Cold runner injection molding is a molding process where molten plastic is injected into a mold through unheated channels called runners. As the plastic flows through these runners into the mold cavities, both the part and the runners solidify and are ejected together, often requiring secondary processing to remove or recycle the excess material.
The use of cold runner molds is still common in the plastic industry despite some of the possible disadvantages mentioned below. This is most likely because of several practical and cost-effective benefits, such as:
Cold runner molds usually use more material during production, though. This is because in every molding cycle, a plastic part and a runner are produced.
The runner is made of excess plastic material present in every shot. The excess material is removed and may be disposed of or reprocessed. Consequently, the processing time is usually longer. There are also side effects to using reprocessed plastic materials.
Looking to use cold runner molds for your business? Partner with the experts at Richfields. Contact us today to develop a customized solution tailored to your products and production needs.