Since its introduction in 2025, the Männer Performance Line has successfully established itself in the market. The portfolio also includes an open thermal side-gate nozzle, which has already been selected by customers for a range of applications. At Fakuma 2026, Männer is now taking the next step and presenting a side valve gate nozzle for the first time – designed particularly for applications requiring superior gate quality and a highly reliable, repeatable process.
The Männer Performance Line was introduced in 2025 with the aim of combining high-performance hot runner technology with a simple, practical system concept. In addition to thermal gate and valve gate systems for conventional gating, the platform also includes an open thermal side-gate nozzle.
The solution has since been successfully adopted by various customers. Applications include syringes, sleeves, tips, sleeve-shaped technical components, packaging and many more.
Particularly for rotationally symmetrical components that cannot or should not be gated at the end face, direct side gating enables compact mold concepts without the need for a cold runner.
Why add a valve gate?
For demanding applications, particularly customers in the medical industry often prefer valve gate technology. The defined opening and closing of the gate provides greater process control while enabling an even higher level of gate quality.
For Männer, developing a side valve gate nozzle was therefore the logical extension of its existing side-gate solution. The same principle applied as for the entire Performance Line: the solution had to deliver strong technical performance while maintaining a design that was as simple and straightforward as possible.
Actuation in Line with the Valve Pin
A key design feature is the arrangement of the pneumatic cylinder. It is positioned directly in line with the movement axis of the valve pin. This allows the pneumatic actuation to be transferred directly to the opening and closing movement of the pin, without the need for complex, wear-prone deflection mechanisms.
The result is a compact and robust design that reflects the fundamental concept behind the Performance Line: simplifying technical functions wherever possible without compromising process reliability or quality.
Three Valve Pin Positions for a Controlled Process
The pneumatic system controls three defined positions of the valve pin.
- During injection, the gate is fully open.
- The pin then moves forward and closes toward the molded part after the holding-pressure phase.
- Before demolding, the pin retracts slightly. This prevents the pin from pulling material with it during part removal or creating unwanted flash at the gate.
This three-position principle combines the advantages of direct side gating with the process control of a valve gate system.
Premiere at Fakuma 2026
At Fakuma 2026, Männer will present the new side valve gate nozzle for the first time as an 8-drop hot half. The new solution expands the Performance Line’s established open side-gate technology with a valve gate option for applications with particularly demanding requirements for gate quality and process reliability – while consistently following the same simple and smart design principle.
Männer is part of SPECTRIX, a provider of end-to-end injection molding solutions. The new Performance Line side-gate solution will be on display at Fakuma 2026 at the SPECTRIX booth in Hall A1, Booth 1208.
Figures:
Fig 1+2: 2-drop and 8-drop Männer Performance Side Valve Gate System
About SPECTRIX
SPECTRIX brings together the industry-leading brands Männer, Foboha, Synventive, Thermoplay, Gammaflux, and Priamus. Combining more than 50 years of expertise with 2,000 specialists worldwide, SPECTRIX delivers the full spectrum of end-to-end injection molding solutions.
From part design and material science to molds, hot runners, sensing and control technologies, qualification, specialty molding, and lifecycle services, SPECTRIX supports every stage of the injection molding process. Customers can choose individual technologies and services or benefit from a fully integrated end-to-end solution tailored to their specific needs. With a global footprint and strong local expertise, SPECTRIX partners with customers from concept through series production.
SPECTRIX – Enduring Advantage, Engineered.
Contact
Europe:
Lena Haack
Americas:
Brady Richman