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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.

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.

Catch "Shop Talk" on IMTS TV

By: James Callari 14. September 2012

A new IMTSTV show launches this year: Shop Talk: Technology and Trends from Gardner Business Media. The show features exclusive interviews with editors from Modern Machine Shop, Production Machining, Moldmaking Technology and Automotive Design and Production

Each day the editors comment on manufacturing in general as well as on some of the most noteworthy exhibits right here on the IMTS show floor. 

Job Center Debuts in West Building

By: James Callari 14. September 2012

Helping manufacturing face the current shortage of skilled workers is critical to our industry and the future of our country. IMTS is doing its part by offering its first Job Center, both for job seekers in the industry and for IMTS exhibitors looking for skilled workers. The Job Center, located in the West Building, Booth W-200, is open the same hours as the show to provide a forum for the IMTS community to lean more about and make connections to careers in manufacturing.
 
Professionals looking for work can search available jobs in the industry, post resumes and be interviewed by companies exhibiting at the show as well as by recruiters. In turn, employers/exhibitors can post jobs available at their companies as well as speak with experts on the best ways to attract and screen the strongest candidates for technical manufacturing positions.
 
“With our country suffering an unprecedented shortage of skilled manufacturing workers—one that is expected to rise from 600,000 unfilled jobs to a predicted 3 million by the end of the decade—we are thrilled to offer both employers and job seekers an opportunity to find each other,” says Peter Eelman, IMTS VP of exhibitions and communications.
 
In addition to the jobs database, the Job Center also has professionals available to share resume writing tips, interviewing advice and career guidance, including advice and tools to help job seekers negotiate a wage and benefit package, and generally land a job. It is being staffed by Trillium CNC/CNC Jobs staffing company, which has more than 28 years of experience in technical recruitment and staffing.
 
“As the battle to staff skilled talent in manufacturing continues to grow, it is more important than ever to have access to the tools and expertise that can help companies attract and maintain a highly skilled workforce,” Trillium Director Bob Lawson says.

Boeing Headlines Advanced Manufacturing Center

By: James Callari 14. September 2012

IMTS is the event that connects the people, the products and the processes responsible for manufacturing industry innovation and growth. This year’s Advanced Manufacturing Center (Booth W-160) celebrates that connection with a display that offers attendees and exhibitors the opportunity to network, collaborate, learn and, most importantly, join together in celebrating a revitalized, active manufacturing industry.

Presented by Boeing, Lotus F1, IMTS and Modern Machine Shop, the Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMC) features technologies impacting all aspects of the manufacturing business. From operational benchmarking to machine tool monitoring, business networking to workforce development, process innovations to new product selection, AMC visitors can connect with resources that will help them overcome their challenges.

AMC highlights include:

Innovation
Boeing Fuel Cell Demonstrator Aircraft presented by Boeing
The Boeing FCDA is the world’s first fuel-cell-manned aircraft. A global leader in aerospace and aviation manufacturing, the FCDA project is part of the Boeing Co. effort to develop environmentally friendly technologies for aerospace applications and to reduce airplanes polluting emissions.

Lotus Formula 1 Race Car presented by Renault / technical partnership by Boeing Research & Technology
A marvel in precision engineering and advanced materials manufacturing, the Lotus Formula 1 race car can accelerate from 0 to 160 kph and decelerate back to 0 in less than 4 seconds. This Lotus F1 display vehicle replicates the car that will be driven in this year’s F1 “Race of the Americas” in Austin, Texas.

Virtalis Virtual Reality Theater presented by Virtalis
Featuring a customer list ranging from BAE Systems to Boeing, the Royal Navy to several of the world’s premier R&D outfits, Virtalis is displaying the latest in virtual reality and advanced visualization technologies. Virtalis’ interactive demo enables attendees to see the power of experiencing the relationship between design, manufacture and data in virtual reality.

Benchmarking
MMS Top Shops presented by Modern Machine Shop
The AMC@IMTS recognizes the 2012 Modern Machine Shop Top Shops. The annual Top Shops Benchmarking Survey identifies optimal shopfloor practices, as well as operational and business metrics that define world-class competitiveness in discrete parts manufacturing. Companies ranging from small job shops to large captive operations can see how they compare against the country’s leading machining businesses, which enables them to make sound decisions to emulate those identified as top-performing operations.

Knowledge
Presented by Gardner Business Media
Multimedia displays from Modern Machine Shop, MoldMaking Technology, Production Machining, Automotive Design & Production and CompositesWorld enable attendees to engage with and sign up to receive technical and business content from North America’s premier publications.

Education
Presented by Modern Machine Shop and The Edge Factor
The AMC is featuring multiple components dedicated to education. Specifically, Modern Machine Shop is introducing a video feature complementing its September cover story, “Manufacturing Education,” that explores a one-of-a-kind manufacturing education program. The AMC also is displaying “Metal & Flesh,” the latest trailer from The Edge Factor, a program dedicated to promoting manufacturing technology and manufacturing education.

Management
Presented by BlueSwarf and the Reshoring Initiative
From tool monitoring to total cost of ownership, the AMC features leaders in shop management technologies and strategies. BlueSwarf is introducing the Tooling Cloud, an online shop and tool management system. BlueSwarf also is featuring the DARPA-funded Machine Tool Genome Project.

For companies interested in learning more about reshoring and total cost of ownership, Harry Moser, founder of the Reshoring Initiative, will be available in the AMC throughout the show.

Research
Presented by: Gardner Research and TechSpex
In addition to business benchmarking, Gardner Research is distributing results from a number of leading industry reports and surveys that deliver insights into where the manufacturing business is and where it is going. Complementing Gardner Research’s market research, featured AMC partner TechSpex is demonstrating a searchable, online database that enables manufacturers to locate machines based on a number of criteria, including axes, top RPM, feed rate, table size, horsepower and more.

Networking
“The Shop”
Presented by Modern Machine Shop and TRAM3
Modern Machine Shop’s “The Shop” offers networking and knowledge transfer opportunities for attendees and exhibitors in an open, informal lounge. Visit “The Shop” to have a drink and meet with leaders from all the AMC presenter company and technology partners, including participants from TRAM3, which brings together the premier minds in aerospace manufacturing.

As you enter the West Hall, be sure to visit the AMC in Booth W-160 to experience and celebrate advanced manufacturing. 




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