Page 72 - Plastics News Issue October 2025
P. 72
IN THE NEWS
moulding, there is no time to spare. Cold runner The Sustainability Angle: Reducing Waste in
processes take a longer cycle because cooled Injection Moulding
runners are needed to eject them. The usage
of hot runners reflected in the reduction of this The manufacturing world today is about adopt-
cooling and hot runners permit fast output. ing the lean methodologies and being respon-
sible to the environment. Reduction in wastes
A closer examination of industry case studies is one of the greatest advantages of the hot
shows that they have been able to reduce cycle runner technology in injection moulding. Con-
times up to 30-50% as a result of installing hot ventional cold runner systems also create more
runners. This reflects into increased throughput, waste than necessary in the form of excess
increased utilisation of injection moulding speci- scrap, either to be recycled or dumped, further
fications to their fullest and lowered cost of op- incurring expenses to the company and clutter-
erations. More importantly, the shortened cycle ing the environment.
time also implies the quicker response to market
demand- a vital distinguishing factor in automo- Also with hot runner systems, there should be
tive, electronics industry, and medical plastics. no runners to begin with therefore minimal wast-
age of materials. This is in line with broader ob-
Plastic Part Precision and Quality jectives of sustainable plastics manufacturing
that enable businesses to address requirements
The essence of high quality manufacturing does of regulations as well as the expectations of cus-
not only lie in the speed, but also in accuracy. tomers. When combined with energy-efficient
Inadequate cooling, melt or inconsistent flow or moulding processes, hot runners lead towards
mould temperatures often modify precision of a more environmentally friendly industrial cycle
the plastic part. Hot runner systems offer uni- with little to no impact on productivity.
formity of pressure and temperature distribution
because it keeps resin molten in all times and Mould Temperature Control: The Hidden Key
directs it to the cavities.
Behind every efficient moulding operation is
This consistency leads to smoother surfaces, proper mould temperature control. When tem-
propagation of fewer weld-lines and eliminated perature is not controlled, manufacturers are ex-
part flaws. Hot runners are an absolute neces- posed to incomplete filling, warping of the parts
sity to industries like medical devices where the or shrinkage.
precision of the plastic parts has a direct effect
on patient safety. Furthermore, compatibility of Hot runner systems keep the resin at desired
the system with high-technology moulds and temperature until injection thus improving con-
dies guarantees high repeatability and consist- trol over mould temperature.
ency even on huge print runs.
Zone-by-zone heating has also become possi-
72 PLASTICS NEWS October 2025
