For most of the last century, the injection molding machine was judged by one thing: how fast it could turn resin into parts. Industry 4.0 has quietly changed what a molding machine is. This is the real promise of Industry 4.0. Today, a serious plant will ask whether an Industry 4.0 injection molding machine can share its data openly. A modern plastic injection molding machine that reports and reduces its own energy use is not just cheaper to run.