Apparatus for manufacturing a container

An apparatus for use in manufacturing a bottle, the bottle comprising an inner pouch and an outer paperboard shell, the shell being made from a sheet blank comprising a main body panel, and a plurality of neck panels including at least first and second neck panels, and the apparatus comprising:

• a former having a cavity for receiving said pouch, the former comprising a main body section, a neck section and a shoulder section extending between the main body section and the neck section;
• at least two neck press elements, each neck press element including a press surface facing and aligned with at least a part of the neck section of the former, and each neck press element being moveable into a clamping position to clamp a part of one of said neck panels between the neck press element and the neck section of the former, with the plurality of neck panels, in combination, extending around an outer circumference of the former;
• and
• at least two shoulder press elements, each shoulder press element including a press surface facing and aligned with the shoulder section of the former, and each shoulder press element being moveable into a clamping position to clamp a part of one of said neck panels between the shoulder press element and the shoulder section of the former,
• wherein the cavity extends through the neck section and the main body section of the former.