Used Injection Moulding Machines for Sale

Used injection moulding machine market — what is available?

The used injection moulding machine market offers hydraulic, servo-hydraulic, and — occasionally — all-electric machines across the full clamping force range. The most commonly traded used machines in the 50–600 tonne range are from established manufacturers including Haitian, Chen Hsong, Engel, Arburg, Krauss-Maffei, Demag, Battenfeld, and Nissei. European used machines tend to be older (often 10–20 years) but often have lower operating hours and better maintenance records. Chinese used machines from the domestic market are younger on average but may have higher cycle hours. Refurbished machines have been disassembled, inspected, and repaired to a defined standard by a specialist rebuilder — they typically carry a limited warranty. As-is or inspection-only machines are sold in their current condition with full inspection reports but no repair work — priced lower but condition risk sits with the buyer. The primary used machine markets are Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and the US in Europe/Americas; China has a large but less transparent domestic secondary market. Indian and Turkish used machine dealers also supply significant volume to developing market buyers.

What to inspect on a used injection moulding machine

Before committing to purchase, conduct a thorough inspection — ideally in person or through a reputable third-party inspection service. Key areas to inspect: clamping unit — platen parallelism (use a dial gauge across the four tie bar positions), tie bar condition (check for cracks, wear, and straightness), clamping cylinder or toggle mechanism wear; injection unit — screw and barrel wear (measure screw diameter and barrel bore against original tolerances, calculate clearance — excessive clearance indicates wear and poor shot consistency), non-return valve condition, injection cylinder seals; hydraulic system (for hydraulic/servo-hydraulic) — oil condition, pump condition and noise level, valve operation, hose condition; electrical system — control system functionality, sensor calibration, alarm history; frame and structure — base frame alignment, any signs of collision damage or weld repair. Request a trial run with a known mould if possible — observe cycle repeatability, shot weight consistency over 10+ cycles, and any alarms or operator interventions. Service history documentation, original manuals, and spare parts inventories all add value to a used machine purchase.

Spare parts availability and total cost of ownership

Spare parts availability is a critical factor often underweighted when purchasing used machinery. Before purchasing, confirm: Is the machine model still in production? Does the manufacturer or a licensed service partner still supply spare parts? Are local agents available in your country? What is the typical delivery time for critical wear parts (screw and barrel segments, non-return valves, hydraulic seals, control boards)? For European machines (Engel, Arburg, Krauss-Maffei), spare parts are generally available for 10–15 years after production ends — but at premium prices. For Chinese machines (Haitian, Chen Hsong), parts availability has improved significantly for popular models with established export networks. Avoid purchasing used machines from discontinued model families where spare parts supply has ceased — the machine becomes uneconomical to maintain when first major repair is needed. Factor in refurbishment and installation costs when comparing used machine total cost of ownership against a new Chinese machine.

Frequently asked questions