Page 71 - Plastics News Issue October 2025
P. 71
IN THE NEWS
The Role of Hot Runner Systems in
Reducing Waste and Cycle Time
This article will discuss the multifaceted impact
of hot runner systems on modern manufacturing
in terms of injection moulding efficiency, moulds
and dies performance, industry-wide approach-
es to temperature control of moulds, mould
maintenance procedures and energy-saving
moulding practices.
Understanding Hot Runner Systems in Injec-
tion Moulding
The core of any plastic manufacturing opera-
tion is the capacity to manufacture parts that
have consistent integrity at the least possible
expense. Conventionally, cold runner systems
were city dominating where plastic resin flows
through channels that are unheated before fill-
Introduction ing the moulds and dies. Nonetheless, these
runners leave behind excessive materials and
The plastics industry has been heralding new byproducts, extend the manufacturing process,
ideas and efficiency and sustainability. Within a and add on to the injection moulding inefficiency.
myriad of technological improvements that in-
fluence this industry, hot runner systems have On the other hand, hot runner systems use heat-
proven to be one of the most powerful. These ed components to keep resin molten as it as-
systems have facilitated the manner in which cends to a hollow. The bypass of runners means
manufacturers have approached injection mould- that direct gating only produces minimal waste
ing by answering two important needs namely, and the operations are streamlined. Hot runners
cycle time savings and the possibility of minimiz- used in conjunction with the appropriate speci-
ing waste in injection moulding. With global eco- fications of injection moulding machines provide
nomic pressures demanding more precision of manufacturers with a proven competitive upper
plastic parts, expedited turn-around, and more hand.
environmentally sustainable production options,
organizations are focusing more of their invest- Cycle Time Reduction: The Competitive Edge
ments in the advantages of hot runners in plas- Reduction of cycle time is one of the main fac-
tics to remain competitive. tors that lead to implementation of hot runner
systems by the manufacturers. With injection
October 2025 PLASTICS NEWS 71
