How to add automation to injection molding?

Plastics Industry Automation

Automation in the Plastics Industry involves robots, cobots, molding cells, part pickers, and end-of-arm-tooling.

Choosing the Right Robot for Your Plastics Manufacturing Application: 3-, 5-, or 6-axis?

This guide from ARI helps you determine whether a 3-, 5- or 6-axis robot is best for your plastics manufacturing needs, outlining key use cases and expert tips for optimal performance.

ESSENTIAL READING

VIEW ALL

Automation 11 Nov 2025

Small Shops, Big Gains: How To Know If You’re Ready for Automation

In injection molding, automation is often seen as a tool for large companies with complex processes and high-volume production, but that mindset misses a broader truth: Automation can benefit molders of all sizes — even those running low-volume or straightforward jobs.

Injection Molding 3 Sep 2024

What to Look for in High-Speed Automation for Pipette Production

Automation is a must-have for molders of pipettes. Make sure your supplier provides assurances of throughput and output, manpower utilization, floor space consumption and payback period.

best practices 19 Nov 2020

How to Automate High-Precision ‘Micro’ Insert Molding

What does it take to automate a horizontal injection molding cell to handle micro-sized inserts and molded parts? General-purpose top-entry robots and tooling may not be up to the job.

industry 4.0 2 Nov 2020

How to Plan and Implement Automation in an Injection Molding Plant

There is no “one size fits all” solution in automation. When considering what it would look like in your plant, hone in on the staff, products, space, and goals that are specific to you and the automation system that you will be installing.

Injection Molding 1 Jul 2019

AUTOMATION—PART 2 When to Consider Six-Axis Articulated-Arm Robots

Extraordinary versatility suits articulated-arm robots to a wide variety of operations, from loading inserts and unloading parts to decorating, assembly and testing. They also pair well with Cartesian robots. Many mounting options and improved speed and ease of programming add to their flexibility.

Automation 20 Jun 2019

How to Make Your Pneumatics ‘Smart’

Emerson’s Avantics Smart Pneumatics Analyzer digitizes the analog pneumatic environment and monitors and analyzes key operating data.

Imperial Industries welded resin storage silos

Latest Automation News And Updates

k show 16 Sep 2025

Coperion Expands Predictive Maintenance Platform

New component enables predictive maintenance planning, thus increasing a line’s OEE. At K 2025, Coperion will also demo new extruder condition-monitoring system.

monitoring 19 Aug 2025

Next-Generation MES Applies AI

BMSvision will mark its 50th anniversary by introducing its latest manufacturing execution systems (MES) at K 2025, applying artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).

Injection Molding 15 Aug 2025

Sepro Launches Revamped Robot Line and Controller

Sepro will debut the faster more power S-Line robots and a fully revamped Visual 4 controller at K 2025.

industry 4.0 13 Aug 2025

Arburg's K Focus: Sustainability, Digitalization, Automation

With some debuts still under wraps at press time, Arburg says attendees will find answers to pressing questions around sustainability, digitalization and automation at its K 2025 booth.

Automation 13 Aug 2025

AI and Tiebarless Debuts for Engel

The latest generation of its electric tiebarless victory injection molding machines, inject AI process assistance and AI-powered machine support via its e-connect portal, will debut at K 2025.

All Electric & Hybrid Machines 12 Aug 2025

Sumitomo (SHI) Demag Plans for ‘Electric’ K 2025

Debuts include an all-electric multicomponent IntElect 350t combined with a SAM-C20 robot and two high-speed PAC-E machines targeting high-speed packaging applications.