Bottles
Rethinking Bottles – for Performance, Design, and Sustainability.
Bottles
At Kautex, we have been at the forefront of extrusion blow molding (EBM) technology since 1935, continuously innovating to meet the ever-growing requirements of today’s packaging market. From the increasing demand for sustainable materials to the necessity of precise wall-thickness control and process automation, bottle production today is more complex — and more strategic — than ever before.
Our systems are engineered to deliver maximum performance for a wide variety of applications, including cosmetics, personal care, food & beverage, household chemicals, and niche industrial liquids. Whether producing 30 ml round bottles or 3-liter handled containers, Kautex machines offer tailored configurations that ensure optimal cycle times, material distribution, and surface quality.
Technologies such as multi-layer co-extrusion, foam structures, in-mold labeling, and our patented RapidXchange enable seamless product changeovers and color switches with minimal downtime. Thanks to intelligent wall-thickness profiling and short dry cycles, we help customers balance cost, quality, and sustainability — while remaining compliant with global recycling and design-for-recycling standards.
Our machines are compatible with post-consumer recyclates (PCR), bio-based polymers, and multilayer barrier materials, making them ideal for companies aiming to lead in circular packaging. Partnering with Kautex means choosing a reliable system provider with deep process knowledge, integrated downstream solutions, and global service reach.
Your Benefits with Kautex
Kautex Benefits for the Production of precise, flexible and sustainable Bottles.
Our extrusion blowmolding machines ensure high throughput with minimal energy use, even for short production runs and frequent format changes.
Servo-driven wall-thickness and parison control guarantee excellent repeatability, even for complex shapes and asymmetric designs.
All systems are PCR-ready and support ReCo3 technology for multilayer applications with recycled content.
From preform to palletizing, our machines are ready for full downstream integration, reducing manual intervention.
Modular machines like KBB and SKYREEF adapt to market changes, from new materials to evolving safety or labeling standards.
Technology Focus
Die Heads
The extrusion die head is the centerpiece of every Kautex blowmolding machine. Our portfolio includes both continuous and accumulator heads, optimized for bottle production from 30 ml up to 10 liters.
Key technologies:
- RapidXchange Technology: Enables mold and color changeovers in under 15 minutes — reducing downtime and increasing line availability.
- ReCo3 Layer Technology: For co-extruded barrier bottles using up to 60% post-consumer recyclates in the middle layer.
- PCR Compatibility: All die heads are designed to process modern recyclates and bio-polymers without compromising flow stability or layer distribution.
Learn more about our die head technology here: Kautex Die Heads
Downstream
In bottle production, quality and traceability don’t stop at the mold. Kautex integrates advanced downstream solutions that ensure each bottle meets your quality benchmarks. Central to this is our Intelligate system — a flexible automation platform that connects quality assurance stations like leak testing, check weighing, and visual inspection in a single smart loop.
- Checkweigher systems (in partnership with Mettler Toledo) allow inline weight monitoring for statistical and real-time quality control.
- Leak detection units, for example from our partner Delta Engineering ensure functional integrity and are fully integrated into our BC6 control system.
- SpotWatch and other vision systems — developed with partners like Intravis — enable full-surface defect analysis, label positioning checks, and cap alignment verification.
These systems communicate via MES interfaces and can be customized for pharma, food-grade, or industrial compliance — making traceability and batch documentation seamless.
Bottle Know-How
Not all bottles are created equal. While cylindrical containers dominate standard applications, the modern packaging market increasingly demands unique geometries — from angled necks and off-center openings to flat oval shapes, integrated handles, and decorative surface textures. These designs do more than look different; they improve ergonomics, brand visibility, shelf utilization, and dosing performance.
At Kautex, we understand these article-specific requirements in depth. With decades of market feedback and thousands of realized applications, our development teams know how to translate design intent into manufacturable, repeatable reality. Whether it’s a squeezable shampoo bottle with a precise grip zone, or a detergent bottle with an integrated handle and pour spout, we offer a holistic production solution — machine, tooling, and process.
This deep article competence is part of our DNA. By combining simulation, material rheology, and custom tooling development, we ensure that your bottle not only looks great — but performs flawlessly across production, filling, transport, and end use.
Curious how we realize complex geometries? Visit our Technikum page to learn how your idea becomes reality.
Typical Applications:
Cosmetic bottles (shower gel, shampoo, skincare)
Food bottles (sauces, condiments, dairy alternatives)
Household care (cleaners, detergents)
Specialty bottles with handles or multilayer structures
Kautex Advantages:
- Asymmetrical and non-round geometries
Leveraging servo-driven parison control and dynamic wall thickness profiling, we enable uniform material distribution in even the most challenging shapes. - Tilted and offset necks
Through optimized die head design and simulation-based mold development, we ensure clean neck definition and minimal ovalization — even for complex neck angles. - Handleware and hollow grips
With advanced mold kinematics and specialized blowing sequences, we realize handle inserts and integrated grips without compromising cycle time or part stability. - Custom thread and closure interfaces
From tamper-evident bands to multi-start threads, our tooling allows precise molding of neck finishes for both standard and proprietary closures. - In-mold labeling and surface enhancement
We support designs with IML (in-mold labeling) compatibility and textured molds to deliver premium haptics and branding appeal.
Our Machines
for your Production
The KEB series delivers maximum flexibility for bottles, jerry cans up to 20 L. Versatile, reliable, and efficient – with in-line clamping, fast mold changes, and integrated deflashing for streamlined production.
In Green – full electric or Grey – full hydraulic version available.
The KBB series delivers high-performance packaging for consumer, pharmaceutical, and industrial needs, specializing in bottles and jerry cans. Advanced technology ensures reliable, efficient production with outstanding quality.
The KCC series is built in China to German standards for bottles and jerry cans up to 50 L. Reliable, flexible, and cost-effective – with robust hydraulic drives, versatile clamp concepts, and seamless integration of deflashing and leak testing.
The Skyreef series offers flexible, modular machines for bottles and jerry cans up to 20 L. Efficient, adaptable, and future-ready – with hybrid or all-electric motion, fast color changes, and automatic mold thickness compensation.
Your direct contact
Talk to our experts to find out, if we can also boost your production.
