What actually drives the price of a mold temperature controller

Three specification choices create most of the spread between a budget quote and a high quote:

• Heating capacity (kW). Larger heater bundles require heavier contactors, thicker wiring, and a higher-rated electrical enclosure.
• Pump power and maximum flow. A bigger pump moves more water through longer or narrower mold channels, and the pump is one of the most expensive single components in the cabinet.
• Circuit count on the manifold. Going from a 2-in / 2-out splitter to a 4-in / 4-out splitter changes the valve and piping cost meaningfully, and beyond that the connection size steps up as well.

Control scope is the fourth cost lever. A basic unit holds temperature at a setpoint; a unit with data logging, alarm history, or a communication interface to the molding machine adds electronics and software validation time. Decide early whether you need that scope, because it is difficult and expensive to retrofit after delivery.

Verified single-temperature water series specifications

The series below covers clean water as the heat transfer medium, with a maximum temperature of 120 °C and a minimum temperature range of cooling water temperature +5~30 °C. Cooling is direct in every model. All models use a K type probe thermocouple for the media inlet/outlet temperature sensor. Specifications are subject to change without prior notice, so treat the table as a configuration reference and confirm the exact build in writing before ordering.

Reading heating power against heating speed

Heating power is the specification that decides how fast the unit can bring a mold up to setpoint and how much heat it can hold against losses. The TMC 60W carries 6 KW, and the TMC 360W carries 36 KW — a sixfold difference that changes the electrical supply, the heater bundle, and the cost of the unit itself. If your cycle starts from a cold mold and you cannot afford a long warm-up, the higher-wattage models recover faster, but they also demand a correspondingly higher-amperage supply circuit. Confirm the available voltage and breaker size at the press before you fix the heating capacity.

Why pump flow and maximum pressure are separate decisions

Maximum flow and maximum pressure are separate ratings and should not be read as a single performance figure. The TMC 90W and TMC 120W share the same 0.75 KW pump and the same 60 L/MIN maximum flow and 0.4 MPA maximum pressure, even though the TMC 120W has twice the heating power of the TMC 60W. That means the hydraulic capability is identical between those two models; what differs is heat input and the manifold arrangement. Choose flow based on the smallest and longest channels in your mold, and choose pressure based on the restriction those channels create. If a mold needs high flow at low restriction, a larger pump at lower pressure can be the better match.

When the inlet/outlet splitter count decides the model

Splitter configuration is the specification most often underestimated in a quote. The TMC 60W and TMC 90W both use a 2-in / 2-out splitter with 3/8 inch connections, which suits a single small mold or one circuit. The TMC 120W steps up to a 4-in / 4-out splitter at the same 3/8 inch connection size, which lets one controller serve multiple circuits without adding a second unit. From the TMC 180W upward the arrangement changes to 1 in / 1 out with a larger 1 inch connection, and the TMC 360W goes to a 1.2 inch connection. That is a different plumbing philosophy: one high-flow loop feeding an external manifold, rather than several small loops from the cabinet. Match the splitter style to how your mold is actually piped before comparing prices, because the two approaches are not interchangeable.

Solution options: matching the controller to the process

“Solution options” in this category usually means choosing between a small dedicated unit per mold set and a larger unit feeding a manifold. The verified series supports both approaches, and the right answer follows from the number of circuits and the flow each one needs.

Single small mold or one circuit

A TMC 60W or TMC 90W at 2 in / 2 out and 3/8 inch connections covers a single mold with one heating loop. The TMC 90W adds heating power and a larger pump — 0.75 KW and 60 L/MIN versus 0.37 KW and 42 L/MIN — for a small cost step, which matters if the mold has narrow channels or a longer hose run to the press.

Multiple circuits from one cabinet

The TMC 120W is the model that changes the conversation: 12 KW of heating with a 4 in / 4 out splitter at 3/8 inch lets one controller serve four circuits, which is often cheaper and simpler than installing two smaller units. Note that the pump and flow ratings are unchanged from the TMC 90W, so the electrical circuit count increases while the hydraulic capability does not.

High-flow manifold feeding

When the mold needs volume rather than circuit count, the TMC 180W, TMC 240W, and TMC 360W move into a different class. The TMC 180W and TMC 240W both deliver 165 L/MIN with a 1.5 KW pump, while the TMC 360W reaches 310 L/MIN with a 2.2 KW pump and a 1.2 inch connection. Pressure ratings are lower on these larger units — 0.25 MPA on the TMC 180W and TMC 240W, 0.3 MPA on the TMC 360W — which is expected when flow increases and the plumbing opens up. If your tooling is piped as one large loop through an external manifold, this is the group to price. See the full mold temperature controller range for how these models are configured.

What to put in a quote request

A quote is only comparable if every supplier prices the same scope. Include the following items in your request so that responses can be evaluated like for like, and ask each supplier to confirm the exact model designation, not just a family name.

• Mold weight, plate thickness, and the number of temperature-controlled circuits.
• Smallest channel diameter and longest hose run, which together set the flow and pressure requirement.
• Target mold surface temperature and the required warm-up time from cold start.
• Available voltage, phase, and breaker capacity at the press.
• Required heating power and pump power, referenced to a specific model.
• Splitter configuration and connection size, or confirmation that you will manifold externally.
• Ambient conditions and cooling water temperature and pressure available at the plant.
• Whether temperature logging, alarm output, or machine communication is required.
• Spare parts expectation: heater bundle, pump seal kit, thermocouple, and expected lead time.

Requesting these items in writing removes the two most common causes of an apples-to-oranges comparison: a quote that assumes a smaller splitter than you need, and a quote that assumes a supply voltage you cannot provide. If you are still narrowing the field, the injection molding solutions page is a reasonable starting point before you send the inquiry.

Confirming specification before you order

Every model in this series uses clean water as the heat transfer medium, reaches a maximum temperature of 120 °C, and holds a minimum temperature of cooling water temperature +5~30 °C with direct cooling. Because the minimum temperature is referenced to your cooling water supply, a plant with warmer process water will have a correspondingly higher floor on mold temperature. That is an application boundary worth stating explicitly in the purchase order rather than assuming.

No temperature accuracy or uniformity figure is published for this series, and it should not be assumed from the sensor type alone. The K type probe thermocouple measures the media temperature at the media inlet/outlet point; it does not by itself establish how evenly temperature is distributed across the mold. If your process has a tight tolerance requirement, ask the supplier to state the controller temperature accuracy and the measurement point it refers to, and keep that requirement separate from any statement about mold surface uniformity.

Finally, specification sheets can change without notice. Ask for the final specification sheet to be attached to the order confirmation, and check that the model number, heating power, pump power, flow, pressure, splitter configuration, and connection size all match what you quoted.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an injection mold temperature controller cost?

There is no fixed price, because the unit is built to your process. Cost is driven mainly by heating power, pump power and maximum flow, the number of manifold circuits, connection size, and whether control logging or machine communication is included. Ask suppliers to quote against a written specification so the responses can be compared directly.

Is pump power or heating power the bigger cost factor?

Both matter, but they move independently. The TMC 90W and TMC 120W share the same 0.75 KW pump, 60 L/MIN maximum flow, and 0.4 MPA maximum pressure, yet the TMC 120W has 12 KW of heating instead of 9 KW. If your requirement is hydraulic rather than thermal, a larger pump is the specification that will change the price.

Can one controller serve several mold circuits?

Yes. The TMC 120W uses a 4 in / 4 out splitter at 3/8 inch, which allows one cabinet to feed four circuits. Smaller models use a 2 in / 2 out splitter at the same connection size, and the larger TMC 180W, TMC 240W, and TMC 360W use a 1 in / 1 out arrangement with a 1 inch or 1.2 inch connection for external manifolding.

What does the cooling water temperature +5~30 °C minimum temperature mean for my plant?

It means the lowest mold temperature the controller can hold depends on the temperature of your cooling water supply. The floor sits roughly 5 to 30 °C above that supply. If your plant water runs warm, your achievable minimum mold temperature rises accordingly, so confirm your water temperature before specifying the unit.

Do these units heat and cool, or only heat?

All models in this series use direct cooling, so temperature is controlled in both directions. Heating power is provided by the electric heater bundle, and cooling is applied directly rather than through an indirect heat exchanger.

What should I confirm with a supplier before ordering?

Confirm the exact model number, heating power, pump power, maximum flow, maximum pressure, splitter configuration, and connection size, and ask for the final specification sheet to be attached to the order. Also confirm the supply voltage and breaker capacity at the press, since these are not part of the controller specification table but determine whether the unit can be installed.