HOT RUNNERS | TECHNOLOGY
Increased use of bio-based resins and post-consumer recyclates can cause problems in the injection moulding process. New hot runner technologies are meeting these challenges, writes Mark Holmes
Keeping a sustainable flow with hot runners
Hot runner technology is central to a cost-effective and efficient injection moulding process. The expansion of the circular economy in plastics continues to provide challenges as sustainable options, such as bio-based polymers and post- consumer recyclates, require new hot runner solutions. In this feature article, we report on leading mould and hot runner technology suppli- ers which have been developing solutions for this and other challenges. Mold-Masters reports that the growing demand for plastics components, including ones from recycled materials, is providing a buoyant market for hot runner systems in injection moulding and new technical developments. “We are always looking at ways to enhance processing through improving part quality, increasing productivity, and minimising downtime,” says Sudheer Thrissileri, Technical Director. “There are developments targeting the general injection process as well as for specific applications, such as Symfill technology. In addition, consumer demand and environmental awareness around the globe is accelerating the need for companies to find solutions for sustain- able applications. Mold-Masters supports this by being an industry leader in processing bio-resin
www.injectionworld.com
and post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials.” Mold-Masters says that it also has sustainable
application knowledge and success with both bio-resins and PCR materials. Sustainability is not only driven by government regulations, but consumer demand and environmental awareness around the world are pushing more companies towards sustainable applications. Using co-injec- tion multi-layer technology, the company says that it can combine two separate resins into a single three-layer melt flow. This enables the injection of high levels of PCR content as the core layer of up to 50% of total part weight, without sacrificing part quality or cycle time. In a recent production application, Mold-Masters implemented a co-injection system for producing 5 gallon (20 L) pails. Each of these pails incorporated 50% PCR as the core layer. This sustainable solution has the potential to generate significant savings for the moulder (based on current prices) by reducing the use of virgin material and titanium dioxide (compared to traditional mono-layer pails). These significant savings and favourable return-on-invest- ment mean that sustainability initiatives can also make good financial sense. According to Mold-Masters, its systems allow
Main image: Heatlock 16-drop valve gate technology
November/December 2022 | INJECTION WORLD 35
IMAGE: HEATLOCK
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
