Thus far the year 2009 has been very dry for moldmakers, as industry experts and economists have predicted. With little in the pipeline, bankruptcies are expected to rise by 50 percent to 70 percent this year and the ripple effect will be felt for quite some time. This unfortunate situation—with all of its chaos and [...]
It’s doing more with less—more efficient order picking operations at less cost with smaller staffs, by using the right combination of equipment and software significantly improving efficiency. Automated systems have the advantage of significantly increasing productivity, up to two-thirds in some applications, […]
Rule 1: Mold tolerances become more critical.As parts get smaller, any miscalculations have a significantly greater impact. When requesting a micro mold, aim for 10 percent part tolerances, as opposed to the 25 to 50 percent level commonly seen in macro molds, […]
The fact that electronics manufacturers are constantly introducing new products despite the economic downturn is good news to mold manufacturers who serve this industry. One moldmaker—who is known for its specialty niche of micro moldmaking—has realized huge success by capitalizing on the recent trend of the miniaturization of electronics. the country’s only vertically integrated moldmaker [...]
Opportunity is blowing in the wind for many auto parts makers. With automakers slumping, many auto parts makers and suppliers have to look elsewhere for work. Currently more than 500 Michigan moldmakers and manufacturers are doing some kind of wind energy work and in many cases are still auto parts suppliers. […]
In an educational seminar prior to an ISO certification effort, a training instructor recounted the story of a quality guru telling a group of automotive executives that they were going to produce a zero defect car. After the predictable response of smirks and snorts, Alright! how many defects are enough? Do you want to make [...]
Waterjet cutting is one of today’s most versatile and fastest-growing technologies. It uses a high-pressure stream of water with an abrasive—such as garnet—to cut. Waterjet can cut virtually any material including glass, ceramic, wood, stone, plastic and rubber. This versatility is highly appealing to shops that are seeking diversification because it allows them to fill [...]
In the marketplace today there are probably as many styles and types of sales engineers as there are people, but for the purposes of this discussion we will focus on four basic types. Of course, there are many blends of these four and finding balance in them is critical to filling this position appropriately. [...]
Automation work cells such as insert molding, box filling and in mold labeling/decorating can all be built with greater reliability and simplicity for a lot less money with proper mold design. Even simple automation—such as sprue removal or pick-and-place—can benefit from early discussion about the requirements between the toolmaker and automation supplier. […]
Here are tips for steering your business through the economic downturn: 1. In business only the strong survive. […]