A machine element for mounting a mold, in particular a mold mounting plate, for a tie-bar-less closing unit of a molding machine includes a plate-shaped base body and at least two pressure pad elements respectively designed as part of a hydraulic actuator, preferably a pressure pad, and have a longitudinal axis. The at least two pressure pad elements are offset transversely from one another with respect to at least one of the longitudinal axes, and for the at least two pressure pad elements at least one respective strut is provided, the strut connecting the respective pressure pad element to the base body.

A closing unit for a molding machine includes a movable mold mounting plate, a fast-stroke device configured to displace the movable mold mounting plate relative to a fixed mold mounting plate, and a closing force mechanism separate from the fast-stroke device and designed to build up a closing force between the fixed mold mounting plate and the movable mold mounting plate. The fast-stroke device is arranged substantially coaxially to a central longitudinal axis of the closing unit.

A closing unit for a molding machine includes a movable mold mounting plate, a fast-stroke device configured to displace the movable mold mounting plate relative to a fixed mold mounting plate, and a closing force mechanism separate from the fast-stroke device and designed to build up a closing force between the fixed mold mounting plate and the movable mold mounting plate. The fast-stroke device is arranged substantially coaxially to a central longitudinal axis of the closing unit.