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.

Most of the emphasis is on valve gating and on doing more in less space. Other highlights include standardized mold components, some impressive feats of moldmaking creativity, and advances in mold simulation.

Hot buttons at the show will be multi-component molding, in-mold labeling/decorating (IML/IMD), in-mold assembly, medical molding, liquid silicone rubber (LSR), micro-molding, and high-speed packaging.

Late last month, Friedrichshafen, Germany, hosted Fakuma 2011, the largest European plastics show of the year, growing to be second in size and importance to the K show in Dusseldorf.

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.

K 2010 news in tooling aims at helping injection moldmakers speed product to market.

New compact modules containing multiple hot-runner nozzles are available from Hasco America Inc., Fletcher, N.C.

With the mounting of the flexible sealing elements in the mould cavity plates, inserted metal parts can be over moulded without flashing plastic or compession damage.

The new, ready-to-install Z016/... angle pin for the movement of slide units is complete with a conical head angled of 18°. This time and money saving idea allows the toolmaker to use the pin directly in the mould without the need of modification.

This element enables ejector pins or core pins to travel literally "through" the cooling system.

A new hot-runner temperature controller for 2 to 128 zones boasts very fast scanning and fuzzy logic for accuracy to 0.1° C without overshooting.

Two grades of Toolox prehardened tool steel plates are now offered by Hasco America Inc., Fletcher, N.C.

A new line of stainless-steel ejectors is designed for use where traces of oxidation can cause impermissible contamination of parts for medical, food-contact, or other sensitive uses.

Eight different types of steel with circular cross-sections that can be used to fabricate mold inserts and cores have been added to the product line of Hasco America Inc., Fletcher, N.C.

A valve-gate option has been added to the Z3240 series of Compact hot-runner nozzles from Hasco America Inc., Arden, N.C.

Hasco America, Arden, N.C., has extended its flat steel range with a number of additional products.

A new series of stainless-steel date stamps, including a mini version for very small parts, comes from Hasco America Inc., Arden, N.C.

A new two-stage ejector design and a new size for larger parts have been introduced by Hasco America, Arden, N.C.

Value Shot hot-runner nozzles for multicavity applications from Hasco America Inc., Arden, N.C., have been redesigned and upgraded.

New modular mold-slide elements offer controlled slide functions directly from the mold movement.

Specially tailored packages of 3D computer-aided design software have been available to injection mold designers for at least a decade.

A new needle-drive unit for hot-runner valve gates is said to overcome several limitations common to single-shot needle valves.

While a number of exhibitors at the “K” show in Dusseldorf are keeping their new entries under wraps until showtime later this month, some suppliers have released a few details on their new hot-runner components and controls.D-M-E will introduce the Bacchus hot-runner system for crates and packaging.

A new line of tunnel gates designed to ensure high part surface quality comes from Hasco America Inc., Arden, N.C.

At the big “K” Show next month, top billing goes to new all-electric machines aimed at every segment of the market, from general-purpose to high-end.

New free, downloadable PC software helps a mold designer review and select mechanical transmission components for injection tooling such as gear racks, threaded cores, cog wheels, bearings, helical spindles, and nuts.

A new line of hot-runner valve-gate nozzles for closures and other packaging comes from Hasco America, Arden, N.C.

Mold hoses for hydraulic oil, air, or water have been added to the cooling system program from Hasco America, Arden, N.C.

The new Z1230 line of hot-runner temperature controllers from Hasco America Inc., Arden, N.C., comes in six-zone increments from 48 to 96 zones.

Two prehardened tool steels for plastic molds are offered by Hasco America Inc., Arden, N.C.

A new latch locking unit is designed for larger injection molds with multi-stage plate sequencing, such as three-plate types.

The Value Shot Z202 series of hotrunner nozzles from Hasco America Inc., Arden, N.C., has been extended with new sizes, tip geometry, heaters, and accessories.

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.

Hasco America Inc., Arden, N.C., is now offering standard or custom mold bases as a package together with a hot-runner system.

A new two-stage ejector system designed for off-center mounting is said to be particularly useful for large molds that require high ejection forces.

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 centering unit for mold pins from Hasco America Inc., Arden, N.C., has been improved for easier use.

Protection against lime scale or rust build-up inside cooling channels is said to be provided by a new device from Hasco America Inc., Arden, N.C.

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.

The internet is redefining the tool-design process. Some mold designers are finding that using the Web to manage a tool project can shorten lead times, cut costs, and make sure vital data get to all participants in a project.

From complete hot halves to individual nozzles, a host of new products promise smaller gate vestiges, less maintenance, better temperature control, and lower cost.