SHOWROOM

CVe Monitor

Since I began covering moldmaking 15 years ago, I've discovered two very important characteristics of the men and women who make up this industry--besides their craftsmanship and technology know-how--passion and generosity. And here is just one current example of those qualities. Westminster Tool has contributed $30,000 to fund and support the new Manufacturing Technology Center at Quinebaug Valley Community College.

Z series alignment locks.

The Society of Plastic Engineers/Mold Making and Mold Design Division honored two of its members during the Division’s Annual Business Meeting at ANTEC 2012, which was held in conjunction with NPE2012. 2012 Mold Designer of the Year: Barbara Arnold – Feret from Fort Worth, TX.

Longtime MoldMaking Technology supporter, Progressive Components--led by Glenn and Don Starkey--had Rushour performing in their booth at the close of each day during NPE2012.

Did you miss NPE2012? If so, here are a few items MMT saw at this year's event—just a sampling of some technology sightings.

Technology suppliers discuss how equipment speeds time-to-market.

Collapsible cores, expandable cavities, monitors, tooling systems, and more.

Many who build production molds are increasingly making recommendations to those running their tools, and providing the means to monitor and track that activity to get the most out of their initial investment.

The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA), Rolling Meadows, IL, is excited to announce the second in its series of plant tour workshops at Industrial Mold & Machine (Twinsburg, OH) on November 10, 2011, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm, entitled “Innovative Knowledge Management Systems – How Productivity, Quality and Customer Service Improve when Everyone is on the Same (iPad) Page”.

Last week, B A Die Mold's founder Alan Petrucci, AMBA's 2011 Mold Builder of the Year, presented to Bill Devore, director of the College of Lake County Foundation, a donation to the CNC/MTT department at College of Lake County.

ProtoBridge™

CVe Monitor™; MD&M Booth # 525

Locking Series

Better undercut release for small medical parts.

amerimold Booth #612; DT series

Part development included throughout tooling and production.

This device monitors more than just mold cycles completed.

U.S. moldmakers are increasingly noticing projects coming back from offshore. But it’s not happening because of some wave of patriotism from their customers. Instead, it just increasingly makes more dollars and more sense.

Tooling Docs provides several levels and types of maintenance training and certification for a variety of molds, components and hot runner systems.

Real-life scenarios describing how to make the optimum tooling strategy decisions—including early supplier involvement.

Progressive Components (Wauconda, IL) has expanded its exclusive line of undercut release solutions by adding two new sizes of FlexiCores®. By springing away from the molded detail as the ejector plates move forward, the FlexiCore offers an economical and space efficient method for releasing molded undercuts.

Progressive Components (Wauconda, IL) has simplified the way molders and moldmakers can access and order the date stamps and replacement date plugs they need by updating its online order form and template.

Progressive Components (Wauconda, IL), a leading supplier of components for the global production tooling industry, has expanded its line of C-Cores with the new DT Series Collapsible Core.

Progressive Components (Wauconda, IL), a global supplier of components for the production tooling industry, has further simplified the way molders and moldmakers can access and order the date stamps and replacement date plugs they need by updating its online order form and template.

Progressive Components (Wauconda, IL)—a leading supplier of components for the global production tooling industry—has expanded its line of C-Cores with the new DT Series Collapsible Core.

Progressive Components (Wauconda, IL)—a leading supplier of components for the global production tooling industry—offers ProFile 6 mold management software that advances the way tooling activity and data are tracked with more enhanced features for even easier mold management.

Utilized as a custom solution for years, expandable cavities now have been released as a standardized, off-the-shelf component by Progressive Components (Wauconda, IL), a leading supplier of components for the global production tooling industry.

“There’s nothing more expensive than a cheap mold,” has been said by many a tooling engineer after a bargain of a mold began bleeding profits.

Steps can be taken to deliver to your customer not only a better performing tool, but a better performing tooling investment.

New Friction Pullers Advance Parting Line Control Progressive Components (Wauconda, IL)—a leading supplier of components to the production tooling industry—introduces its new Friction Puller for parting line control.

Progressive Components (Wauconda, IL) offers new sizes of needle bearing locks from its Friction Free line.

A review of a decade of global challenges and change.

Since their introduction in 2005, Progressive's exclusive Needle Bearing Locks have proven to be a problem-solving solution that has earned a place in leading Mold Spec books.

CAD/CAM’s improved features and new capabilities—combined with the latest in technologies like high speed and five-axis machining, new cutting tools and 3-D technologies—allow moldmakers to achieve the highest quality in the shortest time.

Progressive Components (Wauconda, IL) will present an array of new and expanded product lines from its recently released catalog, including its BX Inch Series Hot Sprue Bushing, items from the exclusive FrictionFree™ line and expanded offerings from its line of Alignment products, Date Stamps, Collapsible Cores, UniLifters® and more.

Moldmakers aren't the only ones reducing leadtimes. Component and hot runner suppliers are delivering their equipment and supplies faster to accommodate industry demand.

Progressive Components (Wauconda, IL) has expanded its extensive line of globally available mold alignment products by adding a new range of Metric Top Locks, which provide positive guidance between the cavities and cores.

Progressive Components (Wauconda, IL) has added Date Stamps with Raised Lettering to its mold marking product line.

The advantages of the two basic styles of vacuum approaches: valve and valve-less.

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

Progressive Components’ (Wauconda, IL) new Roller Pullers™ advance the standards over other devices for controlling parting line sequencing.

Steps for evaluating the latest mold innovations in order to move along the evolution process.

Design and performance capabilities of components fabricated in state-of-the-art molds enhance the appeal of new vehicles.

Progressive Components (Wauconda, IL) has added Roller Pullers™ to its product line—advancing the standards over other devices for controlling the sequence of openings for parting lines within a mold.

The ability to design and build innovative molds for advanced processing needs is key to being competitive and profitable in a low-margin market.

A review of considerations that tooling engineers will need to keep in mind to ensure success within cleanroom environments.

Commodity-oriented consumer manufacturing left North America, but mold industry survivors are finding strong growth in technical market sectors.

Progressive Components will present a wide array of new products at NPE 2006 including its recently launched FrictionFree™ line along with the already publicized SRT Slide Retainer and Needle Bearing (NB) Lock.

When technology, quality and speed step to the fore in the medical world, so does the North American mold and die industry with some innovative products and processes.

Progressive Components (Wauconda, IL) introduces new Friction Free™ technology.

Progressive Components (Wauconda, IL) has designed a slide retainer that uses Friction Free™ technology that eliminates the resistance and abrasion that occurs with other slide locking products.

It’s time to adapt or die as business evolution dictates development of new business and manufacturing approaches.

The key to setting your shop’s direction toward the best targets is knowing one’s advantages when it comes to a U.S.-built mold.

Needle bearing locks have been introduced by Progressive Components (Wauconda, IL). The locks are designed to withstand the most demanding requirements in mold alignment, providing precise registration between the two halves of the tool.

How tooling engineers can avoid mold performance unknowns and surprises downstream.

A new program gives moldmakers the opportunity to learn business strategies that will help their company thrive.

Moldmakers travel to Mexico to learn the pros and cons of establishing operations in another country from the experts who have been through it.

Are there sales opportunities for U.S. moldmakers right here in our own backyard?

After doing their homework overseas, moldmakers candidly discuss the impact that last year's trade mission has had on their businesses a year later.

Further standardization and more options allow moldmakers to concentrate on fine detail.

Opening a satellite sales and service center south of the border allows moldmakers to better compete in a global marketplace.

This final part will describe how to formulate a strategy in order to position your company during challenging times.

Part three of a four-part series that will describe the current challenges for the U.S. moldmaking industry and what strategies some companies are executing to grow their business.

Part two of a four part series that will discuss how integrating these rapid technologies can serve as a means of differentiating oneself from competitors, but alone does not ensure a company's security.

This article begins a four part series that will describe the current competitive conditions in the plastics tooling industry and what some companies are doing to grow their businesses amidst challenging conditions.