A method comprising: reciprocating a first plate carrying a plurality of first tool halves, a second plate carrying a plurality of second tool halves, or both, relative to each other, between (i) an open configuration in which the first plate and the second plate are spaced apart, and (ii) a closed configuration in which the first plate and the second plate are in such close proximity to one another that the first and second tool halves (120, 220) contact one another and together define a plurality of injection molding cavities, each of the plurality of injection molding cavities forming a separate mold half; bringing the first plate and the second plate into the closed configuration and injecting a mold-forming material into the plurality of injection molding cavities, thereby forming a plurality of injection molded mold halves; during the reciprocating, propelling a gripper plate between a receive position and a deliver position, the receive position being a location where the gripper plate is positioned between the first plate and the second plate when the first plate and the second plate are in the open position, and the deliver position being a location where the gripper plate is not positioned between the first plate and the second plate; and receiving, with mold-removing elements of the gripper plate, the plurality of mold halves from the first or second tool halves (120, 220) when the gripper plate is in the receive position; CHARACTERISED IN THAT: the method is a method of manufacturing a contact lens and the mold halves are contact lens mold halves; and the gripper plate is propelled by a linear motor and comprises carbon fiber material and is configured to stop only instantaneously at the receive position and the first plate and second plate begin to close from the open configuration to the closed configuration before the gripper plate has been fully removed from between the first plate and the second plate. reciprocating a first plate carrying a plurality of first tool halves, a second plate carrying a plurality of second tool halves, or both, relative to each other, between (i) an open configuration in which the first plate and the second plate are spaced apart, and (ii) a closed configuration in which the first plate and the second plate are in such close proximity to one another that the first and second tool halves (120, 220) contact one another and together define a plurality of injection molding cavities, each of the plurality of injection molding cavities forming a separate mold half; bringing the first plate and the second plate into the closed configuration and injecting a mold-forming material into the plurality of injection molding cavities, thereby forming a plurality of injection molded mold halves; during the reciprocating, propelling a gripper plate between a receive position and a deliver position, the receive position being a location where the gripper plate is positioned between the first plate and the second plate when the first plate and the second plate are in the open position, and the deliver position being a location where the gripper plate is not positioned between the first plate and the second plate; and receiving, with mold-removing elements of the gripper plate, the plurality of mold halves from the first or second tool halves (120, 220) when the gripper plate is in the receive position; CHARACTERISED IN THAT: the method is a method of manufacturing a contact lens and the mold halves are contact lens mold halves; and the gripper plate is propelled by a linear motor and comprises carbon fiber material and is configured to stop only instantaneously at the receive position and the first plate and second plate begin to close from the open configuration to the closed configuration before the gripper plate has been fully removed from between the first plate and the second plate. the method is a method of manufacturing a contact lens and the mold halves are contact lens mold halves; and the gripper plate is propelled by a linear motor and comprises carbon fiber material and is configured to stop only instantaneously at the receive position and the first plate and second plate begin to close from the open configuration to the closed configuration before the gripper plate has been fully removed from between the first plate and the second plate.