Hydraulic vs. Electric Injection Molding Machines: Pros and Cons

Date：Sep 08, 2025

Hydraulic Injection Molding Machine: Uses hydraulic oil to drive cylinders, performing injection, clamping, and ejection movements.
Electric Injection Molding Machine: Uses servo motors to directly drive each movement component, with precise control of speed and position.

Feature	Hydraulic Injection Molding Machine	Electric Injection Molding Machine
Cost	Lower equipment cost	Higher initial investment
Torque & Pressure	High torque, suitable for large tonnage	Torque limited by motor, suitable for small to medium tonnage
Material Compatibility	Can handle high-viscosity and engineering plastics	May have limitations with high-viscosity materials
Precision & Repeatability	Moderate precision, affected by hydraulic oil temperature	High precision, high repeatability, minimal fluctuation
Energy Consumption	High energy consumption, continuous heating of hydraulic oil	Energy-saving, power only when needed, reduces electricity costs
Noise	Relatively high	Low noise
Maintenance	Complex hydraulic system, requires regular oil changes and maintenance	Easy maintenance, no hydraulic oil leakage issues

Hydraulic Injection Molding Machine Disadvantages:
1. High energy consumption, relatively low efficiency.
2. Precision affected by hydraulic system fluctuations.
3. High maintenance cost, frequent hydraulic oil changes.
4. High operational noise.
Electric Injection Molding Machine Disadvantages:
1. High initial investment, more expensive equipment.
2. Less effective for high-viscosity materials or large tonnage parts.
3. Sensitive to environmental temperature and humidity, requiring good cooling.

Hydraulic Injection Molding Machine:
- Large tonnage molding (500 tons and above)
- High-viscosity materials or engineering plastics
- Cost-sensitive production lines
Electric Injection Molding Machine:
- Small to medium tonnage molding (5–400 tons)
- High-precision, complex parts
- Energy-saving and low-noise production environments