In plastic injection moulding, especially in houseware product manufacturing (like containers, kitchen tools, storage bins, etc.), choosing the right runner system is crucial for product quality, cycle time, and cost efficiency. The two main types are hot runner and cold runner systems.
1. Basic Definitions
| System | Definition |
|---|---|
| Hot Runner | A system where the plastic material inside the runner stays molten due to a heated manifold and nozzles. It eliminates the need for a runner in each cycle. |
| Cold Runner | A system where plastic flows through unheated channels and solidifies along with the part, forming a runner that must be removed and either discarded or recycled. |

