Okamoto Corporation

JM Mold South, Inc.: Constant Reinvention Results in Growth, Success.

This shop—never content to rest on its laurels—combines lean initiatives and the latest in technology to be a one-stop shop for its customers and win the MoldMaking Technology 2008 Leadtime Leader Award: Small Shop.

Automation is coming into the forefront as moldmakers are on the hunt to automate with software and equipment to streamline processes for optimal productivity—and quality.

This world-renown imaging company proves its worth in the moldmaking market by adding value to the process with turnkey operations.

Toolmakers are developing increasingly complex molds for high production of thinwall parts.

Okamoto (Buffalo Grove, IL) will showcase its rapid lapping machine, which offers the following benefits: • Lap and polish 10-25 times faster • Get Ra 24 finish to Ra 1.5 in 30 seconds • Improves tool life up to 300 percent • Hard-to-reach areas are no problem • Virtually no material is removed • Vegetable base media (not aggressive) • Can be used on most all metals

This moldmaker garners the 2007 Leadtime Leader Award: Small Shop by being flexible with its customers, going lean, competing globally and uniting with other moldmakers.

Switching from manual to CNC grinders results in leadtime, programming, accuracy and tolerance benefits for this moldmaker.

Okamoto Corporation has announced the introduction of the UPZ-210Li, a new style of profile grinder designed to deliver a new degree of ultra-high precision in grinding carbide and punch die profile jobs.

This moldmaker’s decision to venture into the rapid tooling market added up to rapid growth—and the winning of the 2006 Leadtime Leader Honorable Mention: Small Shop for the second year in a row.