2009 The American Mold Builder - Fall

8/14/2019 2009 The American Mold Builder - Fall

1/48

www.ambtheamerican

mold builder

Volume 24 No. 1

IN THIS ISSUE:IN THIS ISSUE:

fall2009

fall2009

Steve RotmanSteve Rotman

speak outa message from our president

Were back from a very exciting, successful Fall Conference in Washington

DC. To all of you who took the time to make this worthwhile journey,

would like to say Thank You! We appreciate your willingness to take tim

out of your busy schedules to make our industry and business issues known

to our elected ofcials. Kudos to Melissa and the rest of the AMBA staff for all their hard

work and dedication to making the conference go smoothly as well as organized. The 5

congressional meetings were very impressive and required a lot of effort and dedication t

assemble. I am sure that we learned a lot of dos and donts for future D.C. meetings

The biggest lesson to remember is that we have to keep ourselves in front of the politicians

During the conference our southeast delegation waited in Senator Hagans ofce for ap

proximately 20 minutes. While waiting we watched as three young internists answered th

constantly ringing phones. We could tell that the calls were from constituents asking th

status of certain benets controlled by the government, and then the questioning of eithethe Senators help or stand for an upcoming vote. We have got to be that same incessan

voice that keeps the plight of small business, as well as manufacturing in the forefront a

the answer to the high unemployment gures that are plaguing any sort of economic re

covery. The opportunity to be heard is at the best level that I have seen in the past 10 years!

Shifting forward, it seems that mold orders are starting to trend upwards, and

that is a welcome relief to all of our membership. Our trend in this industry has al

ways been very forward looking in the economy and this bit of news is a strong in

dicator that there is a potential upswing coming. Not exactly sure how long

it will be there, but we must take the good and try to build on it, being wary

of the other issues that might be negatively affecting any sustained recovery

Plans continue to rm up for the 2010 annual convention in Orlando, Florida. Melissa and staff are again aggressively looking to bring value and content to the program

with subjects that will bring up interesting challenges, as well as discussion with fellow

Fall Conference RecapFall Conference Recap

(continued on Pg 8)

AMBA NewsAMBA News

Chapter NewsChapter News

Business Success StrategiesBusiness Success Strategies

Business Forecast ResultsBusiness Forecast Results

2010 AMBA Annual ConventionBuena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa

Orlando, Florida

March 21-25, 2010


2/48

2 AMBA

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3/48

AMBA 3

Te ocial publication of

American Mold Builders Association

Leading the Future of U.S.

Mold Manufacturing

3601 Algonquin Rd, Suite 304 Rolling Meadows, IL 60008

phone: 847.222.9402 fax: 847.222.9437

email: [email protected] website: www.amba.org

Ocers and Board o Directors

PresidentSteve Rotman, Ameritech Die & Mold, Inc.Vice-PresidentMike Armbrust, Mako Mold CorporationSecretary

Shawn McGrew, Prodigy Mold & oolTreasurerKent Hanson, H.S. Die & Engineering, Inc.Executive DirectorMelissa Millhu

Association Legal CouncelRichard N. Mueller & Associates

Board o Directors

Michael Armbrust, Mako Mold CorporationShawn McGrew, Prodigy Mold & oolKent Hanson, H.S. Die & Engineering, Inc.Justin McPhee, Mold CraftRobert Earnhardt, Superior ooling

odd Finley, Commercial ool & DieDan Glass, Strohwig IndustriesScott Harris, Harris Precision MoldRoger Klouda. M.S.I. Mold BuildersDonna Pursell, Prestige Mold, Inc.Scott Phipps, United ool & MoldRobert Vaughan, Dauntless MoldsMike Walter, ME Plastics

AMBA Staf

Melissa Millhu, Executive DirectorSue Daniels, Member Services CoordinatorShannon Merrill, National Chapter CoordinatorKim Cobb, Administrative Coordinator

e American Mold Builder is published four times annually in spring,

summer, fall and winter by the American Mold Builders Association.

Editor: Melissa Millhu; Assistant Editor: Sue Daniels; Contributing

Author: Clare Goldsberry; Layout & Design: Controlled Color, Inc.

phone 630/295-9210; Publishing: Independant Print Services,

phone 847-397-1701; Copy deadline: 25 days preceeding publication

date. Contact AMBA at 847/222-9402 or email [email protected] for

advertising information, article submission ideas, or a subscription.

Opinions expressed in this publication may or may not reect the views

of the Association, and do not necessarily represent ocial positions or

policies of the Association or its members.

Octobers issue ofMoldmaking Technology magazineshowed that for the rst time in two years, their MoldBusiness Index has climbed back above the 50-line.What this indicates is that the industry recession isending and activity for moldmakers will graduallyimprove. Ive been in this job for two years and am

excited to see what this means for our members and for the AMBA!

So now that business is getting better, what are you going to do withit? Are you prepared for the future of our industry? I urge all of you tocome to Orlando in March 2010 for our Annual Convention. Our theme

is Mold the Future of Your Business, and we have a phenomenallineup of speakers. Our speakers are going to discuss the state of ourindustry, show you what to do to diversify your business into newindustries, keep you updated on tooling trends, and give you tips tomanage your business. You will not get this type of information in asingle event anywhere else.

The value of this convention and its inevitable return on investmentmake this 2010s cant miss event! If youve never been to an AMBAconvention, make an appearance in Orlando. I guarantee you wont bedisappointed! See everyone in Orlando!

Melissa MillhuffExecutive Director

In this Issue:Fall Business Forecast Survey ..............................................................................4AMBA 2009 Fall Conference Recap .....................................................................7

2010 AMBA Convention PreviewManufacturing a Better Future for America ........................................10Future of the Workforce ........................................................................12Te Flexibility Imperative .....................................................................14What Are Banks Looking for in odays Economy? .............................16Progressive Partnerships .......................................................................20Registration is Now Open for the AMBA2010 Annual Convention ..................................................................21Convention Registration Form ........................................................23

10 Tings Most People Do Not Know About Injection Mold Making .............24AMBA News........................................................................................................25

Member News ....................................................................................................27AMBA Welcomes New Members .......................................................................29Chapter News .....................................................................................................29Chapter Spotlight - Wisconsin Chapter ............................................................31West Michigan 2nd Annual Chapter Golf Outing ..............................................32Minnesota 14th Annual Chapter Golf Outing .................................................33AMBA Partner Spotlight: Welcome New Partners! ..........................................34Partner News ......................................................................................................34News for Die Casters ..........................................................................................35

Gibson InsuranceTe WARN Act .....................................................................................37Pandemic Preparedness ........................................................................38Good Housekeeping ..............................................................................38Putting Teir Best Foot Forward:Keeping Workers Feet Safe on the Job ................................................39

Human ResourcesKeeping Employees Happy -While ightening the Benets Budget .................................................41Stang Up - Stang Right ...................................................................41Protecting Personal Information ..........................................................41Managing Performance .........................................................................42

Business Success StrategiesTere Is Value in Struggle ....... ................. .................. ................. .....42In the Safe Zone: Parking Lot Safety ....................................................42How Business Credit Ratings Are Determined .................................43Corporations Annual Meeting and Corporate Minutes .................44

AMBA Answers ...................................................................................................44Classied Corner ................................................................................................45ech Corner ........................................................................................................45


4/48


5/48

AMBA 5

The AMBA Business Forecast Survey was developed to provide AMBA members with information

on the current business conditions and a projection of the upcoming months. The Fall 2009

Survey resulted a response rate of 44% from AMBA members. Business remains "Good"

for 23% of the respondents, and for 7% of the respondents it is "Excellent."

AMBA Fall 2009 Business Forecast Survey Results

AMBA Members Current Business

Conditions

7%5%

27%

38%23% Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

Bad

Projection of Business Over the Next 3

Months

35%

11%2%

8%

44%

Increase

Substantially

Increase

Moderately

Remain the

Same

Decrease

Moderately

Decrease

Substantially

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

Up Same Down

Current Level of Business in Last 3 Months

Quoting

Shipments

Backlog

Profits

Employment

Current Work-Week Hours

43 43

0

10

20

30

40

50

WorkHours

Average Shop Hours Average Design & Engineering Hours

Current Number Plant Employees

21 5

0

10

20

30

40

50

PlantEmployees

Average Shop Employees Average Design & Engineering Employees

Have you been experiencing more pressure for "low cost" from your customers recently?

80%

20%

Yes

No


6/48


7/48

AMBA 7

Another Successful AMBA Fall Conference

in Washington, D.C.

The American Mold Builders Association roared into Washington, D.C.

on September 13, on the heels of one of the biggest Tea Parties ever held

that took place on September 12. Many of the AMBA members arrived

a day early in order to attend the Tea Party along with an estimated

1.2 million others. The Fall Conference was a huge success, with 57

attendees meeting with 58 Senators and Representatives from the various

states and districts of members in attendance.

On Monday, September 14, Melissa Millhuff, AMBAs Executive

Director, opened the morning session with enthusiasm. Its exciting to

be here to do something positive for our industry, she said. Talking to

congresspeople is what makes a difference for U.S. manufacturing, and

especially for our member companies.

AMBA president Steve Rotman, (Ameritech Die & Mold Inc.) spoke to

the attendees and encouraged them to help keep the American Dream

alive of owning ones own business so that future generations can

follow in the footsteps of his generation. For those coming up behind

my generation, its becoming harder than ever for them to sustain that

American Dream, take the risks and become successful, Rotman said.

Thats why were here in Washington to let our elected ofcials know

whats happening to the American Dream, and why we need to keep theentrepreneurial spirit alive: because its the life blood of this country.

Special guest speakers Alan Tonelson of the U.S. Business and Industry

Council and Lloyd Wood of the American Manufacturing Trade Action

Coalition kicked off the conference with statistics and other information

to help AMBA members approach Congressional people with the issues.

Tonelson agreed with Rotmans assessment. The health of the U.S.

mold industry is an indicator of the health of U.S. manufacturing

overall, he said. You are all at ground zero of the efforts to strengthen

U.S. manufacturing.

Tonelson noted in his report that the recession has hit manufacturing

especially hard. Whereas the entire economy grew by 0.74% in

real terms in 2008, the non-bubble-ized manufacturing shrank by

2.74%, Tonelson said. Manufacturings output losses so far in this

recession (down 16.7%) already exceed even those of the 1973-1975

recession (15.32%) formerly the worst U.S. downturn since the Great

Depression.

AMBA vice president and incoming president, Mike Armbrust of

Mako Mold, commented in his remarks, Unless we come here and tell

them the challenges we face in our businesses each day, they are so far

removed from the mainstream that they dont understand the plight of

manufacturers in this country.

Tonelsons remarks supported Armbrusts. Congresspeople have no

idea how to create wealth, capital, productive industry, and yet its the

productive sector of the economy that must be revived if we are torestore this countrys economy, he said.

Tonelson pointed to some successes over the past year including getting

Buy American language for government procurement for the Stimulus

Act, but this needs to be expanded upon, he said. Also, Free Trade

agreements are going nowhere thats good, he stated. Theres no

support in Congress for this.

Additionally, stated Tonelson, After years of being out, talk of U.S.

manufacturing in now in. Revitalizing U.S. manufacturing has gotten

their attention, and they are at least talking the talk, and now we have to

hold their feet to the re and make them live up to what theyre saying.

However, Tonelson added, There are still constant challenges that

confront us in spite of the fact that manufacturing is once again cool.

The national governing class doesnt get it yet. Obama is getting it.

Tonelson pointed to some struggles such as a China currency bill to get

to peg the Yuan to the dollar. Theres no zeal for this, he said. With

respect to trade policy, I worry that they will game us forever. Trade-law

cases have their use, but most others have limited utility. We cant win

fast enough [for it to help us].

U.S. manufacturing is not unied enough to have an impact, Tonelsonsaid. Cap & Trade, which is essentially a tax on businesses in the House

Climate bill, doesnt seem to have much support with Obama or the

Senate.

Lloyd Wood of the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition

said he agreed with everything Tonelson said. Some things out there

are truly shocking, he stated. U.S. manufacturing never came out of

the 2000 recession and was only made worse a year ago. We produce

less today that we did 10 years ago, but demand has increased. That is

absolutely stunning.

Wood also pointed to job losses in manufacturing. Manufacturing

employment is at its lowest level since May 1941 yet the population

has doubled and demand is up 10 times. Productivity gains dont answer

the problem.

Wood encouraged attendees to Tell your Congressmen and women

that we must get people to invest in the U.S. to manufacture here. We

need a strategic plan to attract investments. Thats an enormous problem

- theres just no game plan to attract investment. If the U.S. wants to

be rich, we all need to produce something we cant all be bankers or

waiters.

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8 AMBA

Wood conrmed Tonelsons statement about Congress not being in favor

of doing anything about the China currency issue. A lot of people in

this administration arent in favor of this, Wood said. Congress wont

actively do anything. Because of the massive amount of debt we cant

subsidize industries like China subsidizes industries. How can we attract

productive investments? Perhaps a value added tax, because 90% of the

countries have a VAT. China has a 17% VAT. We dont have Uncle Sam,

we have Uncle Suck.

Tonelson added that the big problem with China is that its tough to

pressure your banker. Yet, he noted that were still in the cat birds seat

with Chinas leaders because they need our market. If unemployment

goes up in China, theres trouble and we have leverage. However, the

less credit worthy we become and roll over, this leverage is going to

shrink. The Chinese are not the only holders of our foreign debt, and

others might decide to cut us off. I worry that at some point they no

longer have choices between good and bad outcomes, but between bad

and worse outcomes. The longer we proceed down this road, as bad as

it would be to cut us off, it would be worse for them to keep us on life-

support.

Wood concurred. The U.S. is the goose laying the golden eggs for

China, he said. The number one political issue for China is political

stability. A million jobs a year need to be created just to keep the

growing population employed. If their export markets dry up, their

economy is hurt far worse than if ours dries up.

In the afternoon, all eight AMBA delegations headed off to Capital

Hill to begin a full schedule of meetings. Rotman said that his group

had a total of nine meetings representing the southeast. We found

great discussions from both sides of the political spectrum, and felt

that we were able to articulate the concerns of plastics manufacturing,

moldmaking, small businesses, and the overall concern of how to get

the economy going again. Everyone is our group feels that the time they

invested was well worth it, and they hope to participate again.

On Tuesday, the meeting schedule on Capital Hill began early in the

morning and continued through late afternoon.

With all of the changes that have been made, or are being considered,

there has been no time like the present to get engaged and active, saidRotman. Without public participation, our politicians are not sure what

we like and what we dont like. This experience continues to bring out

how proud and blessed we are to have the freedoms we enjoy every day.

To see our government up close and personal is an experience I will

never forget. o

Speak Out: A Message From Our President

(Continued from front cover)

shop owner/managers. The pricing has been kept low, and it will be one

of the most affordable annual conventions in years. The accessibility of

Orlando to all major airports will keep the travel costs at a minimum.

This convention can not be a success without your participation! The

interaction between the convention attendees as well as the differentthoughts and discussions with fellow mangers and shop owners create

a total package of value. Our association continues to be a leader in

retention and positive inuence amongst the membership, and that is due

to everyone participating in the chapter level and national level events.

Ive been privileged to have spoken with quite a few of the rst-time

attendees during the last annual convention and Fall conference. Each of

those people expressed the great value they experienced, the networking

that they enjoyed, as well as their intentions to continue to pursue it. I

look forward to seeing YOU in Orlando, you will not want to miss it!

Fighting for the right/opportunity to manufacture in the United States of

America! o

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9/48

AMBA 9

Mold The Futureof Your Business

If you cant answer those questions,

then you need to join the

For more information, visit www.AMBA.org

or call 847-222-9402


10/48

10 AMBA

Manufacturing a Better Future

for AmericaBy: Scott Paul, Executive Director, Alliance for American

Manufacturing and presenter at the upcoming 2010 AMBA Annual

Convention in Orlando, FL

Weve been privileged at the Alliance for

American Manufacturing to visit with tensof thousands of workers and hundreds of

manufacturers to see whats happening

on the ground rsthand over the past two

years. As you can imagine, the news is

grim. Thats because for manufacturing,

this recession began about a decade

ago. But recently, this decline has been

turbocharged. Its clear that bold solutions

are required to revitalize manufacturing,

which is why we have sought to collect the

wisdom of innovative thinkers around the

nation.

To that end, we published Manufacturing a Better Future for America.With contributions from ten leading academics and experts, the

book takes a comprehensive look at some of the major issues facing

manufacturing today: international trade, an array of subsidies

offered by our global economic competitors, the consequences of the

offshoring of research and development, the shocking lack of support

for investment in advanced manufacturing, the appalling state of skills

and training programs, the challenges for domestic manufacturers in

globalized supply chains, and the consequences of deindustrialization

on society, communities, and our defense industrial base.

Even without reading this book, we all know that something has gone

terribly wrong with the U.S. economy. But chalking up the blame to a

few bad apples on Wall Street and their risky nancial instruments, and

responding by simply providing appropriate regulation in the nancialservices sector, will ultimately be unsatisfying. There are much deeper,

structural issues which must be urgently addressed. Otherwise, the

absurd positive feedback loop between consumer debt, subsidized

Chinese imports, American job loss and factory closures, the growing

U.S. current account decit, and burgeoning Chinese currency reserves

reinvested in American debt, thus inating new bubbles, will only be

reinforced.

Some of us warned that this day would come. We knew that an

economic strategy predicated on replacing wage growth with debt and

credit to maintain a certain standard of living was doomed to fail. We

knew that this nation could not replace manufacturing jobs and their

multiplier effect, as well as their positive impact on the trade balance

and wealth generation, with lower-wage service and retail jobs. We

knew that our national security would begin to suffer if we did not have

a vibrant enough manufacturing base to resupply our troops and provide

the armaments for the future. We knew that if our leaders viewed

international trade as a foreign policy tool and a path to cheap imports,

rather than as an essential element for economic growth and domestic

production, the consequences would be disastrous.

The warnings came not only from labor leaders, domestic

manufacturers, and an insightful group of elected ofcialsthey came

also from very traditional economic quarters. Well before this new,

great recession began, Warren Buffet said Our trade decit has greatly

worsened, to the point that our countrys net worth, so to speak, is

now being transferred abroad at an alarming rate. A perpetuation of

this transfer will lead to major trouble. Martin Feldsteinformer

Chairman of President Reagans Council of Economic Advisorssaid,

The present level of the current account decit is enormous, it is

unprecedented and I believe it is unsustainable.

The consequences have been dire. More than 50,000 manufacturing

facilities have shut their doors over the last decade. They werent

making buggy whips; they were manned by some of the most efcientworkers in the world. Now, we already have large and growing trade

decits in sectors such as advanced technology and clean energy, even

though these supposedly represent new economy sectors and the jobs

of the future in the eyes of many.

The failure of our domestic and international trade policies to support

manufacturing must be quickly reversed. We urgently need a national

manufacturing strategy. The idea of a manufacturing strategy or

industrial policy is hardly a radical concept. Alexander Hamilton

constructed Americas rst industrial policy in 1791. Setbacks during

the War of 1812 due to a lack of domestic capacity to build naval

vessels and military equipment cemented the determination of the

federal government to grow manufacturing, a policy that continued unti

the end of World War II. Globalization and economic approaches suchas a strong dollar policy favoring domestic consumption have helped

to steadily erode manufacturing as a percentage of Gross Domestic

Product, private sector employment, and other key measures. If todays

leaders spent more time focusing on Hamilton and less time on Adam

Smith and David Ricardo, I dont think wed be facing the prospects of

a jobless recovery.

The idea of a manufacturing strategy is also not a partisan one.

President Reaganspurred on by a Democratic Congressadopted a

urry of measures to counter a grossly imbalanced trade relationship

with Europe and Japan in the 1980s. The Plaza Accords, which raised

the value of currencies in Japan and Europe relative to the dollar in

a managed way, had a positive effect in lowering our trade decit.

Key government investments in the semiconductor industry andother technologies spurred their development and commercialization.

President Reagan signed into law enhanced Buy America requirements

for certain infrastructure projects to boost domestic employment. His

Administration implemented the Market Oriented Sector Specic

or MOSS talks with Japan that focused on market access with

measurable results.

Apply those principles to the economic challenges of today, and

you have the foundation of a manufacturing strategy: raise the

value of Chinasyuan to market-based levels, invest in value-added

manufacturing such as clean energy and industries with strategic

signicance, and engage in serious bilateral talks with China to ensure

that it honors the commitments it made upon entry into the WTO in

2001 to eliminate its myriad mercantilist and protectionist policies.

Finally, keepBuy America requirements in place so that tax dollars

are re-invested in our economy and the employment benets of

infrastructure spending accrue not only to the construction industry, but

also to our manufacturers.

But a successful manufacturing strategy must go deeper than that.

We must provide access to much-needed capital for small- and mid-

sized manufacturers to help capture new clean energy markets, both

here and abroad. At a time when access to capital is still very tight, a

public commitment like this is essential. Moreover, those who say the

market alone should dictate winners and losers forget three important

lessons. First, some of the greatest innovations since World WarII

Scott Paul


11/48

AMBA 11

the semiconductor and the internetwere developed with public

assistance. Second, our policies already pick winners and losers, but

we tend to pick the wrong winnersthose who prot through selling

cheap, subsidized imports, or those companies heavily invested in fossil

fuels. Lets pick winners in more productive, sustainable, and wealth-

generating activities like domestic manufacturing instead. Third, other

nations are aggressively supporting emerging industries like clean

energy. Unless we want green manufacturing jobs created in Shanghai

instead of Cincinnati, or Dusseldorf instead of Denver, we must supportdomestic development of these industries.

A key component of any manufacturing strategy must be public

investment, especially in infrastructure. The American Recovery and

Reinvestment Act made a down payment on infrastructure investment,

but our nation will still be hampered by what the American Society

of Civil Engineers estimates is a $2.2 trillion decit in infrastructure

investment over the next ve years. Improving our infrastructure

provides a greater return on investment for taxpayers than tax cuts

and virtually every other form of spending. In the process, it boosts

construction jobs, stimulates demand for manufactured goods, and

improves productivity and economic growth by making transportation

more efcient. According to a recent study by economists at the

University of Massachusetts at Amherst, ensuring that the materialspurchased with tax dollars for infrastructure projects are sourced

domestically creates 33% more manufacturing jobs.

The cost, supply and composition of energy resources consumed by

our manufacturers must also be considered, especially in the context of

federal and international efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

It would be a grave mistake to put our energy intensive industries at a

competitive disadvantage as an unintended consequence of seeking to

control greenhouse gas emissions. America can lead on climate change,

but only if we can also prevent job and carbon leakage which would

make our economic and environmental challenges even difcult.

We must also look at changes to the federal tax code to incentivize

domestic production, allow hard-hit manufacturers to make investments

and explore a Value Added Tax structure to give our exports a boost.

Finally, our skills and training system has been decimated. We need toinvest in a seamless, four year program of high school vocational and

technical programs and community college-level technical training to

prepare young people for manufacturing careers.

Does anyone still believe it is a good thing to outsource not only our

manufacturing but also our debt nancing to China? Revitalizing

manufacturing, reducing our trade imbalances and bringing down our

public debt are interconnected. We need a results-oriented trade and

manufacturing policy. Lets put our ingenuity and innovation to work,

and lets get government policy working for us. o

Why I Joined the AMBA:

We joined AMBA because o the involvement with Congresson issues such as ree trade, and their meetings with the U.S.International Trade Commission. We wanted to be part o themore local and national involvement in the issues that aect ourindustry.

Matt Metcalf, VP/Finance, Colonial Machine Co. , Kent, OH


12/48

12 AMBA

Future of the WorkforceBy: Ryan Pohl, President, Expert Technical Training, and presenter

at the upcoming 2010 AMBA Annual Convention in Orlando, FL

As this article is being written headlines

are running across a variety of news

sources proclaiming the end of the

recession. Please forgive my cynicism but

it is clear these people are not looking at

the tooling industry to get their numbers.

Of course if the overall economy is doing

better that is a great thing for us, but the

numbers for our industry have remained

in a consistent downward trend since the

late 1990s. Projected decline for the tool

and die industry in the U.S. according

to the Department of Labor Bureau of

Labor Statistics (BLS) still shows an almost

10% industry reduction by 2016. This is obviously due to a number of

factors, foreign competition not being the least of them. Regardless, if

youre in the tool and die industry in this country business as usual is

business in decline, and it could be that way for a while yet.

Despite all this I look to the future with a great deal of optimism. I have

yet to nd a single report, even one survey from OEMs, government,

or anyone else that has proclaimed the tool and die industry in America

ofcially dead. In fact, a recent study done by the Harbour-Felax Group

out of Detroit indicates there could be substantial opportunity for select

companies to experience growth within the next ve years, provided

they have done the right things for their businesses to lay a strong

foundation. In spite of the projection of an overall industry decline,

those that make the right moves now may even thrive.

It has been my pleasure and honor to get to know a number of

moldmaking companies that have responded appropriately to

the variety of challenges the current market has presented. Many

moldmaking companies have invested heavily in the latest CNC anddesign technologies. They have also taken the time to implement Lean

initiatives; thus helping them eliminate waste, increase productivity

and ultimately reduce their lead-times by as much as 30% or more.

These efforts have served them well; not only are they still in business,

but they are even managing to turn a prot. The company that has

the foresight to invest when the time is right will be one of the select

companies poised to take advantage of opportunities for growth when

they arise.

There is, however, one investment that continues to be overlooked as

part of a growth strategy; the investment in employee training and

education. When the moldmaking industry was experiencing growth

it was easy to assume there would be a competent workforce available

because the industry was heavily supported by our education system. Ican tell you from experience, the money for public education programs

follows growth industries. It is simple; someone at the Department of

Education that knows very little about a specic industry looks at the

BLS projections and drives their scal plans based on those projections.

When an industry grows, they serve it. When it shrinks, they back away.

They give no thought to the long-term implications of the decision, or

the foundational importance of many of the industries they decide to

stop feeding.

So in the last 10-15 years as the moldmaking industry has been in

decline, public education has responded the way they historically do

Ryan Pohl

they have backed away from us. There have been other reasons for

backing away too. The technology has advanced over a short amount

of time and it has been very difcult for schools to keep up. The new

technology is extremely expensive, and requires a lot of specic

training for the instructors to know where to even begin teaching it.

These issues, coupled with a diminishing public perception of the

industry, have made it very easy for educational administrators to cut

moldmaking feeder programs whenever they get the chance and they

are doing it at an alarming rate.

So here we are, on top of the countless other struggles tooling

companies are faced with, there is a dangerously low amount of people

entering our industry with the requisite skills to be successful. In 1998

the BLS rated the average age of tool and die workers at 47. The BLS

hasnt updated that statistic since 98, but reports from a variety of

independent sources estimate an average age currently at anywhere

between 53-60 years old, depending on the region. If an industry is

doing a good job of talent management as a whole, the Department of

Labor indicates that the average age of the worker should be around 38.

This would mean there is a healthy entrance of workers as others exit.

Our great moldmaking industry simply does not have a healthy

replacement rate. Some projections estimate that over 35% of ourworkforce will either change careers or retire within the next ve years.

This means, even if the tool and die industry shrinks by 10% that still

leaves approximately 25,000 jobs available, simply due to attrition.

Considering the public perception of our industry, and the fact that

moldmaking related education programs are closing all over the nation,

it is an understatement to say we need to have a plan to deal with this.

We are talking about numbers that cannot only restrict growth, but may

affect long-term survival if left unaddressed.

As most in this industry are used to by now, nobody is going to bail us

out. We are going to have to handle this problem ourselves. There are

two things that I believe moldmaking companies should start working

on today to prepare for this challenge, if they have not started already.

First, start developing an internal training program that specically

meets your needs. A good training program covers four primary bases:

1.Worker recruitment and hiring. You must have established criteria

for where you are going to nd future workers and what attributes those

workers must have to start at your company.

2.Structured new employee training plans. You must know exactly

what your new employees are going to do when they arrive. The days of

go work with Bob over there, hell show you the ropes are long gone.

Training should be viewed as a controlled process just like anything

else in your shop. You do not want to spend six months with a new

employee before you nd out s/he does not have what it takes.

3. Existing employee training. You need to make sure your existing

employees have the top-of-the-line skills they need to make your

company successful. A common mistake companies make is buying all

the latest and greatest technology but fail to invest in the people running

it. A million dollar high-speed mill will not make you any money if it is

run like an old duplicator. Your existing employees need to be trained to

use the technology. They will not learn by just being around it.

4. Continuous-education plans. To compete in manufacturing,

companies must continuously improve. This means the workers must

continuously learn. Put a plan in place that forces your employees

to learn something new regularly, this will keep their minds exible


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AMBA 13

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14 AMBA

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and adaptable. Continuous education is like doing maintenance on

machines. If you fail to do it, you will not feel the effects until it is too

late.

The second thing I would like to recommend is that you get involved

with the AMBA immediately. Working together as an industry is

much more powerful than working as a single shop. The AMBA board

recently formed an education committee, call Melissa Millhuff, the

AMBA Executive Director and volunteer your help. I guarantee youare doing things that can help others, and it is time we share our best

practices. We are in this together.

It is not too late to tackle this issue. The writing is on the wall for those

that choose to read it. The only real question remaining is what will

be done about it? With great challenge comes great opportunity, and

it is my hope that through working with the AMBA, we will all work

together to develop a resolution that is the model for other industries to

follow in America.

I am looking forward to expanding on this topic in Orlando at the 2010

AMBA annual convention. I hope to meet many of you there so we

can discuss your ideas for conquering this challenge. And please, go

to my blog and contribute your thoughts on how to restore the publicsperception of the work we do:www.changetheperception.com

For more information, contact:Ryan Pohl, President, Expert Technical

Training at 616-785-5733 or by email at ryan.pohl@expert-technical.

com. Visit his website at www.expert-technical.com . o

The Flexibility ImperativeBy: Laurie Harbour-Felax, President, Harbour Results, Inc. and

presenter at the upcoming 2010 AMBA Annual Convention in

Orlando, FL

The automotive industry is revisiting

how it makes decisions to determine if

design differences unseen by the customer

really matter to the marketplace. As

design complexity grows so do the cost

of achieving the same. Managing the

intersection of design and build decisions

is pivotal in achieving cost objectives

while delivering value to a challenging

marketplace. Moldbuilders live at this

intersection and are pivotal in the success

of the automotive industry.

Complex products, diverse and global

markets, increased competitive brands, segments, and models have

made production and delivery exibility an imperative in todays

challenging vehicle marketplace. As the global economies struggle

to nd their balance, with diminished sales in virtually every productline targeted at specic markets, the need for dedicated high volume

manufacturing capabilities is quickly vanishing.

The automotive industry understands that it can no longer invest in

high-volume production capacity and large dealer inventories believing

that all that it makes will sell. It requires exibility, where production

resources such as people, materials, equipment, tools, methods, and

Laurie Harbour-Felax


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16 AMBA

collaborative communications. Apply theve rights to Flexibility

Process activities by leveraging the right resources, right time, right

place, and right activities, in the right order.Integrate past, present

and future product and process designs when advancing exibility

objectives and practices. Lastly and perhaps most importantlyplay

fair by understanding and applying the rules of value-based decision

making.

Forward towards future exibilityNothing is more inexible than the past. As oft quoted by Sparky

Anderson, former Manager of the Detroit Tigers I dont live in the

past, there is no future in it! Achieving exibility is afuture oriented

proposition. True leaders understand how to respond to the ever-

changing needs of the market through measured and risk-based decision

making that guide future investments and current practices.

We believe that the automotive industry has a bright future; but not for

everyone and certainly not for the usual industry players. Both Honda

and Toyota having achieved unparalleled success against domestic

rivals using business and operational practices, repeatedly shared to the

point of exasperation dont appear to be heeded by all. The domestic

model is broken not because it cant design an appealing vehicle or

balance an assembly line. It is broken because it has not enjoined aculture of value and loyalty, from its customers, its employees, and its

supply base.

Flexibility requires not only integrated product, manufacturing, and

distribution processes that match supply exactly to demand, but

challenges leadership to build a culture or completely re-architect a

culture, where we the producer understand that our actions, impact

we the consumer. This unity in purpose is the societal balance that

exibility seeks. o

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What Are Banks Looking for in

Todays Economy?By: Susan Raef

The banking world works in cycles, just

like the economy, said Patrick McNally,

partner in charge of corporate nance

consulting for Blackman Kallick inChicago and presenter at the upcoming

2010 AMBA Annual Convention in

Orlando, FL. For years, we were in a

period of low interest rates and easy credit

availability. But the world has changed.

On Wednesday, August 12, 2009 McNally

and Michael Moran, principal/rst vice

president at American Chartered Bank, led

an AMBA-sponsored webinar, What Are

Banks Looking for in Todays Economy?

Here are some highlights from the online

seminar.

Collateral has become much more

important to bankers, McNally

acknowledged. The pendulum has swung

quickly from good times to todays tight

credit market, and interest rates have

nowhere to go but up.

What has stayed the same in todays

economy?

If youre over-leveraged, its hard to get

nancingand its even harder now, said McNally. If youre not

over-leveraged, banks still need to lend money to make money.

But banks need to lend people who will pay them back.

A look at things from the bankers perspective

As the old saying goes, a banker is someone who will loan you an

umbrella on a sunny day and take it back as soon as it starts to rain. But

if you need to borrow money, its important to understand the bankers

side of the equation.

Only a small percentage of a loan is the banks own money. The vast

majority comes from depositors. Whether the borrower pays a loan back

or not, the banks customers expect to get their money back.

If a bank makes one bad loan, they must make 19 good loans just to

break even, McNally adds.

Consider patient sources of capital

McNally discussed several alternatives to bank nancing. There could

be more patient sources of capital, he explained, but they expect a

higher rate of return and there could be hidden costs.

Sources of patient capital include:

Family or friends. This could work wellor might place a strain

on the relationship, said McNally.

Angel investors. These investors may not expect to see a payback

for ve to 10 years, McNally explained, but they will extract a

high costequity in your businessan upside you will have given

away forever.

Pat McNally

Michael Moran


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18 AMBA

Have well-thought-out plans and projections. If your business

is changinggrowing a segment, getting into a new product or

business linedo a short plan of how your business will change in

the next year or two, Moran advised.

Maintain capital/equity base/capital structure. Build a cushion

by paying down the debt, said Moran. The bank will not nance

all your working capital growth. Retained earnings are very

important.

Have repayment sources. These could include your accounts

receivable, cash ow and EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes,

depreciation and amortization). Demonstrate that sources are there

to repay your loan, Moran stressed.

Have available collateral. Collateral must be saleable, said

Moran. Be aware that equipment values have gone down

dramatically lately.

Stay well within covenants. Banks use protability and leverage

covenants, Moran explained. If you violate these covenants, the

bank may need to adjust your loan prole. Most loan covenant

violations are waived, with or without a fee.

Communicate openly with your bank.

It takes a long time to build trust, but only a short time to destroy

it, said McNally. If you think youre going to be in a hard situation,

contact your bank up front and explain the situation and how you plan

to deal with it.

What should you do if youre experiencing nancial problems?

Communicate, said McNally. Good communication builds

partnership, understanding and credibility. At the rst sign of a

problemlike losing a big customertalk with your bank. Outline a

plan and discuss it with your banker.

The bank is going to nd out about the problem eventually, McNallyadvised. Telling them early can help build your credibility, and there

might be something the bank can do at that point. If you wait, it might

be too late. Avoid an us vs. them mentality. Banks want to work with

you if they can.

Ask, What can I do to improve the banks situation? Youre in

a partnership closer than ever before, especially if youve made a

personal guarantee, said McNally. And ask questions of the bank

communication must be two-way. Find out whats driving their

decision-making Moran advised.

If you turn your company around and begin making payments again,

take the pulse of banking relationship, McNally advised. Is there

lender fatigue? Are there bad memories? Is the relationship stillworking? Even if youre doing well, it might be time to start looking for

another bank.

Want information on debt service coverage ratios?

In response to AMBA members questions, McNally and Moran have

prepared examples of debt service coverage ratios and an industry

nancial ratio comparison for NAICS 333511Industrial Mold

Manufacturing. To request a copy of this information, please email

McNally [email protected] or Moran at mmoran@

americanchartered.com. Questions? Call Patrick McNally at

312.980.2934 or Michael Moran at 312.492.1104 o

Bankers want to look at your cash ow over the last one to two

years, Moran explained. We realize that projections are wrong

the minute you put them on paperbut were interested in the

assumptions that go behind them.

3.Capital. This is simply equity in the business, said Moran. The

bank wants to know you have money at risk. If a customer has

nothing to lose, they tend to take a lot more risk. The more capitaland less leverage you have, the more you can weather the storm.

4.Collateral. Banks have to be very conservative because of high

leverage and federally insured dollars, Moran explained. We

need two ways out of every loan. If cash ows are very strong, we

might be able to live with less collateral, or vice versa.

5.Conditions. By conditions, we mean everything from the

general economic environment to the economy in your industry,

said Moran.

What can you do to increase your chances of getting nancing?

Moran offered several recommendations for improving your odds of

being approved for nancing:

Have solid nancial statements. Banks want to see that a

certied public accountant is reviewing your bank statementsor

even auditing your nancial statements, says Moran.

Know your numbers. If a banker asks you a question about your

nancial statement, be ready with the answer, Moran advised.

Study your nancial statements. Have someone play banker and

ask you questions.

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AMBA 19

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22 AMBA

relationship sales people to make the sales team more effective and

the company more protable.

Preparing Your Employees for

the Future

Ryan Pohls Expert Technical Training

practice evolved from his work as the

Training Coordinator at Commercial Tool

and Die in Comstock Park, MI .

We must start laying the groundwork

for building the next generation of skilled

workers, Pohl states. A renewal of pride

in workmanship, updated training content

and methods, as well as careful planning

can secure our futures as leaders in the

industry.

Ryans presentation will raise awareness in our industry of the coming

skilled-labor shortage and how it has the potential to dramatically

hinder future sustainability and growth

Building Strategic Relationships with Suppliers

Todd SchuettofCreative Evolution, Scott

FernandezofVega Tool,Rob Eslingof

Industeel, Glenn Starkey ofProgressive

Components, all suppliers to the mold

manufacturing industry, can help you

secure your future in many ways.

The days of the supplier and the

moldmaker being on opposite sides of the

fence are over.

Learn how you can work with your supplier to promote the value of

your business to your customers, how your suppliers can help you

provide more value to your customers, and how together we can allcome out winners!

At the 2010 AMBA Annual Convention you will:

* Network with Peers and Suppliers

* Get new ideas

* Learn new business strategies

* Find the information, and the people you need to Mold the Future of

Your Business!

You cant afford to miss this opportunity to learn about best business

practices, new mold manufacturing technology that is coming to your

future, and hear solutions to nding skilled employees, implementingtraining programs, and how to keep your business growing and thriving

Join us in Orlando in 2010 to Mold the Future of Your Business!

For more information go to www.amba.org/event_calendar. o

The Future of the Mold Industry

Are you concerned about the industries you currently serve? Looking

for new business in new markets? Dont miss these panelists as they

provide analysis and commentary on these markets to help you decide

in what directionyourcompany needs to move.

This expert panel will provide unique insights into these three major

markets that mold manufacturers serve:

Appliance Market:Jack Shedd, Vice President Marketing & Sales,

Hoffer Plastics Inc.Automotive Market:Laurie Harbour-Felax, President of Harbour

Results Inc.

Medical Device Market:Jerry Seidelman , Sales & Marketing

Manager, Tech Mold Inc.

Strategically Planning Your Future

Patrick F. McNally, a partner of Blackman

Kallicks Corporate Financing Group, has

provided the AMBA members with much

valuable advice over the years.

His insights into nancial issues, business

valuations, and what to do when yourcustomer les bankruptcy have proven

helpful to many of our members.

McNallys presentation will give you the

answers to all those questions youve

wanted to ask answers that will provide

you strategic direction to help you formulate your future.

Building a Sales Team for Your

Companies Future

After years of working with mold

manufacturers and seeing a need for

better structure in their sales efforts, ScottSmith, Managing Partner of SalesPro Inc.,

realized that many mold manufacturing

companies lacked an understanding of

what it takes to develop a sales team that is

truly effective.

Based on Scotts many years as a

successful sales person, his presentation

will provide tips on how to develop long-

term goals in sales organizations, how

to accept rejection and overcome objections, and teach people to be

Pat McNally

Scott Smith

Ryan Pohl

Jerry SiedelmanLaurie HarbourJack Shedd


I joined because AMBA is the largest and best lobby groupfghting or us!

Doug Northup, CEO, A&O Mold and Eng., Vicksburg, MI


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AMBA 25

AMBA NewsAMBA News

Annual Convention Registration

Now Open!March 21-25, 2010, Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa, Orlando, FL

Register now and learn how to Mold the Future of Your Business!

Visit the AMBA event calendar online at www.amba.org/event_calendar

for more information.

Nominate the 2010 Mold

Builder of the Year!

Nominations are now being accepted! The AMBAMold Builder of the Year Award was instituted to

recognize outstanding contributions made by an

AMBA member. The recipient of this prestigious

award will be an outstanding business leader,

dedicated to the industry, and an active member of

the AMBA.

If you believe, and you are very proud that you have built a good solid

business: a company that is doing positive things in the industry...we

encourage you to nominate yourself! Do you work hard toward business

growth? Try to nd new ways to be competitive? Thats what it takes to

be the Mold Builder of the Year! Tell us about it and why you believe

you deserve to be the award winner.

Previous Mold Builder of the Year Award recipients are:

2009 Bill Mach, Mach Mold 2008 Pete Manship, Mold Craft 2007 Jim Florian, QME, Inc. - Quality Mold & Engineering 2006 Roger Klouda, M.S.I.Mold Builders 2005 Bill Kushmaul, Tech Mold 2004 Donna Pursell, Prestige Mold 2003 Olav Bradley, PM Mold Company

The 2010 AMBA Mold Builder of the Year Award recipient will be

announced during the Annual Convention in Orlando, Florida, March

21-25, 2010 at the Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa. Announcement

of the award recipient will be made to local newspapers, national

industry publications, AMBAs publication, and posted on the AMBA

website. This years award recipient will also choose the industry-

related educational program or students(s) that will receive a $5,000

Progressive Components scholarship grant.

Contact the AMBA National ofce at 847-222-9402 orsdaniels@amba.

orgfor more information on the Mold Builder of the Year Award.

Dates To Remember

AMBA EVENTS

AMBA Annual Convention

March 21-25, 2010, Orlando, FL.

Save these dates! Registration now open!

INDUSTRY EVENTS

Automotive Plastic Part Design

November 16 - 18 - Dearborn, MI

This three-days in-depth automotive seminar will provide

information on material selection, design procedures, processing

techniques, and the assembly methods required when designing

with plastics in the automotive eld.

EuroMold

December 2 5, 2009 in Frankfurt, Germany

The 16th EuroMold is the world-wide leading trade fair for

Moldmaking and Tooling, Design and Application Development.

As the international meeting point of the industrial sector, it

presents products and services, technology and impulses for

tomorrows market

PLASTEC West 2010

February 9-11, 2010 - Anaheim, CA

Plastics News Executive Forum 2010

March 7 - 10 - Tampa, FL

Plastics News is pleased to announce its renowned Executive

Forum conference will return to the Saddlebrook Resort next

March 7-10, 2010. The event, previously held at the resort in

March 2008, combines 2-1/2 days of conference sessions led by

industry experts with prime networking opportunities including

evening receptions, breakfasts, lunches and more.

PLASTEC South 2010

April 28 - 29, 2010 - Charlotte, NC

PLASTEC East 2010

June 8-10 - New York, NY

The largest advances in primary processing machinery, computer-

aided design and manufacturing, production machinery, contract

services, materials, molds and mold components, automation

technology, materials handling/logistics, enterprise IT...and much

more.

PLASTEC Midwest 2010

September 28-30 - Rosemont, IL

SOURCE the latest technologies and ideas in primary processing

machinery, computer-aided design and manufacturing, production

machinery, contract services, materials, molds and mold

components, automation technology, materials handling/logistics,

enterprise ITand much more. o


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26 AMBA

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30 AMBA

speakers at the meeting were chapter members that had attended the

recent Fall Conference in Washington, D.C. They reviewed the events

of the meeting with members that were not able to attend.

Chicago

The chapter is welcoming its new chapter

coordinator Karen Norville. Her duties

will include, coordinating board meetings

and general membership meetings for the

chapter, creating a chapter newsletter and

more. Karen Norville has worked for the

past eight years as a program coordinator

for an after-school enrichment program

which she developed with parents and

teachers. She also organizes student tours

for schools. In her many volunteer roles,

Karen has planned large- and small-scale

events, published newsletters, developed

new programs, and written several grants with successful outcomes.

Karen feels all of these skills and experiences will greatly benet her as

the new Chicago Chapter Coordinator. Karen resides in Homer Glen, IL

with her husband and two sons. She looks forward to getting to know

the members of the AMBA Chicago Chapter.

The chapter also met on October 7 with a cocktail hour sponsored byAMBA Partner Vega Tool Corporation. The chapter heard a presentation

called, Marketing Tactics for Mold Builders, by Kent Gladish,

Marketing Director of the TMA. There were 43 people in attendance a

great turnout! Attendees of the recent Fall Conference in Washington,

D.C. discussed with the group what meetings they had with their

Congresspersons and what their stance was on manufacturing.

The next meeting will be scheduled in late November/early December.

A round table of mold buyers will be held, discussing what they look

for when choosing a mold builder. More information will be sent when

available.

Karen Norville


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AMBA 31

Chapter Spotlight - Wisconsin Chapter

The Wisconsin Chapter President, Dan

Glass of Strohwig Industries (Richeld,

WI) says that while attendance at

the Chapter meetings has been down

lately, they always plan educational

and informative events. The meeting

on October 13 featured Alan Hickok

of Progressive components, discussing

alternatives to traditional tooling such as

unscrewing molds or slides, and looking at

collapsible cores and expandable cavities.

To help boost attendance at their respective

meetings, the Wisconsin Chapter has been collaborating with the

NTMA. A joint meeting was scheduled for November 10 at the

Waukesha County Technical College, Navigating the New Landscape.

Florida

Florida AMBA members met on November 12 for a general meeting,

and to discuss nalizing details for forming a Florida chapter. The group

heard a presentation called, Design Flexibility and Increased Prots

Using Collapsible Cores and Expandable Cavities, by Al Hikock of

Progressive Components. AMBA Executive Director Melissa Millhuff

was also in attendance.

Minnesota

The Minnesota chapter held their annual fund raiser Golf Outing at theOak Glen Golf Course on July 23rd. See more detail and photos of this

event on the Minnesota Golf Outing page.

The Minnesota chapter board of directors held a meeting on October

15th to discuss the next general meeting.

Pennsylvania

AMBAs newest ofcial chapter will meet on December 1st. Members

will hear a presentation by Evan Howell, Regional Manager at Makino,

discussing True Five-Axis Machining for Die & Mold Applications.

AMBA Executive Director, Melissa Millhuff, will attend.

West MichiganThe chapter hosted their 2nd Annual Golf Outing on September 18. The

chapter raised $6,000 towards our AMBA scholarship fund. As always

the money will be given in scholarships to the children of employees in

West Michigan chapter shops. See more detail and photos of this event

on the West Michigan 2nd Annual Chapter Golf Outing page.

The chapter also met on November 10th with guest speaker, Ryan Pohl,

of Expert Technical Training. He spoke on Workforce Development

in Trying Economic Times. Ryan Pohl will also be presenting at the

upcoming 2010 AMBA Annual convention.

Wisconsin

The chapter met on October 13th

for a general membership meeting.Eleven people were in attendance. The group heard a presentation

called, Design Flexibility and Increased Prots Using Collapsible

Cores and Expandable Cavities, by Al Hikock of Progressive

Components. o

Dan Glass

K

Speakers discussed the impact of the nancial crisis and offer

strategies to help identify and seize opportunities in this changed

economic environment. It was an all-day meeting, running from

9am - 4pm.

Additionally, the Wisconsin Chapter of the AMBA has joined the

Wisconsin Precision Metalworking Council that also consists of

the NTMA and the TDMA. Between these groups we have about

ve people that get involved each month to discuss issues pertinent

to the metal-working business, said Glass. We try to team upwith other groups with like interests and by consolidating our

efforts and collaborating on issues; we hope to be more effective

in Wisconsin. o


One o the big benefts o being an AMBA member is networkingwith other shops. For a couple o years, we were really busy andwe were able to sub-contract work to other AMBA member shopsthat had machine time. Now, were on the other end. We havemachine time on some o our equipment and AMBA member shops

in the area are sub-contracting work to us. Ive learned some newmachining processes and new technologies rom networking withother shops. This is an opportunity I wouldnt have had without mymembership in the AMBA.

Ed Siciliano, President, Circle Mold and Machine Co. Inc.,

Tallmadge, Ohio, and president of the AMBA Ohio Chapter.


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32 AMBA

By: Andy Baker, Byrne Tool & Die, West Michigan Chapter

The second annual West Michigan AMBA Golf Outing took place onSeptember 18, 2009. It turned out to be a beautiful day with a coolstart and plenty of sunshine, much nicer then the soggy weather weexperienced last year. Attending the outing were a record 88 golfersrepresenting 10 member companies and 20 different vendors!

We were truly amazed at how this community came together for agood cause. Even in Michigans challenging economic climate ourmembers and vendors came out to support our AMBA scholarship

fund and ultimately the employees of our member shops. We feeltruly blessed that we raised $6,000 towards our AMBA scholarshipfund. As always the money will be given in scholarships to thechildren of employees in West Michigan chapter shops.

We would like to personally thank everyone who helped make this agreat event. When you come across one of our sponsors or golfers,we ask that you do the same. Without the support of our vendors andmembers, this outing would not have been such a great success.Thank You!

West Michigan 2nd Annual Chapter Golf Outing


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AMBA 33

By: Justin McPhee, Mold Craft, Minnesota Chapter

The AMBA Twin Cities chapter in Minnesota had another

successful annual golf outing. All Twin City chapter shops

and suppliers were invited to attend the July 23rd, 2009, 14th

Annual, four-person, Best Ball Scramble at Oak Glen Golf

Club in Stillwater, MN.

Each year the local shops come together for an afternoon of

golf, rafes, door prizes and a wonderful meal at the end of

the day. There was a turnout of 76 players from nine shops

and 14 suppliers. The local chapter would like to thank all

the shops that participated including: Mo-Tech, Mold Craft,

Isometric Tool and Design, Metro Mold and Design, Dynamic

Engineering, Tooling Science, Twin City Tool, Mold-Tech &

Imperial Tool.

The golf outing is the #1 event for the Minnesota chapter

to raise money for educational scholarships. This was a

successful year as we were able to raise enough money for

the (four) $1000 scholarships that are donated each year

to applicants who are pursuing careers in the moldmaking

industry. We would also like to thank the suppliers and

sponsors that helped make this possible by graciously donating

generous prizes for the rafe.

Metal Treaters, EDM Sales, A. Finkl, Stone Machinery,

Progressive Components, Schmoltz & Bickenbach, Bohler

Uddeholm, Midland Tech, Productivity, Machine Tool Supply,Precision Punch & Plastics, Capitol Machine Solutions, DMG

American, Open Mind Software & EDM Tech Center.

The AMBA Twin Cities Chapter would also like to thank Tom

Nielsen and his staff at Mo-Tech Corporation for donating

their time and resources to organize this event and helping to

make this another successful year.

Minnesota 14th Annual Chapter Golf Outing


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34 AMBA

10260 Indiana Court., Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 Tel: 909.941.0600 800.432.6653 Fax: 909.941.0190Email: [email protected] Website: www.albaent.com

Micro PrecisionMolding Machines

Quick Knockout Couplers5 Sizes Up to 5000 Ton Machines

Hot Runner SystemsPin Point, Valve Gate, Multi Gate,

Hot Edge Gate,

Stack Molds

HydraulicCylinders

Locking Cylinders

Mold ComponentsSlide Elements, Latch Systems, Etc.

Vertical

Add OnInjectionUnit

AMBA Partner Spotlight

Welcome New Partners!

The AMBA Partner Program is rolling along full speed, and this quarter

wed like to introduce you to these new partners and encourage you to

get to know them:

JMF Precision Welding

Dacula, GA

Micro laser and micro TIG welding for the molding and plasticsindustries. Visit them on the web at www.jmfmicroweld.com

Mold Surface Technologies

Rockford, MIMST is a full service mold texturing facility. Specializing in new moldtexturing, refurbishing textures, repair of mold surfaces, benching,

polishing, engraving, and full glossing. For more information contactthem by phone at 616-863-2100, or on the web at

www.moldsurfacetech.com.

Ohio Carbon Blank, Inc.

Willoughby, OH

Ohio Carbon Blank Inc. (OCB) is celebrating 30 years as a full service

graphite products manufacturer specializing in the production ofprecision blanks for electrical discharge machining (EDM) applications.

We offer rectangular, round, hexagonal and special CNC milled shapes

in several material grades including copper impregnated graphite.

Graphite taps, metallics, including multi-channel tubes, tungsten-

copper rods, EDM wire and diamond coated cutting tools are also

offered. OCBs standard issame day shipmenton most orders. An

online graphite store now offers over 500 standard sizeprecision blanks

(+/-.0002) at deeply discounted prices. OCB is also ISO9001:2000

certied and offers our volume UPS shipping rates to all. Visit them on

the web at : www.ohiocarbonblank.com

SalesPro, Inc.

Farmington, NY

SalesPro, Inc. was founded in August 2009 to provide sales tutelage

and strategies to American mold builders. By utilizing state of the

art technologies and machinery, moldmakers have been creating

masterpieces for years. Unfortunately, sales have never had the same

focus for some smaller companies. SalesPro, Inc. was formed to helpbridge the gap between shop and sales during these very challenging

times. Ten hours a week can yield high rewards for those whom

dedicate themselves to the program. Visit them on the web at www.

salespro-inc.com. o

Partner News

Makino

Makinos 2009 Advanced Manufacturing and High-Precision

Technology Expo held at the Auburn Hills, Michigan Tech Center

provided industry leading advice and innovative machining solutions

from Makino and other prominent companies.

I think its amazing they put on the event in the rst place, given

how bad the economy has been to the die and mold industry, said

Corey Greenwald, an attendee of the Expo and owner ofHard Milling

Solutions of Michigan. I think it shows Makinos commitment to

the industry--bringing in top-notch speakers to help us understand

the economic situation were in and where its going, putting over 20

machines under power to show off new technologies, and presenting on


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36 AMBA


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AMBA 37

Seeking Candidates for 2010 Award Nominations

Once again, the North American Die Casting Association

will recognize individuals and companies for their signicant

contributions to NADCA and the die casting industry. A broad

range of these prestigious awards will be presented at the

International Reception and Awards Ceremony during CastExpo

10 in Orlando, FL.

Nominations for the awards are welcome from die casting

industry professionals. They will be forwarded to the NADCA

Awards Committee for consideration. A special nominationsubmission form appears below. Those wishing to mail/fax can

download the award nomination form. For 2010, the Committee

will present the following awards:

Austin T. Lillegren Award: Presented to members in

recognition of loyal and extraordinary service, this award was

established in 1960 in memory of Austin T. Lillegren, whose

devotion and leadership exemplied unselsh service.

Doehler Award: Presented for outstanding contribution to

the advancement of the die casting industry or to the art of die

casting as represented by:

Technical Achievement

Advancement in Plant Operations

Other Activities

Edward A. Kruszynski Supplier Excellence Award:

Recognizes a supplier to the die casting industry that has

demonstrated a long-standing record of NADCA membership,

participation in and furthering of NADCAs education efforts,

longevity as an exhibitor at the Cast Expo and advertiser

inDie Casting Engineermagazine and participation in

NADCA committees and boards. Originally introduced as the

Achievement Award in 1960, it was renamed the Edward A.

Kruszynski Achievement Award in 1987, and given its new

designation as a Supplier Excellence Award in 1991.

Gullo and Treiber Award: Presented for marketing or sales

activity expanding the knowledge of die casting. Established in

1969 by Chicago White Metal Casting Inc.

Nyselius Award: Presented for the contribution to the industry

of a signicant technical accomplishment or device. Established

in 1965. o

The WARN Act

During these challenging economic times, its important to

remember the exposures to liability for Employment Practices that an

employer can inadvertently escalate under the pressures of the day.

If it is essential to reduce your workforce, be aware of and abide by

regulations that apply to that difcult decision. The Worker Adjustment

and Retraining Notication Act (WARN) became effective on February

4, 1989.

WARN offers protection to workers, their families and communities by

requiring employers to provide notice 60 days in advance of covered

plant closings and covered mass layoffs. This notice must be provided

to either affected workers or their representatives (e.g., a labor union);

to the State dislocated worker unit; and to the appropriate unit of local

government. In general, employers are covered by WARN if they have

100 or more employees, not counting employees who have worked

less than six months in the last 12 months and not counting employeeswho work an average of less than 20 hours a week. Private, for-prot

employers and private, nonprot employers are covered, as are public

and quasi-public entities which operate in a commercial context and are

separately organized from the regular government. Employees entitled

to notice under WARN include hourly and salaried workers, as well as

managerial and supervisory employees.

What triggers notice

Plant closing: A covered employer must give notice if an employment

site will be shut down, and the shutdown will result in an employment

loss for 50 or more employees during any 30-day period.

Mass layoff: A covered employer must give notice if there is to be a

mass layoff which will result in an employment loss at the employmentsite during any 30-day period for 500 or more employees, or for 50-

499 employees if they make up at least 33% of the employers active

workforce.

Notication period

With three exceptions, notice must be timed to reach the required

parties at least 60 days before a closing or layoff. All notices must be in

writing. Any reasonable method of delivery designed to ensure receipt

60 days before a closing or layoff is acceptable. The exceptions to 60-

day notice are:

1. Faltering company. This exception covers situations where a

company has sought new capital or business in order to stay

open and where giving notice would ruin the opportunity to get

the new capital or business, and applies only to plant closings;

2. Unforeseeable business circumstances. This exception applies to

closings and layoffs that are caused by business circumstances

that were not reasonably foreseeable at the time notice would

otherwise have been required; and

3. Natural disaster. This applies where a closing or layoff is the

direct result of a natural disaster, such as a ood, earthquake,

drought or storm.

Penalties

An employer who violates the WARN provisions by ordering a plant

closing or mass layoff without providing appropriate notice is liable to

each aggrieved employee for an amount including back pay and benetsfor the period of violation, up to 60 days. An employer who fails to

provide notice as required to a unit of local government is subject to a

civil penalty not to exceed $500 for each day of violation. Enforcement

of WARN requirements is through the United States district courts.

Workers, representatives of employees and units of local government

may bring individual or class action suits. In any suit, the court may

allow the prevailing party a reasonable attorneys fee as part of the

costs.

Information

Specic requirements of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining

Notication Act may be found in the Act itself

Documents

2009 The American Mold Builder - Fall