Tooling innovations at NPE focused primarily on multi-cavity closure and medical applications, though there was also a substantial emphasis on large automotive and appliance parts.

At the world’s largest plastics show in Dusseldorf last fall, hot-runner and controller manufacturers introduced a flood of new developments in speed, size, accuracy, and reliability.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Several suppliers of hot-runner nozzles and controls have come out with new or enhanced products in the last few months.

A new line of control systems combines hot-runner temperature control and sequential valve-gate control in one enclosure with one interface and setup menu.

Hot-runner temperature controls from Gammaflux LP, Sterling, Va., are now standard on Universal Multishot System portable auxiliary injection units from MGS Mfg.

Sequential valve-gate control and hot-runner temperature control can both be managed within one new system from Gammaflux L.P., Sterling, Va.

WEB EXCLUSIVE Sequential valve-gate control and hot-runner temperature control can both be managed within one new system from Gammaflux L.P., Sterling, Va.

WEB EXCLUSIVE.

Gammaflux LP, Sterling, Va., and Synventive Molding Solutions, Peabody, Mass., have reached a private-label manufacturing agreement whereby Synventive will sell Gammaflux LEC and TTC hot-runner temperature-control systems.

Electrically driven valve pins, a low-cost alternative to valve-gating, mold-mounted temperature controllers, and new components for fast color changes are some of a host of new components and systems unveiled at the giant NPE 2006 show in Chicago this past June. (Some brand-new introductions since the show are also included in this report.) The news includes runnerless products aimed at everything from micromolding to shot weights up to 17.4 lb.

Thermal and mechanical testers, color and appearance sensors, vision inspection devices and CMMs—the NPE had them all in more compact, economical, and easy-to-use models.

Energy-saving all-electric machines will continue to be a big draw at NPE, where new designs or upgraded models will be found in virtually every press maker’s booth.

A new mold-identification function has been added to the TTC hot-runner temperature controller from Gammaflux L.P., Sterling, Va.

The diversity of electric machines will be on display at this year’s show, with several new all-electric versions in direct-drive and belt-driven versions.

Closer cavity spacing, in-press serviceability, improved valve gates, smarter controls, quick-ship standard manifolds, and Internet e-commerce were leading themes in hot runners at the big show in Chicago.Hot-runner components were one of the largest categories of injection molding products exhibited at the triennial NPE show in June.

Visitors to NPE can get a taste of how the Internet will serve as a gateway connecting processors to their process or linking customers to their orders.

Sophisticated hot-runner temperature controls introduced at the NPE show in Chicago store set-up data right on the mold, detect (and even fix) thermocouple wiring mistakes, and employ easier-to-use icon-based displays.