2017 Editorial Advisory Board: Will Cipkar

Will Cipkar heads up Crest Thermal Technology (CTT), a division of Crest Mold Technology, which provides cooling systems to improve customers’ new and existing tooling. Established in 1987, Crest Mold continues to build precision plastic injection molds with core competencies in rotary and multi-shot tooling, and training and partnerships involving conformal cooling. 

Will has been with Crest for more than 15 years, but his involvement in moldmaking began even earlier. During high school, he worked part time at Crest Mold, which turned into full-time work after graduation as a general laborer. After a few months, he moved to the CNC department. It wasn’t long before he also began manual programming on machines and then computer programming for contour cutting. Two years later he entered design, where he remained for almost a decade.

During this time, the company specialized in rotary two-shot tooling but decided it was time to move into “the next big thing:” hot/cold molding to get into paint-elimination tooling. This decision took Will to Japan, where he learned how to achieve high-gloss without paint using a process of mold-temperature control to switch mold temperatures during the molding cycle to affect the resin’s finish. It was there that Will discovered the importance of conformal cooling to the entire process, which if done right provides a robust, cost-effective way to reduce cycle time and achieve high-gloss/paintless products. After years of research, Crest Mold met Contura MTC of Germany, a provider of conformal cooling technology and manufacturer of conformal inserts. Will serves as the liaison between Contura and Crest Mold on all projects, quoting and feasibility studies. Today, Crest Mold is the official North American partner of Contura.  

Will considers problem-solving his No. 1 strength, which comes in very handy as he continues to work on conformal cooling and hot/cold molding technologies; expanding CTT’s customer base; and improving its production tooling by using in-depth process feasibility, optimal parting-line layout and mold action design.

To his new EAB position he brings experience and interest in topics related to mold materials, mold components and disruptive technologies such as 3D printing, automation and data-driven manufacturing. 

Will also says he has a strong commitment to the future of mold manufacturing. He works to show people that “molds aren’t boring” and that the industry is changing as innovation and performance become more and more essential to success.