Plastics Business With more than 200 tools, Plastic Components, Inc. (PCI), Germantown, WI, needed a more efficient way to organize its tooling. Implementation of the Stak System by Stanley Storage Systems, purchased through Birkeneder Material Handling, LLC, has made PCI's tooling easily accessible, saving both time and space. "We used to have several heavy duty die racks … [Read more...] about Plastic Components, Inc.’s Tool Crib System
Molds/Tooling
Evaluating Your Mold Maintenance Direction
by Steve Johnson, ToolingDocs "How do we compare?" This question has been long posed by companies that feel like their mold maintenance process could be improved, but weren't sure if the effort would be worth the time and trouble. However, with the recent economic melt-down came a change of perspective, and mold repair - long shunned as an expensive cost center for a … [Read more...] about Evaluating Your Mold Maintenance Direction
Tool Transfer Q&A
by Mike Juda and Jerry Gorrell, Polymer Conversions, Inc. Polymer Conversions, Inc. is a custom injection molder located in Orchard Park, N.Y. In operation for more than thirty years, Polymer built much of its early business by redesigning and rebuilding molds that had been transferred from other plastics processors. Availing itself of the opportunity to prove its engineering … [Read more...] about Tool Transfer Q&A
The Importance of Mold Design to Productivity
by John E. Haley, AQA Corp. The importance of mold design on the productivity of a tool is often overlooked in the design of a mold. Several areas in the mold design exist where the molder must work with the mold builder in order to optimize the productivity of the mold. A good standard for mold productivity is saleable parts out of the press per hour. Cycle time and part … [Read more...] about The Importance of Mold Design to Productivity
Modular Molds Contribute to Lean Manufacturing Success
by Ken Jenkins, Pleasant Precision, Inc. The economic downturn has U.S. manufacturing looking for ways to do more with less, pushing the limits of optimization, efficiency, and cost effectiveness. Never has the term "lean manufacturing" meant more than it does today. The mold-making process notoriously adds time to pre-production and can be very costly, especially for shorter … [Read more...] about Modular Molds Contribute to Lean Manufacturing Success