Published 6/16/2016

Amerimold: A Family Affair

Covering this industry for the past 19 years has shown me what a community--what a family--moldmaking is. This becomes very evident every year at Amerimold, but yesterday it was taken to another level.

amerimold

Christina Fuges

Editorial Director, MoldMaking Technology

Covering this industry for the past 19 years has shown me what a community--what a family--moldmaking is. This becomes very evident every year at Amerimold. But yesterday it was taken to another level, as a busload of employees, family and friends of this year's Leadtime Leader Winner Krieger Craftsmen unloaded in front of Surburban Collection Showplace to take in the Expo and take on the recognition they deserve for being part of a winning team.

These awards, sponsored by MoldMaking Technologyand Progressive Components, have been honoring outstanding moldmakers who best demonstrate overall innovation, efficiency, quality and commitment for the past 14 years. We presented winner Krieger Craftsmen and honorable mention MSI Mold Builders to the industry at the end of the day yesterday right before the annual Casino Night Networking Party. And boy, were these winners ready to party after the build up and excitement of the Awards Ceremony.

With so many past Leadtime Leaders in attendance this year (flagged with red ribbons), I decided to get a little Oscar-esqe and asked Brian Bendig, president of last year's Leadtime Leader Cavalier Tool & Mfg. to come to the mic to say a few words about what the Award has meant to his company, encourage all shops to enter next year's competition, and then present the Award plaque to Tim Krieger, president of Krieger Craftsman, as I made the official announcement. It was a "passing of the torch" in a way, and it really added to that "family" feel of the industry. We later took a group shot of all the past Leadtime Leaders. It was quite the night!

Leadtime Leader Hall of Fame

Leadtime Leaders 03

Large Winner: Advance Tool, Inc. (ATi): Thinking Lean Gets the Green

Small Winner: M&M Tool and Mold: Specialization and Short Leadtimes Yield Success

Large Honorable Mentions:

Ultra Tool Group: Multiple Mold Specialties Garner Profits Galore

Eimo Americas: Combining Forces Multiplies Profits

Small Honorable Mentions:

Graphic Tool: Concurrent Engineering Generates Quick Mold Builds

Peterboro Tool: Niche Moldmaking Produces Profits

Leadtime Leaders 04

Large Winner: Wentworth Mold: Blowing Away the Competition

Small Winner: M & M Tool and Mold: Niche Moldmaking Yields Results Two Years Running

Large Honorable Mention: Century Die Co.: Forging Ahead

Small Honorable Mention: Summit Molds: Better Not Bigger

Leadtime Leaders 05

Large Winner: Minco Tool and Mold: On The Fast Track

Small Winner: M & M Tool: Formula for Success-Specialization, Automation And Customer Service

Large Honorable Mention: StackTeck: Lean Strategies Combine for Niche Molds in Record Time

Small Honorable Mention: IDEAS, INC.: Thinking Outside the Box

Leadtime Leaders 06

Large Winner: Extreme Tool and Engineering: Building Relationships, Fostering Growth

Small Winner: A.J. Tool Co. Inc.: Niche Moldmaking Meets High Expectations

Large Honorable Mention MSI Mold Builders: Moldmaking Measured and Defined

Small Honorable Mention:IDEAS, INC.: Good Thinking!

Leadtime Leaders 07

Large Winner: Chicago Mold Engineering: In The Spotlight

Small Winner: Tech Tool & Mold, Inc.: Strength and Flexibility

Large Honorable Mention: Synergetic M2M Group: A Global Presence

Small Honorable Mention: M&M Tool and Mold, Inc.: Automation Investment Pays Off Big

Leadtime Leaders 08

Large Winner: Commercial Tool & Die: High Quality and Employee Innovation Drive Success

Small Winner: Extreme Tool and Engineering, Inc.: Embracing Change

Large HM: StackTeck Systems Ltd.: Continuous Improvement Trims Leadtimes

Leadtime Leaders 09

Large Winner: Commercial Tool & Die: Innovation And Improvement Are Keys to Success

Small Winner: Byrne Tool & Die: A Culture of Change

Large Honorable Mention: Armin Tool & Manufacturing: Sampling Success Since 1952

Small Honorable Mention: Elite Mold & Engineering: Team Elite

Leadtime Leaders 10

Large Winner: Triangle Tool

Triangle Tool: Product-to-Tool Service

Small Winner: Mold Craft: Innovation with Automation

Large Shop Honorable Mention H.S. Die & Engineering: A One-Stop Shop

Small Shop Honorable Mention CS Tool Engineering: In the Business Of Customer Service

Leadtime Leaders 11

Large Winner: United Tool & Mold, Inc.: Charging Forward with Unique Mold Repair Niche

Small Winner: Mold-Tech, Inc.: Technology-Driven, Detail-Oriented Precision Injection Mold Provider

Large Honorable Mention: MSI Mold Builders: Redefining Mold Manufacturing

Small Honorable Mention: JM Mold South, Inc.: Constant Reinvention Results in Growth, Success

Leadtime Leaders 12

Large Winner: Industrial Molds Group: Thinking Outside of the Box

Small Winner: M&M Tool and Mold: Niche Manufacturing Sustains Profitability

Leadtime Leaders 13

Winner Tech Mold Inc.: A Triple Threat!

Honorable Mention Micro Mold Company, Inc.: Partnering to Push the Limits

Leadtime Leaders 14

Winner: Westminster Tool Inc.—Bridging the Gap without Losing Focus

Honorable Mention: Aalbers Tool and Mold Inc.—Playing the Long Game

Leadtime Leaders 15

Winner: Cavalier Tool & Manufacturing - A Holistic Approach to Setting the Pace

Honorable Mention: Dynamic Tool & Design - Committing to a Scientific Process

2016 Their Stories

Krieger Craftsmen was rebuilt with an emphasis on core values and a “productionized” moldmaking strategy designed to reduce lead times. See their story here.

MSI Mold Builders combines continuous improvement strategies with machining power to maximize growth and opportunity. Read about them here.