Abstract: Disclosed is a lock of a molding system having a rod and a platen. The lock includes a lock member associated with the rod that is movable between a clamped position and a released position by a clamp assembly. A complementary lock member is associated with the platen. The lock member and the complementary lock member are cooperatively operable to move between a lockable condition and an unlockablecondition within a relatively lower flex zone of the platen. The relatively lower flex zone of the platen is a portion of the platen adjacent to the rod relative to a relatively higher flex zone of the platen also adjacent to the rod.