PET juice cans are new to beverage packaging industry, but are becoming a strong choice.
If you look all around the world, not just Pakistan, brands always slowly move towards a packaging solution that is modern, lightweight, and saves money.
PET cans are one of such new solutions.
Demand is high, there are no local manufacturers, and the beverage industry is growing.
So, will it be a good venture to start manufacturing PET juice cans in Pakistan?
To answer this properly, we are writing this guide. Not because we want to market ourselves, but to help those who want to learn this business.
Make sure to keep reading if you’re interested, too.
What Are PET Juice Cans?
PET juice cans (or simply PET cans) are packaging containers, just like aluminum cans.
But they are made from food-grade PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) plastic material.
Due to the use of PET as a structural material, these cans are transparent. The product inside can be clearly seen, which increases shelf appeal and customer trust.
PET cans are more affordable to manufacture than aluminum cans, plus they weigh less than glass/metal packaging, cutting transport costs.
For all these reasons, many brands are adopting these cans used for:
- Fruit juices
- Energy drinks
- Flavored water
- Iced tea
- Dairy beverages
Another big advantage is that PET cans do not rust like metal cans. They are also easier to customize in shape, size, and design.
This makes them a flexible solution for modern beverage brands.
How Are PET Cans Made From Plastic Resin?
A complete manufacturing of plastic cans consists of two phases:
- Preforms manufacturing (with a wide mouth)
- Blowing those preforms
The first phase happens on an injection molding setup.
In this phase, raw plastic material called PET resin is heated and injected into a mold (on an injection molding machine) to create wide-mouth PET preforms.
A preform looks like a small test tube with a wide, can-like neck shape. It already contains the basic structure of the final product.
Once preforms are ready, they are blown on a PET blow molding machine.
In this second phase of the process, high-pressure air is blown into heated preforms. This expands the preform into the final PET juice can shape.
So the full process is simple:
PET resin → PET preform → PET juice can.
Each step needs controlled temperature, pressure, and timing to ensure quality output.
Which Machines Are Needed to Manufacture PET Juice Cans?
As said earlier, a complete PET juice cans manufacturing setup consists of two sections: one for making the preforms and the second to blow them into final cans.
Here are the machines required in each phase:
Preform Manufacturing Setup
This is the first stage of production. In this stage, PET resin is converted into preforms using injection molding technology.
The main machines required are:
- PET injection molding machine
- PET preform mold
- Vacuum autoloader
- Air-cooled chiller
- Granulator or crusher
- Dehumidifying dryer (3-in-1 system)
These machines work together as a complete system.
The dryer removes moisture from PET resin. The injection machine melts and shapes it. The mold forms it into preforms.
With this setup, you can produce around 5,760 to 6,400 wide-mouth PET preforms/hour (around 20 grams each).
This makes the system suitable for large-scale production.
PET Preform Blow Setup
Once preforms are ready, they are sent to the blow molding section to form the final PET cans.
The machines required here include:
- Auto PET jar blow molding machine
- Air compressor
- Booster air compressor
- Air-cooled chiller
In this stage, preforms are heated and blown into the final shape using high-pressure air. The machine controls the thickness, size, and clarity of each can.
This setup can produce around 4,500 to 5,000 PET cans per hour (330 ml size).
It is a fast and efficient production system for beverage packaging companies.
Total Investment
Let us talk about the total cost of the whole setup now.
The injection molding setup (to produce preforms) required a total investment of about $180,000 to $190,000.
And the total cost to install the blow setup is about $305,000 to $345,000.
But you should remember that these prices are FOB China, which means they can vary based on the exchange rates, ex-factory prices, and machine specifications.
Production, Profit, & ROI of PET Cans Manufacturing
Now is the time to go through some important numbers.
The total production capacity of the blowing setup is around 4,500 to 5,000 cans/hour.
Even if we consider an average of 4,750 cans per hour, the output still becomes very strong for commercial production.
The production cost of one PET juice can is around 17 to 19 rupees.
This includes raw material, electricity, and machine cost.
In the market, the selling price of one PET can is around 23 to 25 rupees. This gives an average profit of around 6 rupees per can on average.
Now, let us calculate the hourly profit:
- 4,750 cans × 6 rupees = 28,500 rupees per hour gross profit
If the plant runs 8 hours per day and 26 days per month:
- Monthly production time = 208 hours
- Monthly gross profit = around 5.7 million rupees (approx.)
The total investment for a full setup is around:
- Injection molding setup: $180,000 to $190,000
- Blow molding setup: $145,000 to $155,000
- Total investment: $305,000 to $345,000
This investment can usually be recovered in around 14 to 16 months, depending on production efficiency and market demand.
If production hours increase, the payback period becomes even shorter.
Why Starting PET Cans Manufacturing Is a Good Idea?
PET juice manufacturing is a strong business idea, especially in Pakistan, where the beverage market is growing fast.
First, the product has a modern and premium look.
Brands want packaging that attracts customers, and PET cans do exactly that. They make the product look clean and high-quality.
Second, demand is increasing.
More juice brands, energy drink companies, and flavored water producers are entering the market. All of them need attractive packaging solutions.
Third, PET cans are cheaper and lighter compared to aluminum cans.
Aluminum cans are widely used, but they are more expensive and require different supply chains. PET cans offer a flexible and cost-effective alternative.
Also, PET cans allow better branding. They can be transparent, colored, or printed easily. This helps companies build stronger shelf presence in stores.
Because of all these reasons, this industry has strong future growth potential.
Want to Get a Turnkey PET Can Manufacturing Solution?
Setting up a PET juice can manufacturing plant requires proper planning, machines, technical knowledge, and proper operational training.
And this is especially difficult for new investors to get the right setup.
HiTech Machinery has been operating in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Qatar, and other GCC countries to resolve exactly this problem.
We provide complete turnkey plastic manufacturing solutions.
So is the same for PET can manufacturing. Our support includes:
- Complete plant design
- Machine supply
- Installation and commissioning
- Operator training
- After-sales service
- Technical support and maintenance
- Local warranty
- Spare parts
And much more.
With a turnkey solution, you do not need to worry about technical issues. You get a ready-to-run production setup with expert guidance at every step.
You can contact HiTech Machinery anytime and ask anything that hits your skull.