Okamoto Corporation Supplier Showroom

Openness to New Manufacturing Techniques Gives Mayer Tool & Engineering a Competitive Edge

This Michigan mold builder adapts, problem solves, brainstorms and collaborates to exceed customer expectations.

Cross Training, In-House Capabilities and Collaborative Design Move Helm Tool Forward

Cross-training, bringing it all in-house, molding and collaborative design are essential to Helm Tool's success.

Indiana Mold Builder Decatur Mold Offers a History of Grit and a Future of Innovation

Decatur Mold Tool and Engineering Inc. serves as a tooling tour guide, helping busy tooling managers reduce uncertainty, lighten workload.

Maintaining a Competitive Edge: EDM, Automation and Machining Technology Roundup

This month’s technology roundup features products, processes and services relating to EDM, automation and machining. For example, jig grinding for large molds, scheduling automation software, cobot integration, die sinker EDM and much more.

Form Grinder's Advanced Design is Ideal for Mold Base Prep, Inserts

The Okamoto full-function, two-axis, simultaneous CNC form grinder is ideal for surface, slot, step, form and contour grinding, with improved column design and construction, and consistent accuracy.

IMTS 2022 in a Flash

With this still being the month of IMTS, I thought I’d highlight some of the technology mold builders have expressed growing interest in and are actively investigating, and what was on the show floor.

High-Precision Grinders Capture Optimal Mold Surface Finishes

Okamoto Corp. highlights the ACC-SA1 series and ACC-32·80CHiQ grinding machines at IMTS 2022 for moldmakers, featuring a degree of precision, flatness and a smooth surface finish.

2021 Leadtime Leader Award Winner: Westminster Tool—Perseverance with a Plan

Westminster Tool’s latest commitment to the plan—investment in new technologies, processes and capabilities, workforce development/training and sales & marketing—helped them edge out this year’s competition.

2018 Technology Review and Sourcing Guide: Machining

MoldMaking Technology’s annual Technology Review and Sourcing Guide is an accurate, comprehensive, easy-to-read and easy-to-use use guide for researching today’s technology, equipment, products and services. The year’s latest moldmaking product developments within mold engineering/design, build and maintenance/repair are broken down into 10 sections, including machining.

2013 Leadtime Leader Awards: Winner Tech Mold Inc.

A three-division approach, technology innovation and a grow-your-own skilled workforce allows this mold manufacturer to balance the entire moldmaking process — ensuring continued success and landing it this year’s 2013 Leadtime Leader Award Winner title.

2011 Leadtime Leader Awards: Small Shop Honorable Mention

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

Extreme Tool and Engineering, Inc.: Embracing Change

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 and Moldmaking: Streamling Processes

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.

Canon Virginia, Inc.: From Captivity to the Open Market

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

High Cavitation Molds Promote Economies of Scale

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

Tech Tool & Mold, Inc.: Strength and Flexibility

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.

CNC Grinders Decrease Manpower, Improve Delivery Times

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

IDEAS, INC.: Good Thinking!

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.