Introduction
Blow molding machines are used for the production of plastic parts in many industries including packaging and automotive. Packaging, however, is the single largest user of blow molded thermoplastic containers in the US with approximately 70 percent of market (Rosato et. al., 2004).
The rigid and semi-rigid plastic packaging industry is an economic power that comprises 21 percent of the $115 billion packaging industry (Ernst and Young, 2002). Plastic containers alone totaled $11.4 billion dollars in 2001. Plastic bottle demand grows by more than four percent each year and is expected to reach 11 billion pounds by 2006 as shown in Figure 1.