I. Core differences in productivity

1. ‌Molding Cycle‌

   Hot runner molds keep the plastic in a molten state at all times by keeping the runner system hot, eliminating the time required to cool the runners and clean up scrap in conventional molds. For example, the cycle time for molding thin-walled parts can be reduced to less than 5 seconds, significantly increasing production per unit of time. Conventional molds are less efficient because they require frequent production interruptions due to the need to wait for the runners to cool and manually remove the solidified shanks.

2. ‌Material utilization‌

   Hot runner technology does not need to produce gate waste, and the material utilization rate is close to 100%; whereas when ordinary molds produce small products, the weight of the shank may even exceed the product itself, resulting in a waste of raw materials.

3. ‌Degree of automation‌

   Hot runner molds do not need to trim sprues and recycle waste, making it easier to achieve fully automated production; ordinary molds require manual intervention to clean the runners, so the degree of automation is limited.

II. Long-term production stability

1. ‌Maintenance and downtime costs‌

   The initial investment and maintenance cost of hot runner mold is high, and the failure of the heating element may lead to the scrapping of the whole batch of products.7 However, its design life can be up to 500,000 beers, and the parts can be replaced free of charge if they are damaged during the warranty period, which reduces the long-term maintenance cost. Ordinary molds have a simple structure and low maintenance costs, but frequent cleaning of runners increases downtime.

2. Product quality consistency‌

   Hot runner technology reduces flow differences through precise temperature control, product size and stress distribution is more uniform; ordinary molds are prone to deformation or shrinkage due to uneven cooling of the runners, resulting in a higher scrap rate.

III. Comparison of Applicable Scenarios

‌Hot Runner Mold‌：It is suitable for large-scale and high-precision production, especially for automotive, electronics and other industries that are sensitive to the cost of raw materials and require rapid prototyping.

‌General Mould‌：It is more suitable for small batch, multi-variety or cost-sensitive small and medium-sized enterprises.

IV. Development trends

As of 2025, the hot runner technology has accounted for more than 40% of the global injection molds, and more than 90% of the large product molds. China's hot runner industry is developing rapidly, but there is still a technology gap with developed countries.