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Field guide · Energy measurement

How to Measure Injection Molding Energy

Build a comparable meter record before calculating kWh/kg or kWh per good part.

1. Define the boundary

Record the press, tool axes, barrel heating, cyclic peripherals, and variable peripherals separately when metering allows. State whether external temperature control, compressed air, vacuum, central material handling, and central cooling are excluded or separately added.

2. Reach stable operation

EUROMAP 60.2 calls for stable automatic operation without manual intervention for at least 15 minutes and, for hydraulic machines, a stable oil temperature within specification. Product quality must meet the customer requirement.

3. Capture production context

Retain measurement time and cycles, part and shot weight, cavity count, material and drying condition, mold, cycle breakdown, pressures, temperatures, and machine identification. Count rejects and runners on a stated basis.

4. Check the window

EUROMAP recommends at least five steady drive cycles, 10–15 cycles for heating behavior, at least three minutes, and reproducibility within ±2%. Repeat the run rather than relying on one convenient interval.

5. Normalize without hiding losses

Report injected-mass SEC and, when operationally useful, energy per accepted part or per saleable kilogram. Keep runner and reject losses visible rather than silently changing the denominator.

Sources and next step

EUROMAP 60.2 product-related energy method · EUROMAP 60.1 machine energy and idle method · NIST injection molding energy characterization.

Calculate the recorded run with the Product Energy Intensity Calculator.