Comparison
Linear vs Rotary PET Blow Moulding: Which Should You Choose?
The architecture choice for PET blow moulding. Linear is the workhorse below 8,000 BPH; rotary takes over above. Here is the detailed comparison.
| Specification | Linear PET Blow Moulding | Rotary PET Blow Moulding |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Linear (start-stop) | Rotary (continuous wheel) |
| Output range | 600 – 8,000 BPH | 6,000 – 18,000+ BPH |
| Cavity options | 1, 2, 4, 6 | 6, 8, 10, 12 |
| Capex (same output) | Baseline | +28–40% |
| Air consumption / kg PET | 1.0–1.4 Nm³ | 0.8–1.1 Nm³ (with recovery) |
| Wall-thickness control | ±0.1 mm | ±0.05 mm |
| Maintenance complexity | Lower | Higher (servo-rich) |
| Mould changeover | 25–50 min | 60–90 min (with quick-change) |
| Best for | Up to 90 BPM water lines | 120 / 240 / 480 BPM lines |
Our verdict
Below 8,000 BPH, linear is the clear winner, cheaper, simpler to service, easier to retrofit. Above 8,000 BPH, rotary is unavoidable: tighter wall control, lower air consumption, and the only architecture that supports 24x7 continuous operation reliably.
Frequently asked
How much air do these machines really consume?+
Linear 4-cavity: ~80-100 Nm³/min HP air at 30 bar. Rotary 6-cavity: ~85-100 Nm³/min with 40% air recovery (so net ~50-60 Nm³/min). Compressor electricity is 25-35% of total operating cost on either architecture.
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