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'Sliding' Along...For 60 Years

By: James Callari 19. February 2013

In 1953, a young man named Percy Harms was selling steel to mold builders when he saw a need in the emerging plastics and injection molding industry—helping them prevent parts from sticking in the mold. That need drove Percy to approach a cousin working in the rapidly growing aerosol industry about putting silicone oil in an aerosol can.
 
It also evolved into the first mold release—and foundation —of the new Percy Harms Corp., predecessor of Slide Products, Wheeling, Ill. which celebrates its 60th anniversary in the injection molding industry this year. From that first mold release have come hundreds of innovations, all focused on the same thing – helping injection molders work smarter, faster and more productively.
Commemorating Slide’s 60 years of innovations will be two separate giveaways of a new iPad. To participate, qualified industrial users should go to here, correctly answer one trivia question about Slide Products and submit their contact information before June 30, 2013. A second question will be posted from July 1-Dec. 15, 2013. The first winner will be announced in July, and the second before year end. Only one entry per person per giveaway is allowed.
 
Slide Products has continued to innovate and offer plastics processors and mold builders unique products and smart formulations that are also environmentally safe. Among their innovations, they were one of the first companies in the industry to eliminate chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) from all of products.
 
“After the EPA issued its final assessment in September 2011 characterizing trichloroethylene (TCE), one of the most widely used chlorinated solvents nationwide, as carcinogenic, we eliminated not just TCE, but all chlorinated solvents from our products,” said Michael. Not a single product in the company’s entire line has any type of chlorinated solvent.
 
They also maintain a close relationship with customers and distributors. Unlike many companies that have an online-only sales strategy, Slide Products continues to employ an extensive network of locally based distributors worldwide who know customers by name and can provide products and technical support quickly and easily. “An online-only company can’t hop in the car and drive over to answer questions or deliver product,” explains Michael.

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Innovative Program Targets Entrepreneurs

By: James Callari 24. January 2013

Late last year the Rodon Group, a custom injection molder in Hatfield, Pa., announced a new program for American entrepreneurs looking to use plastic injection molding for their inventions.
 
Rodon calls it The American Entrepreneur Program. They promote it as unique to the molding industry, and say it offers entrepreneurs an ideal low-cost, on-shore solution to get their projects off the ground.
 
“We are excited to be able to offer this service to entrepreneurs looking to get a solid head start on their idea or invention, while keeping the production in the U.S. and at a low cost,” said Kevin McGrath, Rodon’s v.p. of sales and marketing. “Rodon’s expertise, capabilities, and in-house resources make us an ideal partner.”
 
The cost of the program is $4999 for the first 50 people that sign up, a savings of 50% off the regular price. This includes design time, prints, 3D prototype parts, and more. You can learn more at rodongroup.com/entrepreneurs.

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President Pushes Tax Plan at Molder Rodon

By: James Callari 3. December 2012

 

It isn’t often that a trade press editorial type like yours truly get to see the president up close. Yet those were the circumstances recently when the Rodon Group invited me to sit among other media types at their injection molding plant in Hatfield, Pa., when President Obama stopped by to speak about the ongoing tax impasse in Washington.
 
The president, his white sleeves rolled up campaign style, spoke to a group of several hundred people, hammering home once again his position that tax increases for the “richest Americans” had to be part and parcel of a new economic plan moving forward. He recommended that those in attendance call their congressman to urge them to end the current stalemate, noting that if he and lawmakers do not reach a consensus by Jan.1 on what to do about taxes, federal income taxes on the middle class would be increased by about $2000/yr.
 
“I want you to call, I want you to send an email, post on their Facebook wall,” the president urged. “If you tweet, then use a hashtag we're calling ‘My2K.’ Not Y2K, ‘My2K.’  Because it’s about your ‘2K’ in your pocket. We’re trying to burn that into people’s minds here.”
 
While he had teleprompters on both sides of the podium, the president spoke with no prepared notes.  He thanked the owners of the family-owned company, famous for inventing the K’NEX building block toys, for inviting him there to present his message, and commended them for their "made in America" message. The president arrived precisely on time, and spoke for about 30 minutes before an extremely friendly audience. He toured the plant before his talk.
 
Click here for a feature story we did on Rodon a few year back.

 

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Give Your Moldmaker Some Love

By: James Callari 19. November 2012

Attention injection molders: do you have a moldmaker near and dear to your heart, one who constantly meets—if not exceeds—your expectations in quality, delivery time, service…and maybe even price?
 
If so, show that moldmaker some love by nominating it to receive the 2013 Leadtime Leader Awards sponsored by our sister publication MoldMaking Technology. The award is presented each year by MMT Editor Christina Fuges at the amerimold trade show and conference, which next year is being held June 12-13 at the Donald E. Stevens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill. Winners are featured on the cover of MoldMaking Technology magazine, among other goodies. Learn all about the details and benefits of this prestigious award—as well as what past winners have to say about it—by clicking here.
 
Don’t wait, because the deadline for entry is Jan. 21, 2013. Click here for an entry form. Feel free to share this link with your moldmaking partners, as they can also nominate themselves.
 
And if you happen to be among the molders that handle moldmaking all on your own, then go ahead and nominate yourself.

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Processors Pulse Is Healthy

By: James Callari 25. October 2012

Plastics processors continue to be optimistic about business conditions, according to our monthly Processors’ Pulse survey results.
 
Nearly two-thirds of processors surveyed in October said they were more optimistic or much more optimistic about the future of their business. There has been little change in the much more optimistic response since June 2011 while the somewhat optimistic response has fallen from its peak in late 2011/early 2012. Those that were somewhat less optimistic about their own business were a mirror image of those that were somewhat more optimistic.
 
While processors are generally optimistic about their own business they are not as optimistic about the economy as a whole. Fewer than half of the respondents are much more optimistic or somewhat more optimistic about the general economy. This is a pretty significant change from late 2011/early 2012.
 
That said, a significant number of respondents (again more than two-thirds) indicated they are either somewhat likely or very like to be buying capital equipment over the next 12 months.

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