Give and Take

Staying on top of the latest moldmaking trends and technologies is the only way to survive in this ever-changing, increasingly competitive moldmaking marketplace. This means that industry needs to support itself by coming together and sharing information.

What’s needed is a little give-and-take. This entails (1) attending industry educational events from where you can take away tips on how to better your operations and (2) becoming a speaker at these same events to give tips on how your fellow moldmakers can better their operations. In the end everyone wins—leaving the show with more knowledge than they had when they walked into the event. In addition to that motivation, this also is one of the effective sales and marketing techniques we’ve discussed in our monthly Sales & Marketing column that will keep you one step ahead of the competition.

Next year’s event will take place on April 25 & 26, 2006 in Novi, MI, and includes a two-day technical moldmaking conference—the only trade event of its kind in North America—which is currently still open for participants who are willing to share their expertise to help fellow industryfolk examine the industry’s latest product, equipment and service offerings, and make important purchasing decisions.

According to our 2005 post-show attendee survey, moldmakers and molders are among the top business categories attending the MoldMaking Expo and signing up for the technical conference program looking to conduct research on products, services and strategies that will better their moldmaking operations. This survey also cites that the majority of attendees will be returning next year in search of the latest tips, trends and techniques on the following categories, among others:

CAD/CAM
Machining
State of the Industry
Components
Global Issues
Strategies/Operations
Rapid Prototyping/Rapid Tooling
Cutting Tools
Maintenance/Repair
Shop Management

What better way to help industry as a whole and promote your shop or company than by presenting in a seminar a technology, technique or strategy that has helped your shop survive and thrive in today’s tough business climate. All you need to do is give an hour of your time to attendees searching for practical solutions to help them deal with the challenges and complexities of their jobs—while picking up your own tips and ideas at the same time.

Both moldmakers and vendors are invited to submit presentation ideas. Moldmakers who present can share experiences, lessons learned, tips and best practices for better moldmaking, and case studies illustrating the successful use of a moldmaking product, service or strategy; while suppliers who present can share technology reviews and application stories.

Thank you for your continued support, and I look forward to reviewing your presentation ideas and your conference participation.