Preconditioned paperboard containers and method and apparatus for making the same.

Containers and a method for forming such containers having larger brims with reduced brim curl defects is disclosed including providing a plurality of container blanks for forming containers, forming a plurality of container shells from the plurality of blanks, accumulating the plurality of container shells at an accumulation station, subjecting at least an upper periphery of the shells to a humid atmosphere to precondition the shells with the atmosphere preferably including steam, successively removing the shells from the accumulator and subsequently forming a brim curl about an upper periphery of the shell with the shells being subject to the humid atmosphere for a predetermined time period sufficient to form defect-free brim curls by extending the forming strain limits of the paperboard material. This method being carried out by using an accumulator for accumulating the container shells for further processing. Alternatively, the container blanks can be retained in a hopper leaving the portion of the container blank to be formed into the brim of the container exposed.