An apparatus for the fabrication of a container, comprising: - a mold, said mold comprising a plurality of mold segments (101, 102A, 102B) substantially defining a mold cavity in the form of a container, and being further configured to accommodate a substantially tubular preform having a closed first end and defining a preform cavity communicating with a mouth at an open second end; - an injection head, said injection head configured to interface with the mouth of the preform and establish fluid communication between a liquid supply and said mouth; - an injection valve, said injection valve comprising a valve body configured to selectively permit fluid communication through said injection head; and - a stretching rod slideably disposed within the injection head, said stretching rod being mobile relative to the preform along a longitudinal axis of said preform and configured to press against an interior surface of said preform at the closed first end thereof; - a displacement plunger disposed coaxially about and mobile relative to said stretching rod between a retracted position substantially within the injection head and an extended position wherein said displacement plunger projects at least partially from said injection head, wherein the stretching rod and displacement plunger are both disposed coaxially within the valve body, characterized in that the stretching rod and displacement plunger are configured to be independently mobile relative to both the valve body and each other, whereby the valve body is itself disposed coaxially with a valve, seat and a nozzle, such that the entire group of nozzle, valve body, valve seat, displacement plunger, and stretching rod are disposed in alignment along the longitudinal axis. - a mold, said mold comprising a plurality of mold segments (101, 102A, 102B) substantially defining a mold cavity in the form of a container, and being further configured to accommodate a substantially tubular preform having a closed first end and defining a preform cavity communicating with a mouth at an open second end; - an injection head, said injection head configured to interface with the mouth of the preform and establish fluid communication between a liquid supply and said mouth; - an injection valve, said injection valve comprising a valve body configured to selectively permit fluid communication through said injection head; and - a stretching rod slideably disposed within the injection head, said stretching rod being mobile relative to the preform along a longitudinal axis of said preform and configured to press against an interior surface of said preform at the closed first end thereof; - a displacement plunger disposed coaxially about and mobile relative to said stretching rod between a retracted position substantially within the injection head and an extended position wherein said displacement plunger projects at least partially from said injection head, wherein the stretching rod and displacement plunger are both disposed coaxially within the valve body, characterized in that the stretching rod and displacement plunger are configured to be independently mobile relative to both the valve body and each other, whereby the valve body is itself disposed coaxially with a valve, seat and a nozzle, such that the entire group of nozzle, valve body, valve seat, displacement plunger, and stretching rod are disposed in alignment along the longitudinal axis.