moulding equipment, including Nissei ASB and Aoki machines, single-stage systems and Nissei ASB PF 1.5-step configurations.

1. Define the container and application

Start with an approved container drawing and production specification. Provide:

Container: volume, dimensions, shape, weight, neck finish and drawing revision.
Application: beverage, food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, household or another specified use, with the required packaging performance.
Material: exact resin grade, colour, additives and intended recycled content where applicable.
Quality: dimensional tolerances, appearance, neck and sealing requirements, wall distribution and relevant performance tests.
Output: saleable containers per hour, operating schedule, annual demand and planned product changes.
Project: existing moulds, available space, utilities, installation location, budget and target date.

A round bottle, oval cosmetic container and wide-mouth jar of the same volume can require different tooling, cavity layouts and process conditions. Bottle volume alone is insufficient for machine selection.

2. Distinguish single-stage, 1.5-step and two-stage systems

Single-stage injection stretch blow moulding

A single-stage system forms preforms and converts them into finished containers within one integrated machine, using retained heat from injection moulding. Process arrangements differ between manufacturers and platforms.

Nissei ASB's core four-station process comprises injection, conditioning, stretch blow moulding and container takeout. Aoki's Direct Heatcon process combines preform injection and heat conditioning in a three-station arrangement, using residual injection heat for subsequent stretch blowing. Assess each platform's tooling and process rather than treating them as interchangeable.

Nissei ASB PF 1.5-step systems

The PF process combines preform injection with controlled cooling, temperature equalisation, reheating and blowing within an integrated production system. Injection and blowing can use different cavity counts and operating sequences.

For equipment such as PF6-2B or PF8-4B configurations, confirm the exact version, tooling, injection cavitation, blow cavitation and production sequence. Do not classify every Nissei ASB machine as a conventional single-stage four-station system.

Separate preform injection and reheat blowing

In a conventional two-stage installation, preforms are made separately and later reheated in a blower. This is a different equipment route. If that is your requirement, see our guides to preform injection moulding systems and PET reheat stretch blow moulders.

3. Identify the complete machine specification

Record the full model, suffix, version, serial number, manufacture year and installed options. For example, distinguish Nissei ASB 70 DPH from 70 DPW, and identify the version of a PF machine. For Aoki equipment, retain the complete model designation, including relevant suffixes.

Use model names such as ASB 12M, ASB 50MB, ASB 70 DPW or Aoki SBIII 250LL-50S as identification references, not as complete production specifications. Verify the injection unit, shot capacity, clamping systems, tooling envelope, controls and supported materials against the actual machine documentation.

Do not apply a current model's cycle, process features or consumption figures to an older machine without confirmation. Establish what any documented upgrade changed and whether the relevant components are installed.

4. Verify the complete mould and tooling set

A blow mould alone is not normally a complete production tooling package for an injection stretch blow moulding machine. Obtain an itemised tooling list and assembly drawings for the intended container and machine.

Depending on the platform, a complete set may include:

Injection tooling: cavities, cores, neck or lip components, and the required hot runner or injection distribution arrangement.
Conditioning tooling: relevant heating or conditioning components where the process uses them.
Blowing tooling: blow moulds, base components, stretch rods and blowing components.
Transfer and takeout: neck handling, carriers, plates, guides and ejection or collection components as required.
Process connections: temperature control, cooling, electrical interfaces and documented settings.

Terminology and supply arrangements vary. Confirm whether a component is supplied with the machine, with the mould package or separately, rather than relying on a generic mould list.

Check tooling compatibility against mounting, cavity pitch, neck size, container envelope, stroke, shot requirement, cooling and controls. A mould from a related model or the same manufacturer is not automatically compatible. Obtain a technical assessment before buying equipment to use with existing tooling.

5. Calculate output using the correct production cycle

Theoretical containers per hour = containers discharged per repeat cycle × 3,600 ÷ repeat-cycle time in seconds. Define what the repeat cycle means for the actual machine and process.

For a conventional indexed single-stage setup discharging four containers every 12 seconds after reaching steady operation, theoretical output is 1,200 containers per hour. Do not multiply that result by the number of process stations or count all tooling positions as finished-container cavities.

At an illustrative combined utilisation and quality factor of 90%, 1,200 containers per running hour gives 1,080 saleable containers per scheduled hour. The factor is an example, not a standard performance assumption.

For a PF 1.5-step system, use the documented steady-state production sequence and confirmed injection and blow cycle relationship. Blow-cavity count alone does not establish output, and injection and blowing may have different repeat rates.

Check resin plasticising capacity, usable shot capacity, cooling, conditioning and bottle quality at the required cycle. Four 30 g containers contain 120 g of polymer per production group, but that calculation alone does not establish the required machine shot or cycle across all architectures.

Where container weight, geometry or validated cycle is unknown, provide only a provisional output assessment. A production trial with the relevant resin and tooling is the stronger basis for acceptance.

6. Confirm materials, utilities and accessories

Verify resin suitability for the exact machine, tooling and process. Do not assume every Nissei ASB or Aoki machine supports every material listed for the manufacturer's wider range. A material change may require screw, hot runner, tooling or process changes.

For PET and other moisture-sensitive materials, establish resin preparation and drying requirements with the material and equipment suppliers. Confirm any recycled-material application against feedstock specification and required container quality.

Check the supply scope for the loader, dryer, chiller, mould temperature controllers, compressed-air equipment and container takeout. Verify their capacity against the intended production. Additional auxiliary equipment may be needed even where the moulding machine itself is complete.

Use site preparation documentation to establish electrical supply, frequency, connected load, cooling, compressed air, access, foundation and maintenance space. Do not assume the air pressure or compressor capacity is the same as a high-output reheat PET blower.

Confirm any lifting, loading or mould-change jigs individually. Accessories and spare-parts kits should be treated as included only when expressly listed in the offer.

7. Inspect the machine and finished container

Where possible, inspect production with a relevant container. Record material, tooling, cycle, sustained output, rejects and test conditions. Assess weight consistency, neck and thread dimensions, sealing surfaces, appearance, wall distribution and agreed application tests.

Review the injection screw and barrel, hot runner, clamping systems, transfer and indexing mechanisms, stretch-blow components, cooling circuits and hydraulic or pneumatic systems. Check alarms, guarding, controls, maintenance records and operating hours.

A short video of a machine moving does not demonstrate acceptable container quality. A trial on one bottle also does not confirm performance on a different shape, resin or neck specification.

For dismantled or stored equipment, verify completeness, preservation and recommissioning work. Confirm mould identification, missing components and availability of software backups. Obtain the scope of any overhaul and check parts and service support for the exact model and generation.

8. Compare the complete project cost

Include the machine, complete tooling, missing auxiliaries, repairs, conversion, export packing, freight, installation, commissioning, training and initial spares. Price any required tooling compatibility work before committing.

Assess product-change frequency, mould-change requirements, process development, energy and rejected output against your production schedule. A lower machine price can be outweighed by incomplete tooling or an unproven cycle for the intended container.

Agree container quality, sustained production rate, supply scope and acceptance responsibilities before purchase. Select the complete configuration that meets the production requirement rather than choosing by model size alone.

Frequently asked questions

Does an injection stretch blow machine make finished containers from resin?

Yes, the integrated process includes preform injection and subsequent bottle or jar forming. The precise cooling, conditioning and blowing sequence depends on the platform.

Can I buy a machine without moulds?

Yes, but it cannot produce your container until a suitable complete tooling package and required accessories are installed. Obtain tooling quotations and compatibility confirmation when assessing the machine price.

Can I use Aoki tooling on a Nissei ASB machine?

Do not assume compatibility. Process architecture, mounting, cavity pitch, transfer, temperature control and other interfaces differ. Any adaptation requires an engineered assessment and may be uneconomic.

Is a Nissei ASB PF machine a conventional single-stage machine?

No. PF machines use the manufacturer's 1.5-step concept. Assess their injection and blow sequence, tooling and output separately from conventional single-stage configurations.

Can the same machine make bottles and wide-mouth jars?

Possibly, within its neck, container, shot and tooling limits. Verify the complete mould package and achievable cycle for each product rather than assuming compatibility from volume alone.

Discuss your container production requirement

Send PETmachinery your container drawing, neck specification, target weight, resin grade, required output and quality requirements. Include existing tooling details, preferred model, installation location, budget and target date.

Email sales@petmachinery.com to discuss suitable options, or browse our used injection stretch blow moulding equipment. Tooling, technical suitability and availability are assessed for each enquiry.

For the wider project, read our guide to choosing used PET and beverage production equipment.

Technical references

Manufacturer resources explain the process architectures. Verify specifications against the exact used machine, version and tooling.

How to Choose a Used Injection Stretch Blow Moulding Machine