Fakuma 2026: Leonhardt Presents a 3-mm Folding Core

Leonhardt Introduces 3-mm Foldable Core A New Dimension in Miniaturization

2026-08-21 Source: Press Release Melanie Ehrhardt 1 min Reading Time

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At Fakuma 2026, Leonhardt will present a 3-mm folding core as a world first. It enables the cost-effective production of complex micro-scale internal geometries in injection molding—folding cores typically start at around 8 mm.

Design Drawing: 3-mm Folded Core—Side View(Bild: Leonhardt) — Design Drawing: 3-mm Folded Core—Side View
(Bild: Leonhardt)

With a folding core just 3 mm in diameter, Leonhardt says it will present an innovation at Fakuma 2026 that pushes the boundaries of miniaturization in injection molding. This new development enables the cost-effective production of high-precision plastic and MIM components with complex internal geometries and opens up new fields of application in microfabrication.

Integrate functions directly into the injection-molded part

While conventional folding cores have typically had diameters ranging from about 8 to 240 mm, the newly developed 3-mm folding core enables the demolding of undercuts amounting to approximately 7 percent of the core diameter. This makes it possible to produce complex internal geometries directly during the injection molding process—geometries that previously could only be manufactured with great difficulty or not at all.

This technology enables the production of highly miniaturized components in a single injection molding process. Assembly, joining, and post-processing steps can be significantly reduced or eliminated entirely. This improves component quality, process reliability, and reproducibility while simultaneously lowering manufacturing costs.

This development opens up new design freedoms, particularly for applications in medical technology, microfluidics, and precision and microsystems engineering. Functions can be integrated directly into the injection-molded part, enabling more compact and higher-performance products.

Current status: Prototype stage

The 3-mm folding core also offers advantages in terms of sustainability. Smaller components reduce material usage, energy consumption, and cycle times. Eliminating additional process steps reduces scrap and improves resource efficiency throughout the entire value chain.

The 3-mm foldable core is currently in the prototype stage. However, the results so far demonstrate its potential to open up new applications for high-precision plastic components and to drive sustainable miniaturization in injection molding. me

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Leonhardt at Fakuma 2026: Hall A5 / Booth A5-5206

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