INglass

What INglass does

INglass S.p.A., operating commercially as Oerlikon HRSflow, is an Italian manufacturer of hot runner systems for plastic injection molding, headquartered in San Polo di Piave, Treviso. Founded in 1987, the company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Swiss conglomerate OC Oerlikon Corporation AG Pfäffikon and operates as the Oerlikon Group's dedicated hot runner business. Its core technology centers on temperature-controlled hot runner systems that distribute molten plastic from the injection machine into mold cavities, with proprietary offerings including the FLEXflow HRS servo-driven valve gate platform (enabling individual nozzle control for family molds), the newly patented STARgate HRS pin-less diaphragm design, T-Flow thermal control units, HRScool Evo uncooled hydraulic cylinders, and in-house SLM additive manufacturing for conformal cooling circuits. The company supports 14+ application segments including automotive (lighting, interior, exterior, underhood, EV components), thin-wall packaging, medical, consumer goods, logistics, and household appliances.

The business model is B2B enterprise capital equipment sales, primarily quote-based pricing on customized hot runner solutions tailored to specific mold designs, cavity counts, and application requirements. Revenue is generated through three streams: hardware sales of hot runner systems, nozzles, manifolds, and control units; software/control unit sales with recurring firmware updates; and professional services including 24/7 technical support, warranty, and application engineering. Go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales through three regional headquarters (Europe/Italy, Americas/Michigan USA, Asia/Hangzhou China) with a certified channel partner and reseller network spanning 35+ countries. The company produces in three continents (Italy, China, USA) and serves named customers including BMW, Pezzutti Group, Ribawood, and PLASTIKA SKAZA across automotive, packaging, and consumer goods verticals. Recent strategic emphasis has been on sustainability (energy reduction via I-Shield, recycled material processing) and Industry 4.0 integration through IoT/MES-enabled HMI 4.0 control units with OPC UA/Euromap 82.2 connectivity.

Name

INglass

Legal name

INglass S.p.A.

Website

https://hrsflow.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

INglass S.p.A., operating as Oerlikon HRSflow, is an Italian manufacturer of hot runner systems for plastic injection molding, serving automotive, packaging, medical, and consumer goods manufacturers globally through proprietary servo-driven valve gate and pin-less diaphragm technologies across 35+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hot Runner Systems for Plastic Injection Molding

NAICS

Measuring, Dispensing, and Other Pumping Equipment Manufacturing (333914)

SIC

Pumps & Pumping Equipment (3561)

akta.pro primary industry

Filling & Dosing Machines (Liquid/Powder/Solid) (IMAHAOAF)

Keywords

• Hot runner systems
• Injection molding equipment
• Valve gate technology
• Plastic molding components
• Temperature control units

Headquarters

HQ city

San Polo Di Piave

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices58 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Hot Runner Systems and Components: Sale of hot runner systems including nozzles, manifolds, valve gates, actuators and complete hot half assemblies. Product categories include standard systems, FLEXflow servo-driven systems, multi-cavity systems, and specialty solutions for thin-wall, technical, and sustainable applications.
2. Control Units: T-Flow thermal control units and V-Flow sequential control units for hot runner temperature and process management. Includes software updates and integration services.
3. Customer Service and Support: 24/7 technical support hotline globally, warranty services, training programs, and on-site service support. Includes remote diagnostics and assistance capabilities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

INglass S.p.A. (operating as Oerlikon HRSflow) designs, manufactures, and sells hot runner systems for plastic injection molding, including servo-driven valve gate systems (FLEXflow HRS), pin-less diaphragmatic hot runners (STARgate HRS), thermal and sequential control units (T-Flow HRS, V-Flow HRS), nozzle series, and complementary components such as HRScool Evo uncooled hydraulic cylinders and I-Shield HRS insulating covers. Customers are mold makers and injection molding manufacturers serving automotive, packaging, medical, consumer goods and related industrial end markets across more than 35 countries. Support is delivered via 24/7 service hotlines, on-site engineering, warranty, training, and simulation/consulting services.

Product overview

INglass S.p.A., operating as Oerlikon HRSflow, is a hot runner systems company offering a comprehensive portfolio of products for injection molding applications. The core offering centers on the FLEXflow HRS servo-driven valve gate technology and the revolutionary STARgate HRS pin-less solution, supported by T-Flow HRS and V-Flow HRS control units. The product line includes specialized nozzle series (Xp, Up, EYEgate, TECHflow, SA, SP, TP, XD) for various applications, HRScool Evo uncooled hydraulic cylinders, I-Shield HRS insulating covers, and SLM Technology for additive manufacturing of conformal cooling circuits. Additional offerings include standard hot runner systems (screwed-in, face-to-face, hot halves, stack molds), multi-cavity hot runner systems, and advanced simulation services including rheological analysis and data integration software for control units. The company serves markets including automotive lighting, automotive interior/exterior/underhood, logistics, technical applications, domestic appliances, mobility, electric vehicles, thin-wall packaging, medical, gardening, houseware, beverage, and beauty/personal care.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STARgate HRS™: A groundbreaking patented pin-less hot runner solution with diaphragmatic design and movement for maximum cooling efficiency and significant cycle time reduction.
• FLEXflow HRS
• T-Flow HRS
• V-Flow HRS
• FLEXflow One HRS
• HRScool Evo
• I-shield HRS
• EYEgate HRS
• TECHflow HRS

Products and services

• FLEXflow HRS Servo-Driven Valve Gate System Servo-electric hot runner valve gate system providing precise individual control of needle stroke, force, speed and timing at each nozzle, enabling simultaneous balanced filling of family molds with different cavity sizes without overfilling, underfilling or flash formation.
• FLEXflow One HRS Servo-Driven Valve Gate System Compact servo-driven valve gate system that does not require a separate external control unit, simplifying installation and integration into injection molding machines while maintaining FLEXflow precision for cavity filling control.
• STARgate HRS Pin-less Hot Runner System Patented pin-less hot runner solution using diaphragmatic design and movement to control flow rate, eliminating conventional needles and their maintenance issues while reducing cycle times, simplifying assembly and enabling thinner back plates.
• T-Flow HRS Thermal Control Unit Modular thermal control unit for hot runner systems with touchscreen interface, OPC UA / Euromap 82.2 connectivity, configurable zone heating, sequential or simultaneous operation, recipe management, and integrated energy-saving functions.
• V-Flow HRS Sequential Control Unit Sequential control unit for managing valve gate opening and closing timing in hot runner injection molding applications.
• HRScool Evo Uncooled Hydraulic Cylinder Non-cooled hydraulic cylinder for hot runner injection molding with sophisticated temperature management that eliminates the need for active liquid cooling of the actuator unit, enabling higher mold temperatures and simpler installation.
• I-Shield HRS Insulating Cover Insulating cover for hot runner systems that reduces heat dissipation, lowers energy consumption by up to 26%, reduces warm-up time, and minimizes thermal interaction with the surrounding environment; constructed from recycled materials.
• Standard Hot Runner Systems Portfolio Portfolio of standard hot runner configurations including screwed-in hot runner systems, face-to-face systems, hot halves, stack molds, single nozzles, and valve gate group single nozzles for general injection molding applications.
• Multi-Cavity Hot Runner Systems Portfolio Hot runner systems for multi-cavity molds including SA Series, Xd Stack Mold, SP and TP Series, designed for high-volume production applications requiring consistent cavity-to-cavity performance.
• Up Nozzle Series for Multi-Cavity Applications Multi-cavity nozzle series designed for high-volume production applications that require tight nozzle pitch solutions within the hot runner manifold.
• EYEgate HRS Advanced End Ring Advanced end ring designed for the MULTIflow HRS multi-cavity hot runner line, engineered to deliver optimal gate quality and extended lifespan across a wide range of molding applications.
• TECHflow HRS Hot Runner Line Hot runner line designed specifically for technical polymers and electronic applications, featuring innovative external valve gate end rings for Tp and Vp nozzle series and the Through The Cavity (TTC) end ring for Tp nozzles.
• Xp Series High-Pressure Valve Gate Nozzles Valve gate nozzle series designed for high filling pressures up to 2200 bar, enabling fast injection and short cycle times in thin-wall injection molding applications.
• SLM (Selective Laser Melting) Conformal Cooling Service Additive manufacturing service for producing conformal cooling circuits in hot runner systems using Selective Laser Melting, enabling complex cooling geometries that traditional machining cannot produce, for demanding molding applications.
• Rheological Analysis and Simulation Consulting Engineering consulting service using advanced rheological simulation software for gate location search, system sizing, process optimization, warpage control, and cycle time optimization, performed by Autodesk Expert and Moldex 3D AHR certified engineers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 30% production cost reduction with family mold and FLEXflow Evo technology
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments15 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Precision GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 12 June 2025Strategic service partnership announced June 2025 to expand local support in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) region. Precision Group provides localized service capabilities for Oerlikon HRSflow customers in the Middle East market.
• Pezzutti GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Pezzutti Group, a leading supplier of thermoplastic molded resins based in Pordenone, Italy. Developed hot runner systems for sustainable R-Box household containers from 100% recycled R-PET material. Each 10L container made from 29 recycled PET bottles with annual production exceeding 5 million pieces.
• RibawoodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Ribawood, plastic pallet manufacturer in Zaragoza, Spain (since 1975), to develop hot runner solution for 100% reusable and recyclable pallets from recycled HDPE. Hot runner system includes 8-drop Wa Series with conical valve gate for 6900g nominal weight parts.
• Oerlikon BalzerscoreTechnology or IntegrationSister company partnership for coating protection solutions. Joint experience enables innovative surface protection for molded part surfaces to increase corrosion resistance. Used ePD technology (embedded PVD for Design parts) on BMW iXe SUV.
• ENGELminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology partnership for live molding demonstrations at trade shows. At K2022, demonstrated smart 2K rear panel injection molding using hydraulic 2 drops system and Single nozzle from Ga Series combined with capacitive film decoration.
• NETSTALminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for thin-wall packaging demonstrations. At K2022, produced 150ml IML yogurt cup (6.4g) from renewable PP polymer by SABIC on ELIOS 4500 machine with 3.9s cycle time using Xp nozzle series.
• HaitianminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for eco-friendly fruit box demonstration at K2022. Produced fruit box from APS PE compound with recycled Tetra Pak carton packaging using 4 drop FLEXflow servo-driven valve gate system on Jupiter Series JU4500III.
• ArburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for family mold demonstration at K2022. Injection molded complex tool case using 4 hot runner systems with 2 drops screwed-in system for PC/ABS covers and 3D Design Film overmolding.
• Wittmann-BattenfeldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for 3-component coffee-to-go cup demonstration at K2022. Used three different single nozzle systems optimized for 100% recyclable PP Bornewables from Borealis with Cellmould foaming technology.
• TedericminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for high gloss B pillar demonstration at K2022. Produced 2K component using 2 drops conical valve gate hydraulic system with ICM Technology for PMMA and 6 drops system for ABS.
• BillionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for garden tool (irrigation connector) demonstration at K2022. Used 2K tool with face-to-face torpedo system for ASA polymer and screwed-in cylindrical valve gate system for SEBS elastomer.
• BorealisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaterial partnership for sustainable polymer solutions. Joint presentation at K2022 demonstrating how simulation and reality align when development partners contribute maximum expertise. Project used family mold with three different cavities.
• SABICminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaterial partnership for certified renewable PP polymer based on tall oil (waste product from paper production) used in IML yogurt cup demonstration at K2022.
• Tetra PakminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for recycled material applications. Provided recycled Tetra Pak carton packaging Alu Foil for eco-friendly fruit box production using APS PE compound.
• LEONHARD KURZminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDecoration technology partnership for IMD (In-Mold-Decoration) and film overmolding applications including automotive interiors and tool cases.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Husky Injection Molding Systems: Global manufacturer of injection molding equipment, hot runners, molds, and services. Closely comparable to INglass in the hot runner category and serves the same automotive, packaging, and consumer-goods OEM base.
• Mold-Masters (Hillenbrand): One of the largest dedicated hot runner manufacturers globally, part of Hillenbrand's Molding Technology Solutions. Directly competes with INglass across standard and valve-gate hot runners, multi-cavity systems, and control units.
• Synventive Molding Solutions (Barnes Group): Specialist in hot runner systems for injection molding, owned by Barnes Group. Competes head-to-head with INglass in valve-gate, multi-cavity, and high-pressure thin-wall applications.
• INCOE Corporation: US-based hot runner manufacturer serving automotive, packaging, and consumer products. Directly comparable product portfolio of valve-gate and multi-cavity hot runner systems.
• Yudo Co. Ltd. Korean-origin global hot runner manufacturer with strong Asia presence. Direct competitor in valve-gate systems and multi-cavity molds, particularly relevant given INglass's significant China footprint.
• Gunther Hot Runner Systems: German-engineered hot runner technology with global reach. Comparable in valve-gate and nozzle systems serving similar injection-molding customer segments in Europe.

Broad incumbents

• HASCO Hasenclever GmbH: Broad mold-making components and hot runner supplier. Overlaps with INglass on standardized hot runner components and serves similar mold makers and OEMs across automotive and packaging.
• DME Company: Diversified supplier of mold components including hot runner systems, with a global distribution network. Adjacent rather than head-to-head: competes on standard components more than highly engineered valve-gate systems.

Others

• Stäubli Robotics (heaters/connectors for molds): Supplies quick mold-change systems and connectors used by injection molders. Adjacent ecosystem participant whose products often integrate with hot runner systems like those from INglass.

Emerging players

• Wittmann-Battenfeld: Injection molding machine manufacturer that integrates its own hot runner solutions with its press portfolio. Strategic partner (K2022) and emerging alternative to standalone hot runner suppliers like INglass.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/HRSflow
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC_QczGEo5eCtMSVq4pbcHyw
• Facebookfacebook.com/HRSflow-1220781874608204
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/inglass-hrsflow

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about INglass