Method and apparatus for locating a preform on a mold

An apparatus for locating a preform on a mold, comprising:

• a preform handling tool;
• a force sensor coupled to the preform handling tool wherein the force sensor is capable of sensing forces applied to the preform during handling of the preform by the preform handling tool;
• a cooling arrangement for creating a thermally-controlled bubble around the force sensor, the cooling arrangement comprising a cooling plate disposed between the force sensor and the preform handling tool, wherein the cooling plate is proximate to or in contact with the force sensor and the cooling plate comprises a cooling plate chamber inside of which chilled fluid is circulated to remove heat from the force sensor such that a temperature within the thermally-controlled bubble is less than 40° C.;
• and
• a control device comprising a robot arm arranged and operable to move the preform handling tool relative to the mold.