A hot runner injection molding apparatus comprising: a manifold including an inlet and plurality of outlets; at least one hot runner nozzle (104, 106) coupled to the manifold, where each nozzle (104, 106) defines a melt channel and where each nozzle (104, 106) includes a movable valve pin configured to control a flow of a molten material from each nozzle (104, 106) into a mold cavity by opening and closing a mold gate; and an actuation system including: - an actuator which creates a movement along a first axis "A", - a valve pin which is moveable along a second axis "B" wherein the second axis "B" is angled with respect to the first axis "A", - a plurality of force transmission components (41, 42, 43, 44), wherein the force transmission components (41, 42, 43, 44) are movably connected to each other, wherein the first force transmission component is connected to the actuator and the last force transmission component (41") is connected to the moveable valve pin and the force transmission components 41, 42, 43, 44) are substantially located and guided within an area of the channel, which is substantially not parallel to axis A or axis "B", characterised in that the force transmission components are connected via ball head connection. a manifold including an inlet and plurality of outlets; at least one hot runner nozzle (104, 106) coupled to the manifold, where each nozzle (104, 106) defines a melt channel and where each nozzle (104, 106) includes a movable valve pin configured to control a flow of a molten material from each nozzle (104, 106) into a mold cavity by opening and closing a mold gate; and an actuation system including: - an actuator which creates a movement along a first axis "A", - a valve pin which is moveable along a second axis "B" wherein the second axis "B" is angled with respect to the first axis "A", - a plurality of force transmission components (41, 42, 43, 44), wherein the force transmission components (41, 42, 43, 44) are movably connected to each other, wherein the first force transmission component is connected to the actuator and the last force transmission component (41") is connected to the moveable valve pin and the force transmission components 41, 42, 43, 44) are substantially located and guided within an area of the channel, which is substantially not parallel to axis A or axis "B", characterised in that the force transmission components are connected via ball head connection. - an actuator which creates a movement along a first axis "A", - a valve pin which is moveable along a second axis "B" wherein the second axis "B" is angled with respect to the first axis "A", - a plurality of force transmission components (41, 42, 43, 44), wherein the force transmission components (41, 42, 43, 44) are movably connected to each other, wherein the first force transmission component is connected to the actuator and the last force transmission component (41") is connected to the moveable valve pin and the force transmission components 41, 42, 43, 44) are substantially located and guided within an area of the channel, which is substantially not parallel to axis A or axis "B", characterised in that the force transmission components are connected via ball head connection.