MMT Blog
Michael Thiessen, sales manager for Tebis America, will present this free webinar about the Internet of Things (also known as Industry 4.0) and how moldmakers can optimize their quality control processes from design through production using data collection and management, virtual manufacturing, simulations and more.
Industry 4.0 is is alive and growing within the moldmaking and die making industries. Though some may not realize they are doing it, companies large and small around the world are embracing components that factor into what Industry 4.0 (also known as The Internet of Things) represents: data-driven manufacturing.
Think about it for a minute. If your company builds molds and you place a device on each one so that you and/or your customer can monitor production cycles for proactive maintenance purposes, you are using data to optimize production. If you use enterprise resource planning (ERP) software to streamline and better manage the movement of jobs and the use of equipment and supplies through your shop, data is helping you achieve your goals.
Read MoreBy: Heather Wintle 8/23/2019
Amerimold Action 2019
Progressive Components showed customers an array of standards offered for moldmaking, including its popular alignment locks, brass cooling components, the CVe Mold Monitor and CVe Live, lifters and more. The company introduced its new System Cooling High-Temp Manifolds at Amerimold, which monitor individual cooling circuits within a mold. High Temp Manifolds now support temperatures up to 250°F/120°C and are available in 4, 8, and 12 zone units, each of which can be connected to as many as 8 manifolds for a total of 96 zones.
Hasco America displayed several new items during Amerimold, including the new multi-zone controller, noted for its high functionality, comprehensive diagnostics and new standards in operating comfort. Also new are highly flexible, twist-free and kink-resistant EPDM hoses with high-strength synthetic textile reinforcement and PFA high-temperature hoses in a perfluoroalkoxy copolymer (PFA) with a solid silicone coating.
FCS North America showed how its line of standard, modular clamping systems, its automatic handling and storage systems and its flexible control software systems can help moldmakers more easily advance their operations to being a production environment via Industry 4.0 principles.
Tool Shop Live! drew a crowd as MoldTrax President Steve Johnson led demonstrations of how a modern, well-equipped toolroom can be a huge asset for those who build and run molds. Eight companies that supply mold repair and maintenance products participated in this first-ever collective in-booth demonstration at Amerimold.
HP’s latest 3D printer, the HP Jet Fusion 500/300 Series, made a splash during the company’s live demonstration of its ability to open up innovation for small- to medium-sized product development teams and design businesses, like those in the moldmaking industry. The company says the Jet Fusion is a good fit for moldmakers building bridge tooling (up to 30,000 parts) with its ability to produce functional parts in full color, with voxel control, in a fraction of the time.
Jingdiao North America welcomed Amerimold attendees to its booth as it demonstrated its on-machine measurement technology for standardized moldmaking. The company’s online measurement and intelligent modification technology (OMIM) eliminates downtime caused by off-machine inspections and instead uses its SurfMill CAD/CAM software to enable the operator to measure the parts on the machine and immediately see a graph that shows which areas are or are not in tolerance.
Alba Enterprises demonstrated the Freeform Injection Molding process (FIM), introducing it to the moldmaking industry at Amerimold. FIM allows a proven injection molding process to be combined with freedom of part design. No more considering how to tool the part. Instead, additive manufacturing, moldmaking and plastic injection molding combine to produce seemingly impossible parts.
Amerimold’s first Sourcing Fair proved to be a great success by providing a forum where OEM manufacturing companies can connect with and interview potential mold suppliers. Here, Don Smith of Scholle IPN meets with a mold shop representative. Smith says he is very happy with the results as he gained 16 new moldmaker leads to consider. Toyota and Otter Products also participated and interviewed moldmaking companies for their growing lists of preferred North American suppliers.
Several panel discussions were held in Amerimold’s Tech Talk Theater, including this one on additive manufacturing. The discussion centered on conformal cooling and what moldmakers and molders should know about the various technologies available today, common challenges faced and specific ways to approach and implement these technologies without issue.
Always a challenging matter for moldmakers and molders alike, the Tech Talk Theater discussion on mold venting was well attended. The audience learned there are many considerations for venting, including where to vent, how wide to make them, how many to have and so on. Expert panelists offered several approaches for getting venting right using available technologies or by innovating one’s own solution.
Another hot topic, workforce development, was addressed during a Tech Talk Theater session with representatives from three moldmaking companies sharing their best practices, including community involvement, cultural development, apprentice training strategies and more. Attendees also learned the results of a special survey powered by Human Asset Management (HAM) that identifies the current state of workforce development among small to mid-size manufacturers in North America.
Part of celebrating Amerimold’s 20th anniversary included hosting a panel discussion with a few individuals who have participated in the event since the beginning and can share how moldmaking trends and technologies have evolved through two decades, what standout innovations panelists have witnessed during that time, how Amerimold exhibitors and attendees have impacted these innovations, and how they’ve adapted their businesses over time to stay relevant. Joining us were Glenn Starkey of Progressive Components, Gisbert Ledvon of Heidenhain Corp., Harry Raimondi of Bales Metal Surface Solutions and Steve Johnson of MoldTrax.
MoldMaking Technology’s 2019 Leadtime Leader Award was presented to X-Cell Tool & Mold of Fairview, Pennsylvania, during the annual awards ceremony at Amerimold. Dave LaGrow (left), president of last year’s Leadtime Leader shop, Maximum Mold Group, was on hand to congratulate Ron Novel, X-Cell Tool president. Ongoing investments in new technologies and automation helped X-Cell Tool to continually advance its processes and grow a cohesive culture of teamwork with an eye on optimized quality and results. These characteristics are what earned the company Leadtime Leader honors for 2019.
X-Cell Tool & Mold President Ron Novel (holding award) and his team stand proudly, and deservedly so, with Glenn and Don Starkey from Progressive Components. Progressive sponsors the Leadtime Leader Award each year, and helping MoldMaking Technology shine a light on moldmaking companies that bring their all, every day.
Many people stopped by the X-Cell Tool & Mold booth during Amerimold to congratulate the company on its Leadtime Leader honors. X-Cell’s Brian Dippel, operations manager, shared that he had a great time at Amerimold and is proud to have participated in the Leadtime Leader process. “It is a lot of work, but a lot of fun as well,” he says.
Members of the X-Cell Tool & Mold team joined MoldMaking Technology’s Editorial Director Christina Fuges for a chat in the Tech Talk Theater. Pictured with Fuges, from left, are Brian Dippel, X-Cell operations manager, Mike Novel, quality, Charlie Kreitner of Maximum Mold Group (2018 Leadtime Leader shop), and Tony Demakis from the Manufacturing Alliance. The discussion focused on excellence in mold manufacturing and what is essential in the quest to be the best – to be a Leadtime Leader. However, attendees learned it is not just about maintaining short lead times. It is about what a shop does with what it has to achieve excellence. This discussion was recorded for a special Manufacturing Alliance podcast.
The MoldMaking Technology editorial team, from left, Heather Wintle, editorial assistant, Christina Fuges, editorial director, and Cyndi Kustush, senior editor, together to help celebrate naming X-Cell Tool & Mold the Leadtime Leader for 2019.
One of the most anticipated annual events at Amerimold is the release of MoldMaking Technology’s “Top 10” t-shirt, which lists the best and funniest reasons to be a moldmaker. Submitted by moldmakers themselves, here is this year’s top 10:
10 We deal with incredible pressures but know how to vent.
9 Injecting, shots and knockouts are legal in all 50 states.
8 Great form is the norm.
7 It's like the Olympic games with runners, blocks, meters, laps and relays.
6 Class 101 is not entry level.
5 The few, the proud, the moldmakers.
4 Hot tips are not just for Vegas and Wall Street.
3 We have our cavities filled without novocaine.
2 No one messes with moldmakers; we have tolerance issues.
#1 We make what matters.
What is the Amerimold Networking Party without fun and games? This year had teams of moldmakers and industry suppliers competing in a friendly game of Family Feud, moldmaking style! Here, Christina Fuges polls one team for answers to win.
Hand-rolled cigars helped Amerimold attendees get into that Roaring 20s mindset and gave them a special treat.
Dueling pianos kept everyone entertained by accepting song requests all night, some of which were a bit strange but they were never stumped!
Happy 20th Anniversary, Amerimold!
Amerimold’s 20th anniversary offered a look back, some new beginnings and loads of technology advancements and education, not to mention networking and fun. We celebrated a new Leadtime Leader, released the coveted “Top 10” t-shirt, roared through the Roaring 20s with a speakeasy-style networking party and so much more. Here are some highlights (visit moldmakingtechnology.com for many more).
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By: Heather Wintle 8/22/2019
Tech Trends: WESTEC-Bound
For this week’s Tech Trends, we’re heading to the west coast! Below are products offered by companies that will be attending and exhibiting at WESTEC 2019, the leading manufacturing event in sunny California. This year’s event will not only be held in a new location (September 24-26; Long Beach Convention Center, CA), but will also include interactive Knowledge Bars, topical keynote addresses and informative product demonstrations by exhibitors.
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Like many shops Rockford, Michigan-based Byrne Tool + Design entered the world of 3D printing with an FDM machine, a Stratasys Fortus 250 MC to be exact, to produce prototype parts for its customers, to build fixtures and nests to aid the manufacturing process and to reverse engineer damaged parts and quickly print new ones.
Cost and lead time reduction for one of Byrne Tool + Design’s larger customers was the impetus for bringing more additive manufacturing (AM) technology in house, namely a Stratasys Polyjet J750 color printer to print molds that can run the actual part material. “We wanted everything in house to maintain control of the entire process,” says Marc Mitchell, Byrne Design Center manager. “No more waiting around for a quote or sending the work to outside vendors.”
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The Moldmaking Index increased slightly over the prior month led by production and employment. Although only two of the Index’s six components supported the Index’s move higher, only exports reported contracting activity.
Employment activity has increased sharply since its nadir in late 2018. The latest monthly reading of employment activity nearly matched the record high set at the peak of the most recent business cycle.
Including June’s results, the 3-month moving average reading for new orders and production continues to expand. The expansion in new orders remains hampered by weakness in exports. Exports have been contracting modestly since the middle of 2018, the timing coincides with the start of tougher U.S. trade regulations with certain trading partners.
Employment data provided by survey participants to the Moldmaking Index continue to report strong growth after setting a recent low at the end of 2018. June’s employment reading was the highest since March 2018, placing this month’s employment activity change on par with the level of activity recorded at the peak of the latest business cycle.
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