A method of performing an injection molding cycle in an injection molding apparatus comprising a manifold that receives an injection fluid, the manifold distributing injection fluid to a distribution channel feeding three nozzles (1020, 1022, 1024) which all commonly feed into a mold cavity under an injection pressure at three gates (1032, 1034, 1036) and three valve pins (1040, 1041, 1042), having an axis and a tip end, being slidably mounted for upstream and downstream movement along the axis within the bores of each nozzle, for opening and closing a gate and a drive system that controllably drives the valve pins (1040, 1041, 1042) via three actuators (1940, 1941, 1942), the method comprising: performing a cascade injection molding process in which injection fluid is fed via a central nozzle and a central valve pin to a central gate of the mold cavity and injection fluid is fed via two lateral nozzles (1020, 1024) and lateral valve pins (1041, 1042) to two lateral gates (1034, 1036) distal to the central gate, the cascade process including first opening the central nozzle allowing fluid material to flow into the mold cavity and at a later predetermined time opening the two lateral nozzles (1020, 1024) by upstream withdrawal of the lateral valve pins (1041, 1042) to allow fluid material to enter the mold cavity into the stream of fluid material that has been injected from the central nozzle past the lateral gates (1034, 1036), wherein the two streams of fluid material (NM, M) mix with each other, controllably driving the lateral valve pins (1041, 1042) at a reduced velocity for a selected period of time relative to a maximum velocity of the drive system so as to inject the fluid material at a reduced flow rate for a relatively short period of time at the beginning when the lateral gates (1034, 1036) are first opened and following the time when the fluid material first enters the flow stream to reduce or eliminate the appearance of a visible line or defect in a final molded product made in the mold cavity. performing a cascade injection molding process in which injection fluid is fed via a central nozzle and a central valve pin to a central gate of the mold cavity and injection fluid is fed via two lateral nozzles (1020, 1024) and lateral valve pins (1041, 1042) to two lateral gates (1034, 1036) distal to the central gate, the cascade process including first opening the central nozzle allowing fluid material to flow into the mold cavity and at a later predetermined time opening the two lateral nozzles (1020, 1024) by upstream withdrawal of the lateral valve pins (1041, 1042) to allow fluid material to enter the mold cavity into the stream of fluid material that has been injected from the central nozzle past the lateral gates (1034, 1036), wherein the two streams of fluid material (NM, M) mix with each other, controllably driving the lateral valve pins (1041, 1042) at a reduced velocity for a selected period of time relative to a maximum velocity of the drive system so as to inject the fluid material at a reduced flow rate for a relatively short period of time at the beginning when the lateral gates (1034, 1036) are first opened and following the time when the fluid material first enters the flow stream to reduce or eliminate the appearance of a visible line or defect in a final molded product made in the mold cavity.