<p>A hot-runner assembly for injection molding equipment. The hot-runner assembly includes a front plate and a backing plate spaced from one another so as to define an inter-plate volume. The inter-plate volume contains one or more manifolds for conducting flowable material to a plurality of injection nozzles. The inter-plate volume also contains inter-plate support distributed between a first inter-plate support zone located immediately adjacent the manifold(s) and a second inter-plate support zone that makes up the balance of the inter-plate volume so that the first inter-plate support zone has a inter-plate support footprint density that is greater than the inter-plate support footprint density in the second inter-plate support zone.</p>
