Michigan-based PCS Co. announced this week that it is now distributing tunnel gate inserts from i-mold Molding Innovations, based in Erbach, Germany. 

Tunnel gate inserts, also known as cashew or banana gate inserts, allow for automatic degating of the plastic part from the runner during ejection. They also can be used to hide the gate mark on the underside of the molded part. When designed into the mold, i-mold tunnel gate inserts can provide a significant cost reduction in the molding process, according to PCS. 

Made of wear-resistant M2 tool steel, i-mold inserts are manufactured by means of metal injection molding (MIM), which ensures the feed channels are smooth and gate sizes are exact and repeatable from insert to insert. The inserts are suitable for all plastics because of their optimized feed channel geometry and will work with up to 60%-filled materials. 

Founded in 2004, i-mold Molding Innovation is focused on tunnel gate technology and demolding. The tunnel gate inserts developed and produced in-house are renowned around the world as innovative products with high savings potential for moldmakers and injection molders, said PCC.

A video posted on the PCS YouTube channel shows how the i-mold inserts work.