Plastic fruit crates are widely used in fruit & vegetable harvesting, cold chain warehousing and fresh food logistics. They are mostly integrally molded with PP and HDPE raw materials.
Fruit crate injection with hydraulic system refers to the molding process and complete equipment adopting hydraulically driven clamping and injection systems. Driven by hydraulic cylinders to deliver high clamping force and stable injection pressure, this solution enables mass production of large-size thin-wall ventilated plastic crates, and has become a mature mainstream manufacturing solution for fruit crate factories worldwide.

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Drawing on years of technical accumulation in packaging injection molding, Ningbo Konger Machinery has launched the Crate Series Servo-Hydraulic Specialized Injection Molding Machines, fully optimized to match hydraulic fruit crate molding processes, delivering stable and cost-effective equipment options for high-volume, low-margin fruit crate production lines.
1. Working Principle of Hydraulic Fruit Crate Injection Molding
Process essence: Thermoplastic materials (PP/HDPE) are plasticized into melt, then injected into mold cavities under high pressure. After packing, cooling and solidification, finished standardized ventilated fruit crates are ejected.
The hydraulic system provides core power for stable molding cycles, driving two key assemblies:
Clamping Unit: Generates clamping force ranging from hundreds to thousands of kN to prevent mold opening and flash during high-pressure injection.
Injection Unit: Precisely controls melt flow rate and multi-stage packing pressure to guarantee complete filling of large thin-wall grid cavities.
This process is specially developed for mass production of thin-wall ventilated vegetable & fruit crates. Production requirements focus on three core targets: shorter cycle time, wear-resistant screws compatible with recycled materials, and stable long-term non-stop operation. It perfectly fits the characteristics of low-profit, large-scale production in the fruit & vegetable packaging sector.
2. Technical Comparison of Different Drive Solutions for Fruit Crate Molding Machines
Three mainstream drive types are available for fruit crate injection molding equipment on the market, with distinct applicable scenarios:
Full Hydraulic / Servo-Hydraulic Hybrid System (Industry Mainstream)
Features sufficient clamping force, moderate procurement cost and strong anti-shock performance, ideal for heavy-duty thickened crates and multi-cavity mold mass production.
Equipped with servo motor driven hydraulic pumps, it greatly reduces high energy consumption and overheating issues of traditional fixed displacement pumps, requiring only routine maintenance for the hydraulic station.

Konger Crate Series adopts this energy-saving servo-hydraulic solution, the preferred machine model for domestic and overseas fruit crate manufacturers.
Full Servo Electric Machine
Achieves 30%~50% energy saving with higher molding precision. However, higher initial investment makes it more suitable for high-precision, high-value precision plastic products. The payback period is relatively long for standard general fruit crate projects.
Industry Consensus: Standard fruit crates feature standardized structures and huge output. Servo-hydraulic machines strike the best balance between procurement cost, production efficiency and long-term energy consumption, delivering optimal overall cost performance.
3. Core Advantages of Konger Crate Series Servo-Hydraulic Specialized Fruit Crate Machines
In response to strict process requirements on clamping force, injection rate, wear resistance and continuous running capacity for hydraulic fruit crate molding, Konger optimizes the whole machine targeting typical pain points in ventilated grid crate production:
3.1 Power System: Optimized Servo-Hydraulic Drive Platform
The machine adopts a closed-loop control system with servo motor driving hydraulic pumps, an upgraded servo-hydraulic architecture.
Compared with conventional fixed pump hydraulic machines, power consumption is reduced by 30%~45%. Less overflow heat stabilizes hydraulic oil temperature. Combined with high-response cartridge valve circuits, multi-stage injection profiles can be customized to realize fast filling of thin-wall grid structures and eliminate short shot defects.

Available Models: Crate310S  Crate360S   Crate450S   Crate450S/PLUS  Crate500S Crate500S/PLUS  Crate530S  Crate530S/PLUS  Crate630S   Crate700S
Clamping Force Range: 310T–700T (3100kN~7000kN), fully covering production demands for small & medium fresh fruit crates and large thickened logistics turnover crates.
3.2 Optimized Molding Configuration for PP/HDPE + Recycled Materials
Bimetallic wear-resistant screw & barrel: Designed for heavy use with large proportions of recycled materials, outstanding wear and corrosion resistance to extend service life of plasticizing assembly.
Extended mold opening stroke: Compatible with deep-cavity fruit crate molds, offering ample space for automatic part removal. Easy integration with robots and conveyor lines to build unmanned production lines.
High-speed large-capacity injection unit: Maximum injection rate reaches 1170g/s to meet fast filling requirements of thin-wall ventilated crates.
After process optimization, single molding cycle can be stabilized within 20–40 seconds. Further cycle reduction is achievable with optimized molds and process parameters, enabling stable output of thousands of parts per hour.
3.3 High-Rigidity Clamping Structure to Prevent Mold Opening & Flash
Adopting finite-element optimized 5-point double-toggle clamping mechanism for evenly distributed and stable clamping force. It effectively counteracts mold separating force during high-pressure injection.
Equipped with Konger synchronized multi-group ejection system, ventilated crates bear uniform force during ejection to avoid distortion and warpage. The finished product yield remains steadily above 98%, minimizing post-production trimming work.
3.4 Mold Application Recommendations
Konger Crate Series supports hardened multi-cavity molds (suggested mold steel hardness ≥ HRC50). Matching high-efficiency cooling channels accelerates part cooling, shortens molding cycles and maximizes production line throughput.
4. Key Parameter Reference for Fruit Crate Production Line Machine Selection
When purchasing fruit crate injection molding machines, determine clamping force first based on projected area of finished parts, then match appropriate injection capacity:
Clamping Force: 3100kN (310T) ~ 7000kN (700T) recommended for general fruit & vegetable crates; models above 450T for large thickened logistics crates.
Injection Rate: ≥700g/s high-speed injection configuration recommended for thin-wall ventilated structures.
Material Compatibility: Virgin PP and HDPE, supports blended recycled materials to cut raw material costs.
Automation Expansion: Standard signal interfaces reserved on the machine for quick connection with robots, hopper dryers, chillers and other auxiliary equipment to build integrated injection molding production lines.
5. Why Choose Konger Crate Specialized Fruit Crate Injection Molding Machines
Ningbo Konger Machinery (Konger) is rooted in Ningbo’s plastic machinery industrial base, focusing on R&D and manufacturing of specialized injection molding equipment for segmented industries.
The Crate Series servo-hydraulic fruit crate machine is not a simple modification of universal machines, but a fully customized professional model developed based on hydraulic fruit crate molding technology.

Compared with general hydraulic injection molding machines, the equipment features reinforced structural rigidity, faster hydraulic circuit response and upgraded wear-resistant plasticizing components to adapt to 24-hour non-stop mass production.
Against imported machines, Konger provides competitive pricing and rapid localized technical service. We deliver one-stop solutions including complete machine supply, auxiliary equipment matching and on-site process commissioning. Our machines are sold nationwide and exported to fruit & vegetable packaging manufacturers across the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia and other markets.
If you are planning new fruit crate production projects or upgrading existing production lines, Konger provides full-cycle technical support including product process analysis, machine selection consultation, mold matching suggestions and on-site process commissioning.