Bales Metal Surface Solutions Supplier Showroom

PTXPO 2023 Preview: Unlocking Your Next Solution for Mold Maintenance, Repair and Surface Treatment

PTXPO 2023 houses exhibitors that are ready to provide services and solutions for mold maintenance, repair and surface treatment challenges.

Surface Finish: Understanding Mold Surface Lingo

The correlation between the units of measure used to define mold surfaces is a commonly raised question. This article will lay these units of measure side by side in a conversion format so that companies can confidently understand with what they are dealing.

Technology Roundup: Mold Maintenance, Repair and Surface Treatment Essentials

This roundup focuses on maintenance, repair and surface treatment for mold equipment. Utilizing these helpful products and services can help save time and money.

Women Impacting Moldmaking

Honoring female makers, innovators and leaders who are influencing our industry's future.

Digital Tool Services Solve, Troubleshoot Coating, Finishing Issues for Molds

Bales Metal Surface Solutions has launched three digital tools — Bales Mold Doctor, Coatings Comparison Tool and a Preventative Maintenance Video Series — to extend its finishing expertise and quality customer service online.

How to Protect Soft Base Materials

Choose a suitable mold coating to take the abuse and save your base material.

“Molds Make a Difference” at the Plastics Technology Expo

That was the sentiment of every person who came up to the MoldMaking Technology booth during last week’s Plastics Technology Expo to grab their giveaway “Molds Make” t-shirt after working the aisles seeking technology and process solutions and making new business connections.

Learn About Industry Topics and Emerging Technologies at PTXPO

Aside from being a great opportunity to network with other industry professionals, PTXPO will have numerous educational sessions about hot topics and emerging technologies.

Amerimold Action 2019

Amerimold celebrated 20 years in Rosemont, Illinois, and offered attendees a wide variety of products, programs and pomp.

New Series: A People+People Plan to Win the War on Talent

It’s no secret that it’s an employees’ market and companies of all sizes are struggling to attract, engage, and retain staff. Modernizing your talent strategy is key.

Bales Updates In-House Lab Capabilities

Bales Metal Surface Solutions brings testing for plating-bath control operations in-house at its Downers Grove, Illinois, headquarters.

Surface Treatments Protect Mold Finishes, Reduce Downtime and Part Failure

Surface treatment vendors are expanding their services to include more treatment options, advanced technologies and convenience.

Coating Lowers Coefficient of Friction for Better Lubricity

With so much happening in a busy show year between NPE2018, Amerimold 2018 and IMTS 2018, MoldMaking Technology is revisiting some of the technology that was on display. In case you missed it: Samples of coatings from Bales Metal Surface Solutions were on display at Amerimold 2018.

2018 Technology Review and Sourcing Guide: Mold Maintenance, Repair & Surface Treatment

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 mold maintenance, repair & surface treatment.

Successful Supplier Nights Help "Mold" Careers

The Chicago Chapter of the American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) recently hosted its fourth successful supplier night fundraiser that continues to provide much-needed support for promoting careers in moldmaking.

Coating Has Diamond Particles for Added Toughness

Samples of coatings from Bales Metal Surface Solutions will be available in in booth W118 at NPE2018.

Engage the Next Generation – Sponsor the Plastics Race

Sponsor The Plastics Race. Engage the next generation workforce by promoting our industry and your company. Participate in The Race and build relationships!

MMT Memories: A Moldmaker Centerfold

MoldMaking Technology’s 20th anniversary brings back an abundance of memories, including this 1999 feature about Harry Raimondi of (then) Bales Mold Service, a moldmaker “centerfold.”

Technology Tuesday: All about Aluminum

Cruise through this week’s Technology Tuesday slideshow to brush up on your knowledge of aluminum, its benefits, the challenges it poses for moldmaking and strategies for overcoming those challenges.

Fun Friday: The Moldmaking Community Shows Patriotism, Heart and More

On September 15, 2017 our team at Alliance Specialties and Laser Sales partnered with our friends Tim and Kim Bartz from iWarriors and Mold Craft to host the inaugural Alliance iWarriors Charity Golf Outing.

Technology Showcase: Mold Components and Surface Treatment

Today’s Technology Showcase features products you may have missed in recent issues.

Throwback Thursday: Optimizing Aluminum Tools

Do you build aluminum molds? Here's a throwback that will provide some great tips on how to keep them running optimally.

Watching for Wear

Considering how coatings wear over time extends the options for mold surface finishes beyond hard chrome and electroless nickel.

Young Leaders: Blazing New Trails

Today I’m happy to be able to blog about the third honoree of three who were honored at the recent Annual Meeting of the Technology and Manufacturing Association (TMA).

Plating Improves Beryllium Copper Molds

Moldmakers often overlook surface treatment as a way to further maximize the life and performance of beryllium copper molds.

A Successful Succession

The Bales sisters have brought their family-owned company a long way since taking the reins in the wake of an unexpected tragedy in 2009.

Mold Maker, Designer Recognized at Amerimold

SPE presented its moldmaker and mold designer of the year awards to Harry Raimondi of Bales Metal Surface Solutions (Downer’s Grove, Illinois) and Chris Hanes of Micro Mold Company Inc. and Plastikos Inc. (Erie, Pennsylvania).

Expanding Aluminum’s Potential

Hard-coating provides a number of benefits that make aluminum tooling an attractive alternative to steel.

Plating and Maintaining Textured Surfaces

Communication with your texturing and plating sources is key to properly maintaining the mold surface.

It's Good to Be Green!

I got to see and hear firsthand last month what it's like to be "green" during a visit to Downers Grove, IL to check up on long-standing amerimold and MMT supporter Bales Mold Service ... and yes, it does have something to do with this photo.

Keeping Molds Running

Technology advancements encourage moldmakers to think about surface treatment, mold maintenance and repair issues earlier in the mold build process to obtain better mold performance and life.

Succeeding in Business and Business Succession

Paying attention to the business is as important as the craft.

Reflections on Business Succession and Lessons Learned

Part one of how to plan for unexpected inherited business ownership.

Polishing/Plating Services

Mold coatings.

It Is What It Is, But What Is It?

With the right tools and experience, a mold can be plated and maintained with confidence no matter where it originated or what materials were used to build it.

Increase Mold Protection, Decrease Cycle Times

How to achieve optimal cycle times with the right plating option and the role of early involvement between molder/OEM.

A Sticky Situation: What Surface Treatment Do I Really Need?

Over the years, and more times than can probably be counted, customers call from all over to order various surface treatments for their molds, without knowing what is truly needed to make their molds run better and more efficiently.

SPE Honors Steven J. Bales with Posthumous Moldmaker of the Year Award

Steven J.

Optimizing Aluminum Tools

Plating aluminum molds for longer production life.

Build-Ups for Maintenance: Benefit or Band-Aid?

When is providing build-ups on tooling appropriate and when is it just a band-aid on a problem that could lead to more extensive repairs later?

Taking the Guesswork Out of Surface Treatment

Using x-ray spectrometry to help ensure superior mold performance.

Coatings Enhance Tool Life and Performance

Surface coatings have evolved over the past decade—offering improved operation uptime, greater consistency and higher part quality

Selective Materials Strategy Is A Potent Tool for Moldmakers

Reducing mold build costs with different steels and coatings may give North American shops more business from electronics OEMs.

Reducing or Maintaining Cycle Times with Mold Coating

No matter the size of a tool, taking into consideration your GPM within your tooling’s cooling systems and using electroless nickel coating is an effective way to improve or maintain desired cycle times.

High Cavitation Molds Promote Economies of Scale

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

Coatings and Finishes for Electrical and Electronics Molding

Electrical and electronic components take many forms and functions and require special attention when considering surface treatment options.

How Surface Treatments Keep Molds Operating Longer

Important tips and information about mold coatings to help you achieve the level of production that you and your customers desire.

How to Choose the Best Welding Method for Your Mold Application

Moldmakers can save time and money on repairs by understanding the similarities and differences of conventional and micro TIG..

Bulked-Up Coatings Increase Mold Productivity

Which choice is the best coating - one that provides long production life and minimal maintenance needs.

Mold Preservation and Maintenance for Ultimate Productivity

Making a mold last with as little downtime as possible is the ultimate goal of a plastic molding manager. By taking some early, preventive steps, moldmakers can extend the life of the mold and save money in the long run.

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