Werkzeugbau Ruhla: Interchangeable Mold Components Enable Multiple Syringe Variants

64-cavity mould for 3 ml syringes featuring an integrated unscrewing mechanism. With a defined conversion setup, the same mould can also be configured to manufacture a Luer slip version - (Photo: Werkzeugbau Ruhla).

Werkzeugbau Ruhla has developed an injection mold concept for medical applications that allows selected molding components to be exchanged while major sections of the mold remain in use across several product variants. The approach is particularly suited to syringes with different connector geometries and is designed to avoid the need for separate complete molds, helping reduce both initial investment and downstream costs.

One mold concept for different connector geometries
One example is an 8-cavity mold for 50 ml syringes. The system can produce three versions featuring Luer lock, Luer slip, and catheter connectors. Instead of replacing the complete mold when switching between variants, only the components that determine the respective product geometry need to be exchanged.

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The same principle can also be applied to high-cavity molds. Werkzeugbau Ruhla has developed a 64-cavity mold for a 3 ml syringe incorporating an unscrewing system. Following a defined conversion procedure, the same mold can also be used to manufacture a Luer slip version.

8-cavity mould for 50 ml syringes designed for the production of three different variants: Luer lock, Luer slip and catheter. The interchangeable mould-forming components required for the additional product variants are shown alongside the mould - (Photo: Werkzeugbau Ruhla).

Variant capability starts at the design stage
Reliable operation after a product changeover depends on designing variant capability into the mold from the outset. Interchangeable components, cavity layout, temperature control, demolding, and gating must be coordinated to ensure that dimensional accuracy, repeatability, and process stability are maintained after the molding components have been changed.

The concept enables a greater proportion of the mold to be reused for different product variants. As a result, investment costs can be spread across several product versions, while requirements for mold storage, maintenance, and spare-parts inventory can also be reduced. For manufacturers of product families with multiple connector or geometry variants, this can simplify the adaptation of series production.

Werkzeugbau Ruhla will present the concept at Fakuma 2026. The company will showcase multi-cavity molds for applications in medical technology, pharmaceuticals, drug delivery, diagnostics, and laboratory technology, as well as mold concepts for the series production of plastic components.

Fakuma 2026
Friedrichshafen, Germany
October 12–16, 2026
Hall B2, Booth 2110

More information: ruhla-gmbh.de

Werkzeugbau Ruhla GmbH, Seebach, Germany

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