Horizontal injection molding machine

servo-electricfor PVCfor EVA

Overview
Choosing the right injection molding machine directly determines factory output, scrap rate, and ROI. Common issues include mismatched clamp tonnage, incorrect shot-weight estimation, and omission of required peripheral units. This guide summarizes application setups, critical specs to verify, and field cases based on export and installation experience.

Main applications
An injection molding machine serves production for footwear components, industrial parts, and everyday plastic goods. Identifying the appropriate machine type helps meet target output and quality.

• Horizontal injection molding machine (industrial standard): Suited to large plastic items such as chairs, crates, pallets, trash bins and planters. Pairing with a servo drive typically reduces energy consumption by over 30% compared with standard motors.
• Vertical injection molding machine (precision & inserts): Best for insert molding, electronic components, and small shoe parts (straps, soles). Vertical clamping and a small footprint simplify manual or robotic insertion.
• Rotary-type machine (footwear specialized): Designed for high-volume shoe production. Handles PVC, TPR and TPU for slippers and air-blown soles; multi-station rotary layouts reduce cooling idle time.

Pro tips on materials and process
For PVC or TPR slippers, use a rotary air-blowing unit. PU or EVA require dedicated foaming equipment due to different material and thermal profiles. When running multi-color molds, ensure chiller capacity matches cycle requirements; insufficient cooling limits rotation speed in warm conditions.

Key specs to check before buying
Do not purchase based on price tag alone — match machine specs to mold geometry and process needs.

• Clamp tonnage and mold dimensions: Clamp tonnage prevents mold separation under melt pressure. Calculate required tonnage from part projected area multiplied by resin pressure factors, and confirm mold fits within tie-bar spacing.
• Shot size range: Keep the part weight within 20%–80% of the machine's shot capacity. Operating under 20% increases resin degradation; exceeding 80% causes short shots and unstable melt.
• Motor type and factory power: Servo motors reduce electricity use (typical savings 30%–70%). Verify site voltage and frequency (examples: 380V/50Hz, 480V/60Hz) before ordering to avoid installation delays.

Auxiliary equipment and common add-ons
Typical peripherals that improve automation and part quality include:

• Hopper dryers (remove resin moisture)
• Auto-loaders
• Water chillers (mold cooling)
• Mold temperature controllers
• Plastic crushers (grind runners/scrap for reprocessing)

Field case: Factory upgrade example
Client profile: A factory producing two-color PVC slippers suffered high scrap rates on older machines.
The challenge: The previous setup had too few stations, causing short cooling times, warped soles and elevated local power costs.
YG solution (example implementation):

• Supplied a 24-station rotary air-blowing injection molding machine with energy-saving servo motors.
• Installed mold temperature controllers and industrial chillers to stabilize cooling cycles.
• Provided remote support for installation, wiring and parameter setup.

Real results (illustrative): Pass rates increased, power consumption decreased, and daily output rose substantially, enabling faster recovery of equipment costs.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

• Can one injection molding machine produce different product sizes? Horizontal presses can run various parts by changing molds. Specialized shoe or cup machines typically target narrower part ranges and may need dedicated mold sets for large size shifts.
• What auxiliary equipment is needed? Common auxiliary units include hopper dryers, auto-loaders, water chillers, mold temperature controllers and plastic crushers to improve automation and part quality.

Conclusion
Selecting the right injection molding machine is fundamental for profitable plastics or footwear production. From tonnage calculation to pairing chillers and dryers, each decision affects yield and margin. The correct combination of press type, motor technology and peripherals improves pass rates, reduces energy use and increases throughput.

Technical specifications

• Materials commonly processed: PVC, TPR, TPU; specialized setups required for PU and EVA (foaming).
• Recommended motor options: servo motors (energy savings typically 30–70%).
• Shot size guideline: run parts within 20%–80% of machine shot capacity.
• Clamp tonnage: calculate from part projected area × resin pressure factor; ensure tie-bar spacing accommodates mold dimensions.
• Factory power considerations: confirm site voltage and frequency before ordering (e.g. 380V/50Hz, 480V/60Hz).
• Recommended peripherals: hopper dryer, auto-loader, water chiller, mold temperature controller, plastic crusher.