Injection molding is a cyclical process comprising metered feeding, melting, injection, cooling, and ejection. After retrieving the plastic part, the mold closes again for the next cycle.

Vertical: The clamping unit and injection unit in this type are on the same vertical centerline, and the mold opens vertically. As a result, it occupies less floor space and is easier to fit components. Mold loading and unloading are more convenient, and materials falling into the hopper can undergo more uniform plasticization.

Demag is an injection molding machine brand under the German company Demag Plastics Group. In 2008, it was acquired by Sumitomo.

Initially, granular or powdered plastic is added to the barrel, heated by the screw’s rotation and the barrel’s outer wall. The machine then moves the mold and injection seat forward, aligning the nozzle with the mold’s gate. Pressure oil is introduced into the injection cylinder, driving the screw forward to inject the molten material into the cooler closed mold at high pressure and speed. After a period of pressure holding and cooling, the product is removed from the mold. Pressure holding prevents material reflux and ensures product density and dimensional tolerance.

Arburg employs around 3700 employees worldwide and has a presence at 36 ARBURG locations and with trading partners in over 100 countries.

This vital power source comprises hydraulic pumps, hydraulic motors, pressure valves, etc. It converts hydraulic fluid pressure into mechanical energy, facilitating various machine operations.

Electric: Electric injection molding machines have been proven to be quieter, faster, and more precise, but they are also more expensive.”

The length and width dimensions of the mold should match the dimensions of the injection molding machine template and tie-bar spacing to ensure smooth installation of the mold on the template.

The working principle of injection molding machines resembles that of syringes. It employs the thrust of a screw (or plunger) to inject molten plastic into a closed mold cavity, resulting in the formation of products after solidification.

Husky caters to its core market clientele by offering molds, systems, and services. It designs and manufactures various types of injection molding machines, hot runners, robots, molds, and integrated systems.

Defined as the final clamping force exerted by the template on the mold when the mold closes and the melt is injected into the cavity. Clamping force is usually calculated by multiplying the average pressure inside the cavity by the projected area of the cavity. The average pressure inside the cavity is typically 20-40 MPa.

We can see that each brand of injection molding machine has different specifications and models. Let’s take a look at the various types of injection molding machines.

Horizontal: In this type, the clamping unit and injection unit are on the same horizontal centerline, and the mold opens horizontally. Horizontal injection molding machines have a low profile, making them easy to operate and maintain. Their low center of gravity ensures stable installation.

Assembly, Hot Stamping, Ultrasonic Welding and Pad Printing. Be them cosmetic or functional parts our precision molding machinery can produce parts weighting up to 20 lbs (9 kg).

For injection molding machine factories, each purchased brand of injection molding machine comes with relevant company personnel to provide on-site guidance for usage. Since injection molding machines require regular maintenance, factories also consider the convenience of machine maintenance while considering accuracy. Therefore, the rankings above are not the final criteria for your purchase of injection molding machines.

Fanuc Corporation was founded in 1956 and is a global leader in the research and manufacturing of numerical control systems. It produces all-electric injection molding machines and is a leading player in the worldwide market for electric injection molding machines.

Injection molding machines are classified based on their structural forms, which can include horizontal injection molding machines, vertical injection molding machines.

Additionally, the diverse business structures of each company do not accurately reflect the real capabilities of their injection molding machines.

The above has provided a detailed explanation of some knowledge related to injection molding machines. However, we haven’t delved into the prices of injection molding machines. Suppose you’re a businessman planning to invest in purchasing injection molding machines for injection molding services. In that case, it’s advisable to visit the official websites of different brands or consult local distributors to compare prices.

Wittmann-Battenfeld’s expertise lies predominantly in molding applications weighing just a few grams or less. These machines, considered leading precision molding solutions in the current market, boast high speed and precision.

This system controls the temperature of the plastic in the mold, consisting of heaters, cooling water circuits, cooling fans, etc.

In the article “What is Injection Molding,” I mentioned two indispensable tools in the injection molding process: the injection mold and the injection molding machine. Today, let’s get acquainted with some of the world’s top brands of injection molding machines. We will also provide a comprehensive introduction to some of the main parameters and types of injection molding machines.

Additionally, gravity facilitates automatic ejection of molded products, enabling easy implementation of fully automated operations. Currently, this type is widely used in the market.

However, molded products are not easily automatically ejected and must be manually removed, making fully automated operations difficult. Vertical injection molding machines are suitable for small-scale injection molding machines, especially those below 60 grams.

The ejection stroke should be reasonably selected based on the shape of the product and the design structure of the mold. Generally, the ejection stroke of the machine is fixed, and when ordering the machine, a larger ejection stroke is preferred to accommodate a wider range of products.

Injection molding machines are classified based on their clamping methods, which can include hydraulic, mechanical, and electric types.

For three-plate double-parting surface injection molds, the opening distance needs to be increased by the separation distance between the fixed mold and the gate plate.

Established in Austria by Ludwig Engel in 1945, Engel began its journey. In 1952, the company rolled out its first injection molding machine. Since then, it has evolved into a leading provider of high-end solutions across various sectors such as automotive, electronics, packaging, and medical industries worldwide. It offers a diverse range of process solutions.

Reciprocating: This type relies on a screw for plasticizing and injection, offering good mixing and plasticizing properties. It is the most commonly used type nowadays.

Wittmann Battenfeld, founded in Czech Republic in 1876, specializes in the production of hydraulic, electric, micro, and multi-color injection molding machines.

Milacron is a US-based company that provides a full range of injection molding, blow molding, and auxiliary equipment. Additionally, they offer plastic processing machinery and hot runner solutions, along with fluid technologies.

Arburg, a German mechanical manufacturing company, stands as the world’s foremost manufacturer of plastic injection molding machines. Its applications span across various sectors such as automotive, communication and entertainment electronics, medical technology, household appliances, and packaging, for the production of plastic components.

Established in 1857 in Switzerland, Netstal originated as a foundry machinery company. In 1945, it ventured into the field of injection molding. The company’s headquarters are located in Nafels, Glarus Canton. In 1992, Netstal was acquired by KraussMaffei.

Selecting the top ten injection molding machine manufacturers involves numerous criteria, with company revenue often being the first metric that comes to mind. I spent an entire day collecting annual financial report data from these suppliers. Many online articles mention company revenue data that significantly deviates from the real figures. Moreover, many injection molding companies’ official latest annual reports are still from the past few years, some even dating back to before 2018, making them unreliable for reference.

Hydraulic: Hydraulic machines have historically been the only option available for molders until Nissei Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd. introduced the first all-electric injection molding machine in 1983.

This critical control system includes PLC, touch screens, electrical components, etc. It enables precise control and data feedback for the injection molding machine.

The mold opening stroke of the injection molding machine is limited, and the opening distance required to take out the product must be less than the maximum opening stroke of the injection molding machine. For single-parting surface injection molds, the opening stroke is S >= H1 + H2 + 5~10 (mm), where H1 is the demolding distance (usually equal to the height of the mold core), H2 is the height of the product (including the gating system).

The KraussMaffei brand traces its roots back to 1838, founded by Swabian in Munich. In 1930, Krauss merged with Maffei. In January 2016, the company was acquired by China National Chemical Corporation. It boasts five injection molding machine series: AX, CX, EX, GX, and MX, with clamping forces ranging from 35 to 5500 tons. Power sources include hydraulic, hybrid, and fully electric drives.

Their injection molding technology finds major applications in the beverage, packaging, and medical technology industries, particularly for the production of technically demanding and thin-walled plastic components. Netstal provides cutting-edge injection molding solutions worldwide, positioning its machines at the forefront in terms of technology, manufacturing, and product quality.

This core component injects molten plastic material into the mold. It comprises the plasticizing device and the power transmission device. The plasticizing device includes the feeding device, barrel, screw, and nozzle assembly, while the power transmission device includes the injection oil cylinder, injection seat, moving oil cylinder, and screw drive device.

Defined as the maximum weight of PS plastic injected into the mold. When the material of the plastic product differs from PS, the injection volume is calculated as m = cb/1.05 (where b is the density of the plastic, and c is the injection volume represented by PS plastic). It’s advisable to keep the product’s total weight within 85% of the injection volume. For amorphous plastics, the maximum value can be taken, while for high-viscosity plastics, a smaller value is preferred.

Demag operates four production bases in Germany, the United States, Japan, and China, employing over 2,000 experts and staff. It develops and manufactures a series of all-electric, hybrid, and hydraulic injection molding machines, with clamping forces ranging from 180 kN to 20,000 kN. Sumitomo (SHI) Demag’s products are distributed across global markets.

There are many injection molding machine suppliers around the world, including those that are well-known locally or globally. Let’s start by listing some of the more famous injection molding machine suppliers:

Injection rate refers to the amount of molten material ejected from the nozzle per unit time, with the theoretical value being the product of the cross-sectional area and speed inside the barrel.

The specifications of the injection molding machine generally include maximum and minimum mold thickness, representing the thickness of the mold that the injection molding machine can accommodate.

Taking into account comprehensive factors such as the production quality of brand injection molding machines, injection speed, shot ratio, clamping force, and tonnage model, I have compiled a list of the top ten brand injection molding machines that truly reflect their capabilities.

Plunger: This type of machine has poor mixing and plasticizing properties and often requires the installation of a shuttle device. It is now rarely used.

Sumitomo injection molding machines are products of Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd., known for their high quality, high yield, efficiency, and low noise. They utilize precision control, high-speed heating, and energy-saving hydraulic systems to enhance production efficiency, quality, and reliability while being environmentally friendly.

Injection pressure in the specifications of the injection molding machine refers to the highest pressure inside the barrel during injection, not the highest pressure of the injection system oil. The relationship between injection pressure and oil pressure is inversely proportional to the ratio of the screw cross-sectional area to the shot cylinder area.

Injection molding machines are classified based on their plasticizing methods, which can include plunger plastic injection molding machines, reciprocating plastic injection molding machines, and screw type plastic injection molding machines.

This system fixes the mold. After mold closure, it provides sufficient clamping force to resist the pressure generated by the molten plastic entering the mold cavity, preventing mold opening and product defects.