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Maintenance of Injection Molds and Maintenance Contracts
Szimonetta Szekér
Why is tool maintenance so important?
Proper maintenance of injection molds used in mass production is critically important. In a case of mold failure, production of plastic parts may stop for days or even weeks, leading to significant losses and risking supplier deadlines and customer satisfaction. The aim of this article is to provide a general overview of maintenance.
Reliable operation of injection molds requires a continuously functioning maintenance system. Maintenance activities are scheduled based on defined cycle counts, taking into account factors such as mold design, type of processed plastic, and production conditions.
The maintenance process
Well-documented maintenance processes-such as cycle tracking, recording component replacements, and documenting previous repairs-are essential for assessing and maintaining mold condition. Injection mold maintenance is carried out at multiple levels, with frequency determined by the mold’s cycle count. A key element of the process is the cycle counter integrated into the mold, which enables traceability and proper scheduling of preventive maintenance.
One of the most important steps in maintenance is the inspection of the mold condition. This includes checking mold surfaces, cavities, parting lines, and the function of moving components such as slides and ejectors.This process often allows early detection of issues and helps determine whether additional repair work is required beyond standard maintenance, and whether such repairs are urgent or can be scheduled for the next planned downtime.
Another critical step is the removal of contaminants deposited during production, especially from venting channels, as blockages can directly affect product quality.
Lubrication of moving components is also essential, primarily to preserve mold lifetime. Proper lubrication of the ejection system, slides, and guiding elements is crucial for smooth operation and minimizing wear. During maintenance, worn or damaged components-such as ejector pins and guiding elements-are replaced when necessary. Maintenance also includes inspection and cleaning of the cooling circuits, which have a direct impact on product quality.
After production, the cooling medium must be removed from cooling channels to prevent corrosion or clogging. O-rings in the mold must also be replaced periodically as part of the maintenance process.
Summary
Injection mold maintenance not only ensures mold lifetime and production stability but is also essential for maintaining warranty conditions. Lack of proper and regular maintenance may result in loss of manufacturer warranty, as mold failures may originate from inadequate maintenance.
At AGS Tool Service Ltd., it is possible to enter into a maintenance contract, which offers several advantages for partners:
- Qualified and experienced personnel
- Scheduled maintenance: performed in a planned manner with reserved capacity, aligned with mold operating time
- Additional repair options: necessary repairs can be carried out in case of wear or failure
With such a contract, customers can be confident that molds comply with warranty requirements, maintenance is regular and documented, and all interventions are performed professionally. In the long term, this not only increases mold lifetime but also ensures continuous production and consistent product quality.
