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New aluminum mold blocks from ThermaForm LLC, Troy, Mich., incorporate conformal cooling technology to reduce cycle times for blow molded bottles. ThermaBlocks have been used for a year at Smith Dairy, Orrville, Ohio, to make gallon HDPE milk bottles. At Smith, cycle time was reduced and capacity climbed 14%/cavity/hr, resulting in production of an extra 600,000 bottles/yr. Patented technology puts the water closer to the mold surface and increases the ratio of water to mold surface, according to Michael Mast, general manager. Unlike other multi-piece conformal cooling systems, ThermaBlocks are seamless pre-finished blocks that reportedly reduce mold temperature by 10%, resulting in less bottle-neck ovality, reduced warpage, and less scrap.