Rising energy costs are prompting plastics processors to focus on reducing energy consumption and improving production efficiency. Addressing this need, HASCO has developed the additively manufactured Streamrunner® hot runner, which can reduce the energy consumption of the manifold by up to 85%.
The Streamrunner® features an innovative compact design that enables hot runner moulds to be made smaller, potentially allowing manufacturers to use smaller injection moulding machines. Its compact construction also reduces the space required within the mould.
With a nozzle spacing of 18 mm or more, the Streamrunner® allows more cavities to be accommodated on the same build surface or enables the overall tool size to be reduced. Its low overall height of at least 26 mm further helps optimise the available installation space, supporting more compact mould designs.
The combination of reduced energy consumption and compact mould dimensions is aimed at helping plastics processors improve energy efficiency while optimising machine and tool requirements.
The Streamrunner® also offers potential savings in tool design. Unusual numbers of cavities and nozzle arrangements can be implemented flexibly. In the case of family tools, simple rheological balancing is possible. The compact design can also help to enable the use of smaller injection moulding machines, thereby reducing costs further in the production process.
The streamlined design, with smooth surfaces and no dead zones, reduces material deposits and shear stress in the plastic melt. This is particularly advantageous for frequent colour changes and when processing sensitive materials. For corrosive polymers, the standard manifold is made of corrosion-resistant steel.
The Streamrunner® is available in sizes of up to 300 × 300 mm. By combining reduced energy consumption in the injection moulding process with a compact mould design, the system supports cost-effective and resource-efficient injection moulding production.