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.

Injection mold simulation has become a standard tool for molders and mold designers.

It’s big news when an OE M decides to move a substantial number of molds from one processing operation (either their own in-house/captive facility or an outsourced molder) to another.

Though it grabs a lot of headlines, multi-material, multi-shot processing still makes up only about 10% of injection molding activity in North America.

WEB EXCLUSIVE Two new cost-saving rotary platen styles have been added to the Universal Multishot Systems (UMS) line of ancillary equipment from MGS Mfg, Group Inc., Germantown, Wis.

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

A partnership to provide complete integrated production systems for multi-material molding was announced recently between Gram Technology Inc., Scottsdale, Ariz., and MGS Mfg.

The drive to eliminate secondary operations is pushing multi-shot injection molding a step farther—toward assembling separate components in the tool via snap-fits, welding, and co-molding of incompatible materials.

Among new blow molding developments at the show was an innovative coextrusion system for the growing small-engine fuel tank market.

Multi-shot and coinjection molding techniques are staking out new territory. Mach ines are getting larger and are combining more materials or colors in more sophisticated and imaginative ways.