An injection molding apparatus comprising an injection molding machine (IMM), a heated manifold having a distribution channel into which injection fluid , a mold having a cavity communicating with a fluid delivery channel that receives injection fluid from the distribution channel , the fluid delivery channel delivering fluid at a downstream end to a gate that communicates with the cavity , the gate being controllably opened and closed to control flow of the fluid into the cavity during the course of an injection cycle, the apparatus including a valve comprised of: an actuator having a rotor rotatably driven (R1) at a rotor speed (R1s), characterised by the rotor being interconnected to a distal end of an elongated shaft and adapted to drivably transmit rotational motion (R1) of the rotor to rotational motion (R2) of the elongated shaft for rotation at a shaft speed (R2s), the actuator being mounted to one or the other of a top clamp plate or the injection molding machine (IMM), the elongated shaft being interconnected at a proximal end to a converter , the converter being adapted to transmit rotational motion (R2) of the elongated shaft directly to driven linear motion (A) of a linear drive member , the linear drive member being interconnected to a valve pin arranged within the fluid delivery channel for upstream and downstream movement along a linear path of travel (A) between gate closed and gate open positions via the driven linear motion (A) of the linear drive member , the elongated shaft having a shaft axis (DA), a length or configuration (LC) selected and adapted such that the actuator is mountable on the apparatus in a position or disposition that is isolated, separated or insulated from significant or substantial exposure to or transmission of heat from the heated manifold through air or metal to metal contact between the heated manifold and the actuator . an actuator having a rotor rotatably driven (R1) at a rotor speed (R1s), characterised by the rotor being interconnected to a distal end of an elongated shaft and adapted to drivably transmit rotational motion (R1) of the rotor to rotational motion (R2) of the elongated shaft for rotation at a shaft speed (R2s), the actuator being mounted to one or the other of a top clamp plate or the injection molding machine (IMM), the elongated shaft being interconnected at a proximal end to a converter , the converter being adapted to transmit rotational motion (R2) of the elongated shaft directly to driven linear motion (A) of a linear drive member , the linear drive member being interconnected to a valve pin arranged within the fluid delivery channel for upstream and downstream movement along a linear path of travel (A) between gate closed and gate open positions via the driven linear motion (A) of the linear drive member , the elongated shaft having a shaft axis (DA), a length or configuration (LC) selected and adapted such that the actuator is mountable on the apparatus in a position or disposition that is isolated, separated or insulated from significant or substantial exposure to or transmission of heat from the heated manifold through air or metal to metal contact between the heated manifold and the actuator . <EOS>