Choose used plastic cap and closure production equipment by matching the closure drawing, resin, required output and finishing operations to the exact machine and tooling. The moulding machine is only one part of the project. Cooling, tamper-evident band processing, inspection and handling can determine whether the installation produces a saleable finished closure.

This guide covers closure compression moulding and closure injection moulding equipment, together with tooling and downstream operations.

1. Define the finished closure

Start with the approved closure and container-neck drawings. Your specification should include:

Closure: exact neck finish, diameter, height, weight, thread, sealing design and drawing revision.
Application: still or carbonated beverage, filling temperature, product compatibility and required performance.
Construction: one-piece or multi-component design, liner requirements, tamper-evident band and any tether feature.
Material: specified resin grade, colour masterbatch and permitted additives.
Production: saleable closures per hour, annual demand, operating schedule and product changes.
Project: existing tooling, installation location, utilities, budget and target start-up date.

A description such as “28 mm caps” is insufficient. PCO1881 and PCO1810, for example, are different neck finishes. The closure must match the complete neck specification and intended application, not just the nominal diameter.

2. Compare compression and injection moulding

Continuous compression moulding

In a continuous compression system, measured portions of molten polymer are placed into individual moulds and formed under compression. Assess the material preparation and dosing system, moulding carousel, installed tooling and cooling as one configuration.

For Sacmi CCM equipment, identify the complete model, suffix, generation and tooling. CCM24, CCM32, CCM48, CCM64 and CCM80 configurations should not be compared solely by mould count. Verify the supported closure dimensions, material, weight and demonstrated output.

Injection moulding

An injection system fills a multi-cavity mould through an injection and runner arrangement. Check usable shot capacity, plasticising performance, injection capability, clamping requirements, cooling and closure ejection or handling.

Identify the exact machine, mould and generation, including any installed performance package. A description such as “Husky HyCAP” or a clamping tonnage alone does not establish suitability for a particular closure or cycle.

Choosing between the processes

Compare both routes against the same finished closure, resin, output and quality criteria. Include tooling, finishing, energy, material losses, changeovers, maintenance and available support. Neither process should be selected solely from an advertised maximum production rate.

For specialised closures such as flip-tops or multi-component designs, confirm the forming, assembly and testing requirements separately. A beverage screw-cap installation is not automatically suitable for every plastic closure.

3. Calculate saleable output and resin demand

For a conventional injection cycle, theoretical closures per hour = active mould cavities × 3,600 ÷ cycle time in seconds.

A 72-cavity mould running a 3-second cycle gives 86,400 closures per hour before downtime and rejects. This is an arithmetic example, not a claimed cycle for a specific machine or closure. Confirm the demonstrated cycle with the required tooling, material and quality.

For continuous compression machinery, use the documented output for the installed model and closure, or the manufacturer's applicable production calculation. Do not apply an injection-cycle assumption to a compression machine without establishing what its quoted cycle represents.

If the complete line sustains 86,400 closures per running hour, an illustrative combined utilisation and quality factor of 90% gives 77,760 saleable closures per scheduled hour. Establish the actual factor from the intended operation rather than assuming this example applies.

Nominal resin demand in kg/h = closures per hour × closure weight in grams ÷ 1,000. At 80,000 closures per hour and 2 g per closure, the moulded closures contain 160 kg/h of polymer. Allow separately for startup losses and any other process waste.

Check that slitting, folding, lining, assembly, inspection and collection can sustain the required rate. A faster moulding machine does not increase finished output when a downstream operation is the bottleneck.

4. Verify tooling compatibility and scope

Before buying a machine or separate closure moulds, obtain drawings and an itemised component list. Confirm:

Product tooling: closure geometry, sealing surfaces, thread, band features, active cavities and spare components.
Compression interfaces: mould mounting, forming stroke, dosing arrangement, cooling and closure extraction for the particular platform.
Injection interfaces: mould dimensions, mounting, machine clearance, nozzle connection, hot runner, electrical controls, cooling and ejection.
Material and process: resin suitability, shot or dose requirement, cooling demand and required production settings.
Downstream fit: closure feeding, slitting or folding tooling, liners, inspection recipes and handling parts.

A matching cavity count or manufacturer name does not establish interchangeability. Confirm whether the offer includes a complete tooling set or only selected mould components.

5. Check tamper-evident bands and downstream finishing

Closure design determines which finishing operations are required. Tamper-evident bridges may be formed in the mould or produced through a subsequent slitting operation. Some designs require band folding, while others require lining, assembly or additional processing.

Establish the sequence and equipment needed for the intended closure, including any intermediate cooling or conditioning. Check the slitting and folding tooling, cut geometry, bridge consistency, feeding and sustained output.

For tethered closures, verify the complete design, forming and cutting method, tooling, finishing and performance tests. Do not assume that adding a slitting program converts an existing line. Any product qualification or applicable compliance assessment must address the finished closure and container combination.

Include inspection, counting, conveying and collection equipment in the supply review. Depending on the application, additional auxiliary equipment may be required.

6. Inspect closure quality and machine condition

Where possible, inspect the installation producing a relevant closure. Record resin, colour, active tooling, rate, rejects and test conditions. Agree acceptance criteria for dimensions, weight consistency, sealing and closure functionality.

Assess opening and application torque, leakage, tamper-evident behaviour and any pressure or thermal performance required for the application, using agreed methods. Visual inspection alone cannot establish sealing performance or the suitability of a closure for carbonated or hot-fill products.

Inspect forming surfaces, wear, cooling circuits and extraction components. On injection systems, review the screw, barrel, hot runner, clamp and ejection system. On compression systems, review material preparation, dosing, moulding units and carousel mechanisms. Check downstream cutting and folding equipment as part of the same inspection.

Review maintenance records, operating hours, alarms, guarding, drawings and software backups. Confirm parts and service availability for the exact generation. For an overhaul, request the work scope and records rather than relying on a general description.

For dismantled equipment, verify completeness, storage conditions and the work required for recommissioning. Retain a separate budget for inspection, repairs and a sustained production trial.

7. Compare total installed cost and line integration

Include tooling, conversion parts, resin loading and dosing, cooling, compressed air, finishing, inspection, packing, dismantling, freight, installation, commissioning, training and initial spares. Check utility requirements against the actual configuration and production rate.

Compare energy consumption on the same basis, such as kWh per thousand acceptable closures, identifying which auxiliaries and finishing operations are included. A low forming-machine energy figure does not describe the consumption of the complete line.

Confirm compatibility with the downstream capping process, including closure sorting, feeding, chucks, application settings and bottle-neck handling. Closures should be qualified on the intended package and application, particularly when introducing a new design.

Agree responsibilities and acceptance tests before purchase. The lowest machine price may be offset by missing tooling, finishing equipment or conversion work.

Frequently asked questions

Can the same machine produce PCO1881 and 26/22 closures?

Possibly, with suitable tooling and a compatible process range. Confirm the exact closure drawings, material, moulding configuration and downstream change parts. A shared machine platform does not make the conversion automatic.

Is slitting and folding equipment always required?

No. The closure design and forming method determine the finishing operations. Some tamper-evident features are formed in the mould; other designs require post-mould slitting, folding or both.

Can a used line produce tethered closures?

Possibly, following assessment of the closure design, moulding equipment, tooling and finishing process. Obtain a conversion scope and validate the finished closure before assuming the existing installation is suitable.

Does a higher cavity count always mean more output?

No. Cycle time or compression-machine production rate, active tooling, cooling, product quality and downstream capacity also matter. Compare saleable finished output under equivalent conditions.

Are tooling and inspection systems included?

Only when expressly identified in the offer. Confirm each tooling set, downstream machine, inspection system, conveyor, cabinet and accessory in an itemised scope.

Discuss your closure production requirement

Send PETmachinery the closure and neck drawings, resin specification, closure weight, required output and finishing requirements. Include any existing tooling, preferred process, installation location, budget and target date.

Email sales@petmachinery.com to discuss suitable configurations, or browse our compression moulding equipment, injection moulding equipment and closure moulds. Technical suitability and availability are assessed for each enquiry.

For related production equipment, see our guide to choosing used PET and beverage production equipment.

Technical references

Manufacturer resources explain forming and finishing technologies. Verify specifications against the exact used machine, tooling and closure design.

How to Choose Used Plastic Cap and Closure Production Equipment