Updated 4/28/2022 Published 4/28/2022

Introducing The MoldMaking Conference—Engineer, Build, Maintain, Manage

It's time to bring the MMT brand to life with in-person moldmaking-specific educational content at the MoldMaking Conference November 8-9 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Christina Fuges

Editorial Director, MoldMaking Technology

Modern moldmaking is utterly dependent on accurate, repeatable and efficient technologies, processes and talent when designing, building, maintaining, repairing and managing molds. This facet of manufacturing has distinct challenges and complexities because a mold is a manufacturing system that is unique to itself. It is an integrated machine in a process built upon science and data.

Over the years, I’ve heard it said—and I strongly agree—that:

A mold is the heart of the molding process.
A mold is an engineered product and not just about cutting steel.
Moldmaking has moved beyond an art and a craft to a science based on technology advancements aimed at engineering and building a better, more cost-effective mold.
Moldmaking is evolving into mold manufacturing that requires systems and processes.

It is with this focus in mind that we are launching The MoldMaking Conference on November 8-9 in Charlotte, North Carolina, essentially bringing MoldMaking Technology’s tagline to life—Engineer, Build, Maintain and Manage—with in-person, moldmaking-specific educational content.

The program will offer high-quality, noncommercial presentations focused on practical solutions for dealing with the challenges and complexities of mold manufacturing—from mold design to first shot.

We are calling all company owners, operations/plant managers, shop foremen, toolroom managers, mold shop senior management, mold procurement personnel, mold designers and engineers part designers, processing and troubleshooting personnel, and human resources, accounting and sales and marketing managers to attend.

Our goal is to bring to the forefront the technologies and best practices necessary for the critical decision-making that needs to take place by the mold builder and mold buyer. The MoldMaking Conference will look at technology investment and deployment for the variety of processes used to design and build a mold, increase awareness and planning for more proactive mold maintenance, and examine challenges and strategies to further evolve from being a mold shop to a mold manufacturer.

Topics will be presented in sessions led by experts in their respective fields—technology suppliers and moldmakers, molders and OEMs sharing technology and service reviews and application stories as well as experiences, lessons learned, tips and best practices for better moldmaking and molding.

Presentations will be focused on specialized solutions for moldmaking!

The MoldMaking Conference is taking place alongside the Molding Conferences. However, both are standalone yet combined resources for education, collaboration and innovation about new, emerging, enhanced and proven technologies, equipment, products and processes.

Visit moldmakingconference.com for show details and register today!

MoldMaking Conference Program Breakdown

Engineer: Bring to the forefront the technologies and best practices necessary for the critical decision-making that needs to occur by the mold buyer and mold builder. Topics will include part/mold design, simulation, putting intelligence in the mold, and looking at innovative ways OEMs, molders and moldmakers are working together.

Build: Examine challenges and strategies to further evolve from a mold shop to a mold manufacturer. We will look at technology deployment of the various processes used to build a mold, such as 3D printing, machining steel or aluminum, applying the right cutting tools and tool holders, selection, EDM, automation, incorporating proper mold materials, mold components and hot runner systems.

Maintain: Develop awareness and planning for more proactive mold maintenance by molders and their mold builders. Repairs and downtime are costly for molders, jeopardize OEM's program launches, and be a liability for mold builders' customer relations. This session will review some essential processes to mold maintenance/repair—e.g., cleaning, retrofitting and welding—but with an emphasis on the leadership and the resulting organized documentation, methodology, troubleshooting and training necessary for optimum performance of one's fleet tooling.

Manage: Provide examples, analysis and discussion that provokes decision-makers to plan how their shop and staff will look in the short and long term. In addition, we will examine challenges and strategies to further evolve from being a mold shop to a mold manufacturer, which includes employee delegation and accountability and education/training.