Why does LIHE use machines from several brands instead of one?

Each builder specializes: Mazak and Makino in machining centers, Hardinge in precision turning, Okamoto in grinding, Beijing Jingdiao in high-speed engraving and Sodick in EDM. Matching the machine type to the part gives better accuracy and finish.

Which machines make the preform core and cavity?

Cores, cavities and neck rings are turned on Hardinge precision turning centers, with Mazak and Makino machining centers used for cavity features and Sodick EDM for fine hardened details.

Are mold bases ground after milling?

Yes. LIHE mold bases are machined on Mazak, Makino and Haas, ground on Okamoto and verified on the Zeiss CMM, for preform molds up to 160 cavities.

Does the equipment also support replacement parts for Husky or SACMI molds?

Yes. The same machines produce replacement and conversion parts. LIHE makes replacement parts from customers' existing Husky, SACMI or Otto parts, with a published lead time of 4 weeks for replacement parts.

What tool life can I expect from parts made on this equipment?

LIHE molds are built to withstand up to 8 million shots on Husky, SACMI and Netstal platforms. Actual life depends on resin, process and maintenance.

Product images have been enhanced with AI. To see the actual products, contact our sales team for photos of the machines on site.

Machining equipment

Machining Equipment

Our workshop runs CNC machining, turning, grinding and high-speed engraving equipment from Mazak, Makino and Okamoto (Japan), Haas and Hardinge (USA) and Beijing Jingdiao. This in-house capability covers every stage of mold making, from mold plates to cores, cavities, neck rings, gate inserts and blow mold cavities.

Mazak / Makino: Multi-axis and high-speed CNC machining centers for mold plates, cavities and blow mold shells.
Hardinge: Precision turning centers for cores, cavities and neck rings.
Okamoto: Precision surface grinders for mold plates and components.
Haas: CNC machining centers for general machining and fixtures.
Beijing Jingdiao: High-speed engraving machines for fine details and polished blow mold cavities.

Quotes and technical questions are handled directly by the manufacturer's international sales department.

Machining equipment reference for PET preform and blow molds: Mazak, Makino, Okamoto, Haas, Hardinge, Beijing Jingdiao and Sodick

Updated October 13, 2026Author: LIHE Precision Engineering Team

Machining equipment in mold making refers to the CNC machine tools — machining centers, turning centers, grinders, engraving machines and EDM machines — that shape steel into mold plates, cores, cavities, neck rings and blow mold cavities. LIHE Precision (Foshan Lihe Precision Machinery Co.,Ltd.) is a manufacturer of PET preform molds, blow molds, closure and compression molds, hot runner systems and mold components for the beverage and packaging industry, with manufacturing in Foshan, China. This page is a brand-by-brand reference: what each machine builder is known for and what its machines do in PET mold making.

Why the machine brand matters in PET preform mold making

Machine tool builders specialize. Some focus on rigid multi-axis machining centers, some on precision turning, some on grinding or EDM. A buyer who knows what each brand is built for can judge whether a mold maker has the right machine for each part — not just a long list of machines.

Accuracy and repeatability: a machine's spindle, guideways and thermal behavior set how closely it holds size over a long batch of identical parts.
Specialization: turning, milling, grinding and EDM each need a dedicated machine type to reach their best results.
Consistency: a mold with up to 160 cavities needs the same part machined many times with the same result.
Limits: a brand is not a guarantee by itself — programming, tooling, fixturing and measurement decide the final result.

Mazak and Makino (Japan): machining centers for mold plates, cavities and blow mold shells

Yamazaki Mazak is a Japanese builder of machining centers, turning centers and multi-tasking machines that combine turning and milling. Makino, also from Japan, is known for machining centers and EDM machines aimed at die and mold work, including high-speed machining of hardened steel.

Mold making role: multi-axis milling of mold plates and mold bases, cavity pockets, cooling channels and blow mold shells.
Why multi-axis matters: machining several faces in one clamping keeps bores, pockets and faces in correct relation to each other.
Why high-speed machining matters: small tools at high spindle speeds produce accurate contours and good surface finish on blow mold cavities, reducing polishing time.
At LIHE, mold bases are machined on Mazak, Makino and Haas machines.

Okamoto (Japan): precision surface grinding of plates and components

Okamoto is a Japanese builder of grinding machines, including surface grinders. Grinding works on hardened steel and produces flat, parallel faces with fine finish.

Mold making role: finishing mold plates and components to flatness and parallelism after heat treatment.
Why it matters: equal stack heights across all cavities depend on plates being flat and parallel; sealing faces must close without flash.
At LIHE, mold bases are ground on Okamoto machines and then verified on the Zeiss CMM.

Haas and Hardinge (USA): general CNC machining and precision turning

Haas Automation, based in California, builds CNC vertical and horizontal machining centers and lathes that are widely used for general machining. Hardinge, based in New York State, is known for precision lathes and turning centers designed for close-tolerance round parts.

Haas mold making role: general milling of plates, fixtures and supporting parts, and capacity for mold base machining.
Hardinge mold making role: turning of preform cores, cavities and neck rings — round parts where diameter and concentricity set preform wall thickness.
Why precision turning matters: turned features are naturally concentric, which is what core-to-cavity alignment needs.

Beijing Jingdiao (China): high-speed engraving for fine detail

Beijing Jingdiao builds high-speed precision machining and engraving centers designed for small tools, fine features and high surface quality.

Mold making role: embossed text, logos, grip patterns and fine radii in blow mold cavities, and small precise features on inserts.
Why it matters: fine detail cut accurately needs less hand finishing, which keeps cavities consistent across a multi-cavity blow mold set.
At LIHE, Jingdiao machines are used for fine details and polished blow mold cavities.

Sodick (Japan): EDM and wire EDM for hardened details

Sodick is a Japanese builder of electrical discharge machines, including die-sinking EDM and wire EDM. EDM removes metal with electrical sparks, so it can cut fully hardened steel and produce sharp internal corners and narrow slots that cutting tools cannot reach.

Mold making role: gate inserts, hot runner details, neck ring vents and thread details, and through-profiles in inserts and plates.
Why it matters: gate details control gate quality on every preform; making them after hardening avoids distortion from heat treatment.

Brand reference table

Brand	Country	Machine type	Typical mold making use
Mazak	Japan	Machining centers, multi-tasking and turning centers	Mold plates and bases, cavities, blow mold shells
Makino	Japan	High-speed machining centers	Mold plates, cavities, hardened contours, blow mold shells
Okamoto	Japan	Surface grinders	Flatness and parallelism of plates and components
Haas	USA	CNC machining centers and lathes	General machining, fixtures, mold bases
Hardinge	USA	Precision turning centers	Cores, cavities and neck rings
Beijing Jingdiao	China	High-speed engraving machines	Fine details, polished blow mold cavities
Sodick	Japan	EDM and wire EDM	Gate inserts, hot runner details, neck ring details

How a mold base moves across the machines

Step 1: Rough and finish-mill the plates — pockets, bores, cooling channels and bolt patterns — on Mazak, Makino or Haas machining centers.
Step 2: Grind the plate faces flat and parallel on Okamoto surface grinders.
Step 3: Cut any hardened slots or fine profiles by Sodick EDM where needed.
Step 4: Verify plate geometry and bore positions on the Zeiss CMM.
Step 5: Release the mold base for assembly with cores, cavities and neck rings turned on Hardinge machines.

Frequently asked questions

Why does LIHE use machines from several brands instead of one?: Each builder specializes: Mazak and Makino in machining centers, Hardinge in precision turning, Okamoto in grinding, Beijing Jingdiao in high-speed engraving and Sodick in EDM. Matching the machine type to the part gives better accuracy and finish.
Which machines make the preform core and cavity?: Cores, cavities and neck rings are turned on Hardinge precision turning centers, with Mazak and Makino machining centers used for cavity features and Sodick EDM for fine hardened details.
Are mold bases ground after milling?: Yes. LIHE mold bases are machined on Mazak, Makino and Haas, ground on Okamoto and verified on the Zeiss CMM, for preform molds up to 160 cavities.
Does the equipment also support replacement parts for Husky or SACMI molds?: Yes. The same machines produce replacement and conversion parts. LIHE makes replacement parts from customers' existing Husky, SACMI or Otto parts, with a published lead time of 4 weeks for replacement parts.
What tool life can I expect from parts made on this equipment?: LIHE molds are built to withstand up to 8 million shots on Husky, SACMI and Netstal platforms. Actual life depends on resin, process and maintenance.