Blow moulding machine in a modular design

An apparatus for producing plastic containers, comprising:

• a heating module that heats plastic preforms, the heating module including a transport unit that transports the plastic preforms during the heating process;
• and
• a moulding module for moulding the plastic preforms into plastic containers, the moulding module being disposed downstream of the heating unit in the transport direction of the plastic preforms, the moulding module including:
• a blow moulding unit for applying a flowable medium onto the plastic preforms for the expansion thereof, and
• a transport unit that transports the plastic preforms during the expansion thereof,
• wherein the heating module includes a first interface and the moulding module includes a second interface, the first interface and the second interface allowing both a mechanical connection and an electric connection between the modules connected by the interfaces in such a way that it is possible to integrate at least one further module between the heating module and the moulding module, which at least one further module treats the plastic preforms following the heating process carried out by the heating module and prior to the moulding process carried out by the moulding module, and
• wherein said at least one further module is a module that carries out in one process both an at least partial sterilization of the plastic preforms and an application of the temperature profile on the plastic preforms, which temperature profile changes in the longitudinal direction and/or the circumferential direction thereof.