Apparatus for molding an elongated hollow article

A molding apparatus for an elongated hollow article, the apparatus comprising:

• a mold comprising a stationary outer mold with a substantially tubular cavity formed therein, a moveable end mold with an end mold cavity alignable with the substantially tubular cavity, and a stationary elongated mold core with a fluid channel therethrough, the mold core extending through the substantially tubular cavity into an end mold cavity of an end mold part;
• a molding material metering device coupled to the substantially tubular cavity to control supply of a molding material to the substantially tubular cavity;
• an actuator coupled to the end mold to move the end mold from a first position with the end mold cavity aligned with the substantially tubular cavity to a second position at a predetermined distance between the end mold and the outer mold;
• a valve coupled to the fluid channel to control supply of a fluid to the fluid channel;
• and
• one or more controllers coupled to one or more of the metering device, the actuator, and the valve, the one or more controllers configured to control the one or more of the metering device, the actuator and the valve,
• wherein the one or more controllers is configured to vary a material flow rate of the molding material via the metering device, to vary a speed of the end mold via the actuator or to vary a fluid flow rate of the fluid via the valve as the end mold moves between the first position and the second position.