Precision Blow Moulding for Small Bottles
This project involved developing a 10ml blow-moulded bottle in HDPE for pharmaceutical liquid packaging. The small volume demanded extreme precision in wall thickness distribution (±0.1mm) and neck finish accuracy for compatibility with standard DIN 18 dropper inserts and child-resistant closures.
Extrusion blow moulding was selected over injection blow moulding for its cost advantage in medium volumes (50,000-500,000 units) while still achieving the required dimensional accuracy.
Material: Pharmaceutical-Grade HDPE
We use Hostalen GD 7255 HDPE (LyondellBasell), a pharmaceutical-grade resin that meets European Pharmacopoeia requirements and FDA 21 CFR 177.1520. The material provides excellent chemical resistance to essential oils, serums, and aggressive formulations common in cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications.
HDPE offers an ideal moisture barrier (WVTR < 0.5 g/m²/day) crucial for preserving product integrity. The natural translucency allows fill-level verification while protecting light-sensitive contents.
Manufacturing Process
Our extrusion blow moulding process uses a continuous parison with wall thickness programming (PWDS) to optimise material distribution. The 10ml volume requires precise parison control to prevent thin spots at the shoulder and base transitions.
Cycle time: 8 seconds per cavity. Our 4-cavity mould produces 1,800 bottles per hour. Automatic deflashing and neck trimming ensure consistent finish quality without manual intervention.
Child-Resistant Closure System
The bottle neck is designed for CRC (Child-Resistant Closure) compatibility, featuring a pilfer-evident ring and push-turn mechanism. The system complies with EN ISO 8317 and 16 CFR 1700.20 child-resistance standards, verified through certified panel testing.
Quality Assurance
ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 15378 (pharmaceutical packaging) certified production. 100% leak testing at 1.5 bar, dimensional inspection via vision system, drop testing (1.2m onto concrete), and compression testing (50N). Material certificates (CoA) provided with every batch.
Applications
Originally developed for essential oil packaging, this bottle format serves pharmaceutical liquids (drops, serums), cosmetic samples, CBD oils, e-liquids, and laboratory reagents. Custom colours and silk-screen printing available.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum order for custom 10ml bottles?
Minimum order is 10,000 units for standard colours. Custom moulds amortised over 50,000 units. Sample quantities available from stock moulds within 48 hours.
Can you supply matching dropper inserts and closures?
Yes, we supply complete packaging solutions including DIN 18 dropper inserts (orifice 0.7-1.0mm), tamper-evident closures, and child-resistant caps, all from our production or qualified suppliers.
What decoration options are available?
Silk-screen printing (1-4 colours), hot stamping (gold/silver foil), shrink sleeve labels, and self-adhesive labels. We manage decoration in-house or coordinate with specialist partners.
Technical Specifications
Material: HDPE Hostalen GD 7255 | Volume: 10ml ±0.3ml | Weight: 4.2g | Neck finish: DIN 18 | Mould: 4-cavity | Cycle: 8s | Capacity: 1,800 pcs/hr | Certifications: ISO 15378, FDA