Plasticizing unit

A plasticizing unit for a molding machine, comprising:

• at least one plasticizing screw arranged in a barrel so as to be rotatably driveable, which screw is designed to plasticize a material to be plasticized;
• and
• at least one feeding device arranged on a lateral surface of the barrel, which feeding device is designed to feed the material to be plasticized into the barrel,
• wherein a dividing device is provided which divides the feeding device into two sub-regions, wherein a first sub-region is designed to feed the material to be plasticized into the barrel and a second sub-region is fluidically connected to a degassing device, and/or
• wherein an opening, through which opening the at least one plasticizing screw is inserted into the barrel, is fluidically connected along the longitudinal axis of the barrel at one end of the barrel to the degassing device, and
• wherein the degassing device is designed to discharge gases generated during the plasticization of the material to be plasticized from the barrel.