Abstract: Preforms are produced by injection molding in an injection molding machine, allowing enough pre-cooling time within the mold to create a temporary rigid skin on the preforms, and transporting the preforms to a separate cooling device. In the preferred embodiment, the step of transporting the preforms to a separate cooling device includes the steps of removing the preforms into a carrier mounted as an end-of-arm tool on a robot, the carrier having a plurality of orifices to receive the preforms, and using the robot to transport the carrier and the preforms to a cooling device interface. The cooling device interface has a plurality of hoses connected thereto for pneumatically transporting the preforms from the carrier to the cooling device. The preferred apparatus thus includes a robot, and an end-of-arm tool for the robot having a plurality of orifices alignable with mold cavities in the injection molding machine once the mold halves are opened.