MoldMaking Technology Magazine Turns 25 Years Old

“MoldMaking Technology (MMT) is the glue that binds this industry together through sharing information which pushes us towards new innovations and developments.” Angelo Morra, VP – sales & marketing, Top Grade Molds Ltd.

MMT founder Joe Prischak would be very happy to hear that quote because that was his intention when he decided to launch MoldMaking Technology magazine a quarter century ago. He wanted a place where his community of moldmakers could share and learn.

MMT has been around for 25 years because of its community — one that is passionate about sharing and collaborating to move the industry forward — and that includes sharing their stories with us so we can then share them with the current and next generation. And what an honor it has been to be a part of this community since I  joined Joe’s crusade one spring day in 1997.

Part of the creation of the special anniversary coverage on pages 34-45 of the March 2023 issue was looking back over old MMT magazine issues, as they clearly document what has been talked about, experimented with, launched, improved and what has become mainstream in moldmaking over the past 25 years. In honor of our quarter of a century around the sun, here are 25 technologies and trends we’ve covered consistently in MMT from 1998 to 2023:

1. 3D printing
2. Aluminum
3. Automation
4. Coatings
5. Control technology
6. Cooling, conformal
7. Data/Industry 4.0
8. EDM
9. ERP/scheduling/quoting
10. Five-axis machining, gundrilling, hard milling, drilling
11. Hot runner controls/valve gates
12. Inspection/laser scanning/portability
13. ISO/lean manufacturing
14. Mold design and engineering
15. Mold material selection/heat treatment
16. Molding/process control
17. Polishing/texturing
18. Preventive maintenance/mold monitoring
19. Repair/welding
20. Simulation
21. Solid carbide and indexable tools
22. Solid, surface and direct modeling
23. Standardized components
24. Toolpath optimization
25. Venting

Of course, we also sprinkle in workforce and business issues, from training and succession planning to tax changes and sales and marketing.

We could not provide this coverage without the moldmaking community, so the MMT team thanks you for your continued support! Here’s to another 25 years of covering why moldmaking matters!

Don’t forget to celebrate with us in person at MoldMaking Technology Booth 1609 at the Plastics Technology Expo (PTXPO) on Tuesday, March 28, at 3 p.m. for a special happy hour toast and to pick up a commemorative “Top 10 Reasons to be a Moldmaker” t-shirt listing the industry’s all-time favorite reasons over the past 25 years.

#MMTMoldsMakeADifference #MMT25 #MMTSilver