Exploring Strategies and Technologies Driving Growth, Efficiency and Sustainability in Moldmaking

Isaac Trevino, MMT EAB member and business development manager for Best Tool and Engineering (BTE) shares his top article picks. 

Isaac Trevino is the business development manager at Best Tool and Engineering (BTE), which was founded in 1991 and is located in Clinton Township, Michigan. BTE is a custom supplier of plastic components, offering in-house design and manufacturing of plastic injection molds, as well as tools and fixtures for vibration and hot plate welding. This turnkey supplier produces plastic components through injection molding and plastic welding (using both vibration and hot plate methods) for prototype runs ranging from small quantities to several hundred thousand parts per year for industries such as medical, automotive and consumer products.

Isaac manages all programs for BTE’s tooling division. Here, he continues this year’s EAB series by sharing his five favorite MoldMaking Technology articles over the past year, and key takeaways that have been valuable to his work.

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1. Moldmaking Activity Returns to Accelerated Contraction

February’s index dropped from the more positive readings seen in January, landing on par with July 2023 and remaining in contraction mode.

The Gardner Business Index (GBI), provided by Gardner Intelligence, measures the current state of moldmaking activity through survey responses that assess factors such as new orders, production, backlog, employment, exports and supplier deliveries. A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while a reading below 50 indicates contraction.  The GBI Components Scorecard provides a monthly change rate for key moldmaking market factors that contribute to the overall monthly index reading. Additionally, the GBI Future Business Index serves as an indicator of the expected future state of the moldmaking market, based on industry respondents’ opinions about business conditions for the next 12 months.

This is a favorite of mine because I came across an article while we were discussing strategies for our sales meetings. In addition to managing cash flow, we decided to invest in our sales and marketing team to help them further develop their skills in generating leads.

2. How to Successfully Reshore Tooling

Sloan Valve and Pyramid Molding Group shed light on the dynamics and challenges surrounding the shift toward domestic mold sourcing and the advantages of collaborating with a U.S. supplier to bring tooling back stateside.

We have been grappling with the idea of reshoring. This article caught my attention, particularly this passage: “Pyramid Molding Group adopted a unique strategy to ensure successful reshoring efforts with Sloan. According to Andy Peterson, COO of Pyramid Molding Group, the decision to prioritize expanding the shop’s capacity over treating each project as a separate profit center was pivotal. In his words, “This enabled us to absorb more work efficiently and reduce overall costs.”

This was around the time we partnered with Global Shop. We acknowledge that we've approached each project as a separate profit center, largely due to the challenges of not having all our data consolidated. As we continue our work with Global Shop, I believe we will adopt their same approach, especially now that we have established relationships with local shops to help us increase our capacity.

3. Embracing ESG: One Mold Builder's Path to Sustainability and Success

The story of how a company in the moldmaking, injection molding and metal parts industry is navigating the challenges and opportunities associated with sustainability.

I have been thinking about this issue for the past year. As a small company, it is challenging to find partners willing to work with our low volumes while adhering to best practices. As we grow, we want to ensure we are doing everything possible to minimize our waste footprint. I believe this commitment is important not just for our customers but also for our employees. No one wants to work for a company that is “destroying the planet.”

4. Using AI to Transform Part and Mold Manufacturing

A Michigan startup is leveraging AI-designed molds in a bid to “commoditize” tool building and optimize parts in the process.

I’ve recently been in conversations with companies utilizing AI in its products, specifically MachineResearch and CloudNC, to reduce scheduling times. CloudNC caught my attention because they employ AI to create tool paths in Fusion 360, which is software we already use. It would be fantastic to leverage their software not only to enhance our scheduling process — enabling us to provide more competitive quotes — but also to shorten the training time for new hires. With programming handled by AI, new employees would only need to ensure that the system operates smoothly. I believe AI has the potential to elevate our industry by providing valuable feedback and facilitating quicker decision-making.

5. Overcoming Barriers to Automation Integration in Precision Moldmaking

It’s easy to imagine the advantages automation offers the moldmaking process, but it's challenging to change one’s mindset, develop a plan and invest.

I've discussed this topic with Joe several times. While automation is the ultimate goal, improving efficiencies is the first step. For example, how can we develop common workholding solutions for the various machined parts we produce? This requires a significant mindset shift, which can be challenging, especially with key team members contemplating retirement rather than staying current with the latest machining trends. As our workload increases and we have the opportunity to bring on new talent, I am excited to see the innovative strategies we can develop together.