Injection molding machines, in everyday German often called Spritzgussmaschinen, are the backbone of the plastics processing industry — from automotive parts to medical devices to consumer goods. Germany, home to KraussMaffei and Arburg, hosts two of the world’s strongest injection molding machine manufacturers. What that means: an active, international used market with stable prices.
If you want to sell an injection molding machine, we’ll give you a no-obligation assessment. We buy used injection molding machines from all the common manufacturers, from a single machine to an entire molding shop with removal robot and peripherals. Below you will find a short guide to each of the major manufacturers with series, control generations and, where documented, market values.
Key manufacturers and their market positioning
KraussMaffei — broad installed base, strong exports
KraussMaffei is internationally the best-known name in German injection molding technology. The CX series (hydraulic, 500–4,200 kN) and the GX series (hydraulic, two-platen clamping unit, 4,000–14,500 kN) cover the mid and larger clamping-force classes. The MX series (hydraulic, two-platen, currently up to 60,000 kN) is designed for large components, for example in automotive manufacturing.
The used market is active, with international trade also to Asia and Eastern Europe.
Arburg — precision and flexibility
Arburg Allrounders are known for their flexibility: the modular concept with various injection units and optional rotary tables makes every Allrounder adaptable. The hybrid H and the all-electric E series appeal to buyers who value energy efficiency and precision.
The SELOGICA control (and the newer SELOGICA EXPERT) is recognized worldwide — operators know it on every continent.
Engel — Austrian, widely established internationally
Engel Austria (Schwertberg, Austria) is one of Europe’s largest injection molding machine manufacturers. The victory (hydraulic and servo-hydraulic), e-motion (all-electric) and duo (large machines with a two-platen clamping unit) series all have active used markets.
Sumitomo Demag — German-Japanese quality combination
Sumitomo (SHI) Demag (Schwaig, Germany) emerged in 2008 from the acquisition of the Demag Plastics Group by Sumitomo Heavy Industries. El-Exis SP (hybrid, designed for fast packaging applications) and Systec (servo-hydraulic, with the hybrid Systec SP) cover clamping forces from 1,500 to 15,000 kN. We have no reliable public price range for either series; we value individually.
Wittmann Battenfeld, Netstal, Haitian — thin pricing data, active buying
We also buy from three further manufacturers, even though hardly any reliable price data exists publicly. We therefore value these machines individually instead of with a flat range: Wittmann Battenfeld (EcoPower, SmartPower, MacroPower, older Battenfeld machines from Meinerzhagen), Netstal (PET-Line for preforms, Elion; part of Krones AG since 2024) and Haitian International (Mars, Jupiter and the Zhafir series Venus).
Indicative prices
| Brand | Model | Clamping force | Year | Asking prices (€) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KraussMaffei | CX 200 | 200 t | — | no reliable public range |
| KraussMaffei | GX 450 | 450 t | — | no reliable public range |
| KraussMaffei | MX 850 | 850 t | — | no reliable public range |
| Arburg | Allrounder 520 C 2000-675 | 2,000 kN (hydr.) | 1998–2000 | 6,000–15,000 (asking prices) |
| Arburg | Allrounder 570 H | 2,000 kN (hybrid) | — | no reliable range |
| Engel | victory 500/120 | 120 t | — | no reliable public range |
| Engel | e-motion 440/160 | 160 t | — | no reliable public range |
| Sumitomo Demag | El-Exis SP | 1,500–10,000 kN | currently built | no reliable range, individual assessment |
Asking prices on used-machinery marketplaces (as of October 2026), not guide values and not sale prices. Shot count, screw condition and the control significantly affect the price.
Value factors for injection molding machines
Shot count: The primary wear indicator. Screw, barrel, and non-return valve are the most expensive wear parts — a new screw assembly is a considerable cost item depending on size.
Control generation: SELOGICA EXPERT (Arburg), MC6 (KraussMaffei), and CC300 (Engel) are the current generations. Older proprietary controls reduce the price.
Electric vs. hydraulic: Electric machines are usually valued higher than comparable hydraulic machines.
Multi-component units: A rotary table, a second injection unit, co-injection — every add-on unit that works raises the price.
Hydraulic oil condition: Dark, contaminated oil is a warning sign — hydraulic components wear faster with contaminated oil.
Validation/qualification: Machines qualified for medical and pharmaceutical applications (with IQ/OQ documentation) command a premium with the right buyers.
Electric, hydraulic or hybrid — what the drive means for value
The drive type is not a minor technical detail on injection molding machines, but one of the factors that most strongly shapes resale value. As noted above, electric machines are usually valued higher on the used market than comparable hydraulic machines of the same age and clamping force. This section looks at where that difference comes from and how to place it for otherwise comparable machines.
Why electric machines command the premium: Three reasons carry the price difference, and they weigh differently from a buyer’s perspective. First, precision: electric servo drives position the screw and the mold movement repeatably, without the compressibility and thermal drift of a hydraulic system — for tight-tolerance parts (medical technology, connectors, optical components) this is often an exclusion criterion for hydraulic machines, not just a comfort feature. Second, energy cost: an electric drive only draws power when an axis is actually doing work, whereas a hydraulic pump keeps running during operation — over the machine’s life that is a noticeable difference in the energy balance of a processing plant. Third, cycle-time repeatability: electric axes run every cycle with the same acceleration and braking curve, which lowers the scrap rate particularly at high volumes and tightly calculated cycle times. Together these three effects explain why the premium holds in the market, even for older electric machines.
What ‘hybrid’ means mechanically: The term is used inconsistently, and that is exactly why, with a hybrid machine, it pays to look at the actual axis distribution rather than the label. At its core, hybrid means: some of the axes are electrically driven, the rest stay hydraulic — which axes these are is set by the manufacturer and differs. Typical is an electric injection axis (where precision matters most) with a hydraulic clamping unit. Other designs split it the other way round: electric clamping unit with hydraulic plasticizing. For the valuation this means: if a machine is offered as ‘hybrid’, tell us which axes are electric — that influences the value more than the bare designation.
How to weigh this for otherwise comparable machines: If two machines of the same clamping force, build year and condition are up for choice — one purely hydraulic, one electric or hybrid — it is worth asking about the actual range of parts. For standard parts with generous tolerances and moderate volumes, the extra price of an electric machine often does not pay back to the same degree as for tight-tolerance or high-volume applications. For selling your own machine the reverse applies: the more precisely you can tell us which axes are electric and how that has affected precision and energy consumption in your own operation, the better the machine can be matched to the right buyer segment — and the more realistic the assessment.
Selling an injection molding machine: how we buy
We buy your injection molding machine ourselves: one offer, bank transfer before pickup on a direct purchase, and we organise disassembly and transport. On request we also sell it through our buyer network. Sale through our buyer network: commission stated upfront; you are paid before pickup.
For older or heavily used machines, an online auction is often the better route. If you want, we sell your machine ourselves in an auction: reserve price set together with you, commission stated upfront, payout within 5 working days after the auction payment arrives.
How we proceed and what we need from you is described in the next section.
Process and pricing for injection molding machines
The basic process follows the same pattern as for any other machine we buy — from the first data submission to pickup, it is described in detail under How it works. This section covers only what is specifically asked for injection molding machines, because it directly determines the price.
What data we specifically need for an injection molding machine: Clamping force and series (e.g. KraussMaffei GX 450, Arburg Allrounder 520 C), control version, shot count as far as the control outputs it, and an honest assessment of the condition of barrel and screw — visible wear, unusual noises, known repairs. Plus details of the robot and peripheral equipment: removal robots, temperature-control units, material conveying and dryers are often sold along with the machine and influence the overall offer, even though they are separate units. Photos of the nameplate, control panel and clamping unit also help to prepare an initial assessment without an on-site visit.
How the assessment arises from this: With this information we classify the machine using the value factors — shot count, control generation, drive type, multi-component equipment, hydraulic oil condition and, where applicable, validation status. The result is a no-obligation initial assessment.
From assessment to pickup: Once you confirm the assessment, we agree details on disassembly and timing. For larger machines from around 500 t clamping force we organise the disassembly, as described in the FAQ above. On a direct purchase, payment is made by bank transfer before pickup; no machine leaves your site without confirmed payment.
A typical starting situation: switching from hydraulic to electric
A recurring pattern we see among plastics processors: a mid-sized company has produced for years with a fleet of hydraulic machines, say in the 200–500 t clamping-force range, and is now investing in one or two new electric or hybrid machines — usually driven by a major customer demanding tighter tolerances or a better energy balance in the supply chain. The new machine takes over the demanding range of parts, but the existing hydraulic machine continues to run flawlessly mechanically and is simply no longer needed to its full extent for the remaining parts. In this situation, selling the old machine often makes more sense than keeping it as a reserve: the floor space is needed for the new line, and a functional hydraulic machine of medium clamping force finds a buyer on the used market comparatively quickly — particularly through export to Eastern Europe or Turkey — whereas unused in the hall it only ties up space and insurance costs. Such a scenario is typical enough that in the initial assessment we specifically ask whether a replacement investment is the reason for the sale — that helps to plan the time frame realistically.
A single machine or an entire molding shop
For a single modern machine, a direct sale is usually a short route: send the data, review the offer, pickup usually 7–15 working days after first contact. For an entire molding shop — multiple machines, peripherals, mold storage — we assess the entire inventory in one visit and also handle clearing the facility, with one price and one timeline — see Plant closure and machinery liquidation.
If other machine types in the same plant are to be sold alongside the injection molding machine, Sell machine tools summarises the broader buying process.
Sell your injection molding machine — request a free valuation.