AMBA Applauds Trump Administration Reinstatement of Tariffs on Plastic Injection Molds

On December 23, the Office of the U.S.

On December 23, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) will publish formal notice that it will not extend the exclusion from 25 percent tariffs for Chinese plastic injection molds granted on December 28, 2018. The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) strongly supports this reinstatement of the tariffs and applauds the Trump administration for heeding the calls of the more than 150 American mold builders who filed comments supporting the tariffs.

“This is an important victory for AMBA, its members and all small downstream manufacturers who have felt the pressure from China for years,” said Kym Conis, managing director of the AMBA. “The Trump administration is doing what others have not - standing up to China. It heard our members loud and clear - the U.S. mold building industry has the capacity and expertise to fill any orders placed ,” she continued.

The AMBA filed comments in November urging the administration to reinstate the 25 percent tariffs that it first imposed on Chinese plastic injection molds in July 2018, then suspended for twelve months on December 28, 2018. The USTR issued its decision not to extend the plastic injection molds exclusion for another twelve months today ahead of the December 28, 2019, deadline. , It followed an overwhelming response from American mold builders, which stated they have the capacity, technical expertise and ability to deliver any molds ordered.

On December 23, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) will publish formal notice that it will not extend the exclusion from 25 percent tariffs for Chinese plastic injection molds granted on December 28, 2018.

“Today’s action by the Trump administration shows that manufacturers can make a difference when they stand up and are heard by policymakers in Washington,” stated Conis. “With over 1,400 mold builders in this country and nearly $500 million in open capacity, America’s mold builders, with the tariffs back in place, now can compete on more equal footing,” she added.

The Office of the USTR received 152 formal comments from mold builders and other stakeholders in support of reinstating the tariffs out of over 180 filed specific to “Carveout 3,” plastic injection molds (Harmonized Tariff Schedule Code 8480.71.8045).

The AMBA looks forward to working with the Trump administration and continuing to strengthen manufacturing in the U.S., making sure American mold builders continue to provide thousands of jobs across this country and supply plastic injection molds for decades to come.

---

Mazak Keeps Manufacturers Informed with All Axes Podcast

Mazak Corporation has launched All Axes, a new podcast developed to keep manufacturers in-the-know about all things manufacturing.

Mazak Corporation has launched All Axes, a new podcast developed to keep manufacturers in-the-know about all things manufacturing. The podcast features original content on a wide range of industry-critical subjects and issues affecting today’s North American manufacturers – from additive technologies, automation, multi-tasking machines and the skilled labor shortage to the Industrial Internet of Things, digitally connected factories, cybersecurity and more.

Teelin Henderson, product specialist at Mazak, hosts All Axes and navigates through the industry’s hottest topics with others from the Mazak team and with leading industry experts from around the world. Recent guests include Dr. Thomas Kurfess, chief manufacturing officer of the advanced manufacturing program at Oak Ridge National Laboratories; Mike Cicco, president and CEO of Fanuc America Corp.; and Greg Jones, vice president – Smartforce Development at AMT – The Association of Manufacturing Technology. Future All Axes episodes will address “Five Common Missteps Job Shops Make and How to Avoid Them,” “What are Tariffs and How Do They Affect the Supply Chain,” “Managing the Millennial Workforce” and much more.

To listen to current and future All Axes episodes, Mazak encourages individuals to open their preferred podcast streaming app, search for “All Axes” and subscribe. Once subscribed, individuals will automatically receive each new episode directly on to their devices. Or, visit www.mazakusa.com for access.

---

HAIMER Looks Back at Event-Full Year

Haimer USA enjoyed greeting old friends, meeting new ones and spreading the word about precision machining at all of the events the company attended in 2019.

Haimer USA took a moment to reflect on the events of the past 12 months. Last year, Haimer representatives presented at 52 trade shows across the county and around the world. These events are a great opportunity to show machinists the latest technology from Haimer in person. Haimer enjoys greeting old friends, meeting new ones and spreading the word about precision machining and how the company can help manufacturers do it better and faster.

At HOUSTEX, Haimer hosted over 260 students for the HOUSTEX Student Summit. The Student Summit aims to create interest, excitement and an appreciation for manufacturing. President Brent Holden spoke with students about HAIMER’s history and innovative product line. In this video, Holden demonstrates the company’d Tool Dynamic balancing machine, the VIO linear presetter, the power clamp I4.0 shrink machine and the Duo-Lock collets.

The company’s theme for its annual Open House event was “Your System Partner Around the Machine Tool.” The company introduced innovations surrounding Industry 4.0 with products that enable enhanced data communication and collection. Live demonstrations were provided on shrink and balance technology, cutting tools and tool presetting. Guest Speakers included Steve Kline Jr., Chief Data Officer at Gardner Business Media, Inc; Wayne Messmer, a professional speaker, singer, broadcaster, author and actor; and Kathrin Haimer (authorized representative and head of human resources) who spoke on “Bridging the Skills Gap Through Haimer’s Apprenticeship Program.”

One of the other great programs offered at the company is the HAIMER Competence Center Partner (HCCP) Training. HCCP is a partnership program which provides exclusive benefits including comprehensive classroom and hands-on technical sales training. Multiple times throughout the year, the company offered a two-day training session where attendees learned about its products via lectures, videos and live demonstrations.

Over 117,000 production specialists from 150 countries convened at the EMO 2019, the world's leading tradeshow for the metal-working industry. At Haimer’s booth, the company displayed how modern tool management works with high-quality, process-reliable components, consistent digitalization and fully automated tool presetting using a robot cell. (Read more.)

Haimer employees joined forces to collect items for The Glen Ellyn Food Pantry in a community outreach program. Over the course of four days, Haimer collected over 140 items, and the company expresses how proud of the effort its employees put out for the event. Learn more about the Glen Ellyn Food Pantry by visiting http://www.glenellynfoodpantry.org/. The company plans to expand its outreach programs in the new year to help even more neighbors in the community.

---

Cooperation Partners Network at Manufacturing Excursion Event in Lüdenscheid

Several moldmaking company partners were able to network and attend an excursion presenting the mold manufacturing expertise existing in Lüdenscheid.

In the process of globalization, German mold manufacturing faces many challenges. In particular, it is about safeguarding the future through further expert training of specialists and managerial staff. Only in this way, can the lead we have internationally, in terms of quality and performance, be preserved on the basis of wide-ranging know-how. An important aspect is close inter-regional cooperation between various companies and institutions.

The trainee excursion undertaken in Lüdenscheid by Hack Formenbau GmbH from Kirchheim/Teck, can be seen precisely in this context. Together with 15 trainees, two instructors and three other participants, the company's senior manager Wolfgang Hack embarked on a trip to the Sauerland hills where an exciting program awaited them.

The event had been organised by Marius Fedler and Torsten Urban (Kunststoff-Institut, Lüdenscheid), Torsten Schulze (PHÄNOMENTA) and Jochen Müller (HASCO). They wanted not only to demonstrate the hospitality offered by the Sauerland region, but also to present the mold manufacturing expertise existing in Lüdenscheid.

The excursion started with a visit to the leading international manufacturer of standard mould units and hot runner specialists, HASCO. After enjoying a snack, Andreas Schmied and Jochen Müller gave the participants a guided tour of the facilities. Among the highlights were the presentation of the latest innovations from the recent K plastics show, and a visit to the training workshop under the leadership of Andreas Wünsch, who is head of training at HASCO.

Subsequently, PHÄNOMENTA managing director Torsten Schulze exclusively opened the doors of the Science Center to the visitors. The interest shown by the upcoming young technicians at the various stops during this unique experience was enormous.

The morning of the second day was spent visiting Kunststoff-Institut, Lüdenscheid. Following a welcome from Marius Fedler and a brief visit to the pilot plant, the trainees and instructors were given a special task to carry out. Under the leadership of Torsten Urban, they were asked, as part of a simulation game, to mould the PHÄNOMENTA USB stick (originating from a trainee project from HASCO and Kostal).

At the end of the excursion, visitors and hosts were enthusiastic about the exchange of information and the many positive impressions. For HASCO, the visit was an excellent opportunity to deepen the cooperation with the partners in the Lüdenscheid network and for Hack Formenbau GmbH, away from the everyday activities, to present itself as a valuable competence partner.

---

Workflow and Quality Count

A recent visit to a hot runner systems and solutions provider proved the importance of workflow and quality to a production facility’s layout.

As an editor, I am often visiting shops and technology supplier facilities for stories, product launches, open houses, press events… you name it. And, it never ceases to amaze me the challenges they both have in common. I often forget that product and equipment suppliers are manufacturers too. Like the mold builders I visit, they also need to keep up with technology advancements and manufacturing strategies and apply them to the development of the technologies they sell to MMT’s audience.

I witnessed this again during a recent visit to a hot runner systems and solutions provider where workflow and quality were paramount to the facility’s layout.

The 40,000 square feet of HRSflow’s production plant in Bryon Center, Michigan, mimics the layout of the company’s Italian headquarters, which is also duplicated in HRS’ Asian production facility. The Byron Center site was built in 2015 and has the capacity for 5,000 system drops, which HRSflow could double with an expansion, if necessary, according to the company. Critical to the layout is identical global manufacturing standards that allow HRSflow to service and support products regardless of where they were originally built.

HRSflow has one product standard worldwide. They don't have a China product and a North American product. For example, they buy all their steel from one supplier, and it’s shipped to all of their plants. Also, they have the same equipment, tooling, technology, workflow, signage, and workstations in every location so they can build and support anywhere in the world.

It’s all about giving the customer what they need when they need it. “We recognize that need to produce parts in the market to truly support our customers,” Robert Harvey, Director of Sales for HRSflow North America, says.

Other plant features include:

• 58 workers in the entire Byron Center facility with 30 workers on the production floor
• Automated DMG cell runs 48 hours straight machining nozzles (standard and specials)
• 24-hour delivery of components
• A well-armed milling department dedicated to manifolds.
• An automatic CMM for system and component inspection
• Q Points signage designating areas where quality control, inspection, and measurement are taking place on the floor
• Color-coding system identifying assembly as blue and needs service as yellow
• Assembly and wiring department that has eliminated paper and relies on real-time customer data updates
• A final inspection area dedicated to verifying dimensional and mechanical connections.
• On-site spare parts warehousing with two Modula automatic vertical storage systems that provide over 9,000 square feet of storage each.
• An in-house 1,000-ton injection molding machine for demonstrations of the company’s servo-driven valve gate technology
• A drive-in, pull- through indoor shipping bay
• Additional land and facility space available to allow for expansion

HRSflow is fully committed to what it calls the “QSP1: Quality, Service and Productivity Challenge.” This project puts Industry 4.0 onto the production floor—by sharing real-time data, using business intelligence tools, applying lean thinking principles, and employing automated production—as the team manufactures its hot runner system and components.

What stood out to me most during the production floor tour (beyond its brilliant lighting, cleanliness, and order) were its strategies for production planning and quality control, which really drive home HRSFlow’s commitment to being a leader in hot runner system, components and service quality.