We don't think so. Free-flow valves actually make a mess with burnt material left behind after each shot. Sure, I like to invent, but I only invent parts or improvements or better processes for a reason. And it really steamed me that injection molders have been sold this bill of goods the other guys have the nerve to actually call "free-flow."

The name "free-flow" is a bad joke, because the only thing "free" about it is all the free time your workers will have. That's because "free-flow" valves easily clog when you change colors or materials. Clogged injection molding machines mean downtime and downtime means goodbye money!

Here's the deal: So-called "free-flow" valves actually make a mess with burnt material left behind after each shot. These valves aren't made for real world applications, because you do change colors and you do change materials - but these competitor valves do not clean themselves to handle this variation.

Here's the problem: Leakage. Labor. Downtime. They've been touting this "free-flow" nonsense as a good thing. It is a myth, through and through. This simple truth would clog a "free-flow" valve about as easily as the burnt material that routinely gets stuck along the sides of its channels.

Here's what Zeiger does differently: I found that the "free-flow" thing doesn't work and invented something that does. Pure, simple, and clean. Self-cleaning, that is. The Zeiger Z3's Full-Flow Valve is the industry's only self-cleaning valve - so the Z3 is the only 3-piece screw-tip assembly made for the real world. Ours is the industry standard. Go ahead, change colors. Be my guest, change materials. The Zeiger Full-Flow design automatically propels the complete removal of previous shots. You get a clean result after every shot. No material sticking, no downtime, forget failure. Their "Free-flow" is a NEVER-NEVER! I would never use it so I would never sell it. Instead, the Z3 ONLY features this self-cleaning valve, meaning your injection molding machine can run the same product in different colors or materials with no waste, scrap, or idle workers. That's freedom!