Stretch-blown plastic container with a handle region made integral and method of production for the plastic container

A method for producing a plastic container having a container body which encloses a filling volume with a container bottom;

• a container neck which adjoins an opposite end of the container body, having a container opening and an integrated handle region, the handle region being hollow and joined to the filling volume which is enclosed by the container body;
• and between the handle region and the container body, a through opening recessed and bordered over its entire periphery by wall parts of the container body and of the handle region which have been welded to one another;
• the method comprising:
• axially and radially stretching tubular preform into a plastic container by a stretch blowing in a blow mold;
• during stretching bringing two opposing wall regions of the container body close together by plungers which are extendable out of the blow mold to prepare an integrated handle region;
• afterwards removing a stretch-blown plastic container from the mold for transport to a welding station;
• welding the wall regions which have been brought together to one another with formation of a weld;
• and
• separating and removing one wall section enclosed by the weld from the container body with formation of a through opening.