How Are Water Bottles Manufactured? From PET Blowing to Bottling
Water bottles are essential for delivering clean drinking water to millions of people worldwide. Conventional water bottles on the market are mainly made of plastic and glass, and the main materials of plastic are PET, HDPE,PP. Have you ever wondered how the plastic mineral water bottles or glass bottles are made? This article explains the complete manufacturing process, explores the technologies involved—like the blow molding machine—and gives insight into how you can start your own water bottling factory.
Raw Materials Used in Water Bottle Manufacturing
The most common materials used in water bottle manufacturing are:
PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate): lightweight,high transparency, recyclable and low cost, ideal for single-use mineral water bottles.
HDPE (high-density polyethylene): Some juice and dairy product bottles use this material, which is corrosion-resistant and reusable, but has limited heat resistance (110°C).
PP (polypropylene): Used for a few functional beverage bottles, can be heated in microwaves (130°C), but has poor transparency and is often used in combination with PP materials.
- Glass and aluminum：Commonly used in high-end beverage or beer cans, with good sealing and recyclability, but heavy and fragile.
- Other materials：PVC is easy to precipitate harmful substances due to its chlorine content, LDPE has poor heat resistance, and PS is not resistant to high temperatures, and they are rarely used in conventional beverage packaging.
PET is preferred for mass production due to its lower cost and fast processing capabilities.
How Plastic Mineral Water Bottles Are Manufactured?
The manufacturing process for PET plastic bottles involves two main steps:
Step 1: PET Preform Production
PET resin pellets are melted and injected into molds to form “preforms.”
These preforms resemble thick test tubes with threaded necks for bottle caps.
Step 2: Blow Molding with PET Bottle Blowing Machine
Preforms are heated to a specific temperature using infrared heaters.
A PET bottle blowing machine stretches the preform and inflates it inside a mold using high-pressure air.
The bottle takes the desired shape and is quickly cooled and ejected.
Modern automatic blow molding machines can produce thousands of bottles per hour with high precision.
How Glass Water Bottles Are Made?
Glass water bottle manufacturing includes:
Batching: Mixing raw materials like silica sand, soda ash, and limestone.
Melting: Heating the mixture in a furnace to over 1500°C.
Forming: Using blow-and-blow or press-and-blow methods to shape the glass.
Annealing: Gradually cooling bottles in an annealing oven (lehr) to reduce internal stress.
Inspection and Packaging: Ensuring durability and removing defects before packing.
Glass bottles take longer to produce and require higher energy but offer reusability and a premium image.
The Bottled Water Production Line
Once bottles are ready, they go through a bottled filling line, which includes:
Water Purification Equipment: Filters, RO systems, UV sterilizers.
Bottle Rinsing, Filling, and Capping Machine (3-in-1): An integrated solution that saves space and labor.
Labeling Machine: For applying branding and regulatory information.
Bottle Packing Machine: For shrink wrapping or case packing finished bottles.
Fully automated lines ensure high efficiency, hygiene, and consistent quality.
Does Water Expire in Plastic Bottles?
Technically, water doesn’t expire, but the plastic bottle can degrade over time, especially under heat or sunlight. PET bottles can leach trace chemicals if stored improperly. That’s why manufacturers often print expiration dates to ensure water quality and encourage proper storage.
How to Start a Water Bottling Factory
If you’re planning to launch a bottled water brand, these machines required to start a mineral water factory.and you will need:
Location: Access to clean water and industrial power supply.
Mineral Water Plant Setup: Includes water purification system, storage tanks, and quality control lab.
Bottled Water Machine Equipment:
PET bottle blowing machine
Bottle filling and capping machine
Labeling and packing machines
Licenses & Certifications: Food safety, environmental clearance, etc.
Distribution Plan: Logistics and retail channels.
Initial investment varies by capacity. For small to mid-sized plants, budget around $50,000–$200,000+ depending on automation level and output.
✅ Need Expert Help?
At Faygo Union, we specialize in high-speed, energy-saving bottle blowing machines, 3-in-1 blow-fill-cap machine lines, and full mineral water plant solutions. Contact us for a free consultation and factory layout design tailored to your capacity and budget.
