Ewikon is showing its solutions for hot runner systems in injection molding, starting with the premiere of its Pro Edge VG valve gate for direct side gating. The company has marketed its radial edge gate nozzles since 2007. The difference with the new product is that it features a valve gate instead of a thermal gate, enabling mechanical closure.

“At this point in time, it is the only product on the market that can gate in that particular configuration,” says Ryan Boxall, vice president and general manager at Ewikon.

Ewikon believes this product will open up opportunities for its customers in consumer products, packaging or medical applications to move away from traditional cold runner tools.

“This nozzle solves some of the issues that have existed in the past, and have forced people to use a mold design that wasn’t favorable, with extra runner and plastic waste,” Boxall says. “It can get them into a direct gated design that was not previously available to them.”

Smart Control For Industry 4.0

Ewikon is also highlighting its previously introduced Smart Control product. The product is a measurement solution that integrates data from the hot runner system into networked injection molding production. By monitoring temperatures and residence times, and calculating shear rates at various positions, Smart Control provides data transparency that enables process optimization and quality management. The product also provides assistance with troubleshooting and can identify the need for maintenance tasks. All data can be exported via WLAN or ethernet.

Liquid Silicone Rubber

In addition to hot runner injection molding of thermoplastics, Ewikon also offers solutions for LSR. The company’s Coolshot product is a cold runner system featuring electric drive valve gate technology. According to Ewikon, the motors enable high precision valve pin positioning in steps of 0.01 mm, to fine-tune cavity filling.