KHS Group and Husky Technologies have announced the development of an ultra-lightweight polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle designed for still beverages, claiming a 30% reduction in material use compared to standard containers.
The 591mL bottle weighs 5.89 grams and, according to KHS, can be manufactured entirely from recycled PET (rPET). The companies said the design includes a modified shoulder, reinforced body with functional webbing, and a base engineered to flex inward under top load. These changes are intended to improve stability while using less material.
KHS reported that the container withstands a top load of 220 newtons (N), exceeding the industry benchmark of 200N for similar beverage bottles. The company noted that achieving this performance required adjustments to the stretch blow molding process, including optimization of stretching ratios and preform dimensions.
Husky was responsible for refining the preform design and injection process, complementing KHS’s focus on bottle design and stretch blow molding. “This project combines preform engineering with bottle production expertise to meet both performance and lightweighting targets,” said Frank Haesendonckx, Head of Stretch Blow Molding Technology at KHS.
KHS added that the bottle is particularly suitable for contract fillers looking to reduce packaging costs while meeting sustainability requirements.