30 Under 30 Class of 2021: Southeast-Based Moldmakers Making a Difference

Southeast

YakAttack LLC (Farmville, Virginia)

Nick Kellogg, Engineering Manager

Six years ago Nick started at YakAttack as an entry-level manufacturing employee with no engineering experience. His first job was gauging and sorting non-conforming product. In less than two years, Nick was rapidly conquering a steep learning curve through an extreme engineering apprenticeship boot camp. Ownership realized he could do pretty much whatever he put his mind to, no matter how unlikely it seemed.

The company started injection molding about the time Nick came on board. Quickly realizing that the cost and leadtime of tooling was a major barrier with our low-volume market, the company ventured into making its own tooling on a Robodrill VMC and created a modular mold base with which they could create simple molds in less than a day for a few hundred dollars.

Four years ago, Nick fully transitioned into engineering. Within a year he assumed the position of engineering manager and has advanced the primitive tooling system significantly. He has designed and built over 200 molds, and manages a two-person team that currently builds 75-100 molds per year—simple line of draw molds, action molds and hot sprue molds.

Nick also purchases the shop’s heavy equipment, handling selection, installation and startup and training. In 2020, Nick purchased and started two Milacron Roboshot molding machines, the company’s  third Robodrill (with a fourth axis), a resin recycling line and a CNC EDM that is taking moldmaking capabilities to a new level.

Superior Tooling Inc. (Wake Forest, North Carolina)

Isaac Wier, Apprentice Moldmaker

Isaac is a breath of fresh air to the organization. He is now in the third year of his apprenticeship. However, he is already perceived as one of our “go-to” employees.

After Isaac’s summer internship, he was not offered an apprenticeship under the NCTAP program, but he was offered the opportunity to work part-time with the potential to be selected the following year. Isaac happily seized this opportunity. Anytime he was not in school (even on snow days), he would come into the shop to do whatever was permitted. He always did an excellent job, which cemented his future selection. The following year, he became an apprentice.

Isaac excelled in the coursework and on-the-job training. He quickly takes to whatever machine tool he is assigned and has an excellent sense of proper setup techniques, quality and accuracy. He has already demonstrated the ability to setup, operate and troubleshoot three-, four- and five-axis CNC mills, and program and operate three different CNC lathes, as well as coordinate-measuring machines (CMMs). He also calibrates measurement equipment.

Isaac is proficient in setup and operation of any of the manual equipment in the shop. The only equipment he cannot operate are the machine tools that he has not been introduced to yet. He really wants an opportunity in EDM, which is happening soon.

Isaac also assists with training younger apprentices and displays exceptional patience. He admits to learning new skills of his own during this training.

Isaac has a very positive attitude and truly enjoys his work, which is crucial to being successful in this trade. He has a magnetic personality and is respectful, trustworthy, accountable, confident and exhibits a very high level of integrity. He always has a smile on his face and when presented with an opportunity to learn a new skill, he is like a kid in a candy store. These attributes are just a few that set Isaac apart and are integral to plotting his course toward much higher levels of responsibility and leadership.

Ben Johnson, Journeyman Moldmaker

Ben completed his apprenticeship at Superior Tooling in 2019 as one of the original inductees into the NCTAP apprenticeship program that began in 2015. He chose Superior Tooling due to the wide range of skills and career opportunities as well as its family-oriented, small business culture.

He has been most intrigued and challenged by the skills required to build an injection mold. Ben quickly moved through his training and became a resource for training and knowledge as well as a participant in planning discussions, even as an apprentice. He exhibited mature communication skills and was respected as a model apprentice for those following in his footsteps.

Ben enjoys mentoring apprentices with whom he freely shares his knowledge. He has accompanied recruitment teams to area high schools, harvesting the next class of apprentices. Ben also worked the Superior Tooling exhibit booth at Amerimold while an apprentice.

He is capable of designing and machining complex electrodes, reverse engineering, programming and operating three-, four- and five-axis mills, as well as multiple sinker and wire EDMs and CMMs. He also manages our ISO 9001 calibration records and participates in internal and external ISO audits.

Ben aspires to further his knowledge in tool design and hard milling programming. He has shown interest in the management side of the business as well as customer-facing activities, and tasks involving purchasing and quoting. He is only in his sixth year in this trade, but the team views him as a valuable resource.