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. […]
Following is a list of seven daily habits to include—the most mentioned, or in some cases, the most vehemently defended. Here they are in order of frequency: […]
However, a major obstacle facing businesses during this current, recessionary climate is the difficulty—and sometimes downright inability—to secure the funding required for the purchase of capital equipment. […]
The 32-cavity mold landed on our bench and looked like any other mold than had been run hard and put away wet. It was covered in grime and resin dust and after a 90-mile truck ride, was still dripping water out of every fitting. The only information we had was a verbal comment that “It [...]
Moldmakers were the first wave of manufacturers affected by the outsourcing trend that pushed manufacturing into China. But now we’re seeing that business is coming back . Culture and geography have helped provide a temporary stay for domestic moldmakers. […]
We are at the start of a New Year and we are at the start of a new period of economic recovery. […]
There have always been examples and anecdotes in the past about molders getting burned with overseas tooling and projects returning, yet foreign tooling increased. Now however, there have been changes in the global landscape that have led to an evolved mindset where the cheaper is better mantra does not hold up over the long run. [...]
Have you bought a new car recently? If you have, think about how you used the Internet to research that purchase—you likely checked out the make and model, looked at options and features, and then approached the dealer to negotiate and place an order. […]
Add to this phenomenon the evolution of manufacturing into a global ecosystem, and a perfect storm has formed that places enormous challenges on you and all North American SMMs.A large part of the North American manufacturing business ecosystem and its protocols that formed within them were based on geo-economic conditions: […]