Source | Witosa GmbH / DMS
Witosa GmbH, through its distributor DMS, highlights energy-efficient, additively manufactured hot runner technology. With the product launch of Monolith (additively manufactured hot runner nozzle) back in 2021, the company says it offers a new era of hot runner technology.
To increase the benefits of the Monolith technology, the company addresses the contemporary demand for maximum energy efficiency with its Energy Blocker — an additively manufactured support element. According to the company, as the name suggests, the use of Energy Blockers reduces the energy consumption of your hot runner manifold up to 52% compared to conventional hot runner systems with titanium support elements.
The production of Monolith hot runner nozzles and Energy Blocker, using the SLM process, has opened up new possibilities. The free design of geometries enables these disruptive products to be manufactured in a more energy-efficient and climate-neutral way, while also minimizing the carbon footprint of the production process and significantly reducing energy costs.
The additively manufactured support elements made of hardened steel reduce the heat loss of the manifold system into the tool. By insulating the Energy Blocker from the mold, users not only save energy costs when operating the hot runner system but also reduce the cooling capacity of the mold required to ensure heat loss.
The company says that in using hardened steel, the Energy Blockers are significantly more pressure-resistant than commercially available titanium support elements. The contact surface of the Energy Blocker to the mold is unchanged in size. The resulting advantages are increased tool stiffness and easier grinding if necessary.
The hexagonal structure, already familiar from the Monolith hot runner nozzle, gives the Energy Blocker a high degree of rigidity with minimal use of material and therefore perfect insulation. Monolith hot runner nozzles are now available in cut out sizes from ø11mm to ø30 mm and with melt channels from ø4 to ø12 mm.
