Okuma America Corporation Suppliers Showroom

The Power of Thanks: Building the Future of Moldmaking Together

A bold four-day event highlights the value of strong supplier relationships and open dialogue, proving that gratitude and collaboration can help move moldmaking forward.

Cavalier’s 50 Years Strong

Cavalier Tool & Manufacturing celebrates 50 years, driven by a legacy of innovation and industry passion.

Reshaping Tooling Design and Production While Honoring a Rich Legacy

The Plastek Group is redefining its Tooling Divisions with a three-pronged approach: embracing new technologies, fostering collaboration across generations, and driving cultural and operational change under the leadership of three newcomers.

First-Time IMTS Experience: Uncovering Innovations for Moldmakers

Attending my first IMTS with the MoldMaking Technology team gave me the chance to explore a variety of products, equipment and services that will benefit moldmakers while engaging with industry experts.

Updated Software: Simulation, Optimization and Postprocessing Capabilities

IMTS 2024: CGTech highlights the latest version of its flagship software, Vericut 9.5, equipped with postprocessing software along with other useful capabilities for moldmakers.

Innovative Technology for Your Mold Shop at IMTS 2024: Part 1

MoldMaking Technology highlights a variety of innovative applications featured this year at IMTS 2024. From software solutions to new machines and services, dive into this comprehensive guide to best equip your mold shop.

Machining Lineup Features Intelligent Manufacturing Technology

IMTS 2024: Okuma’s booth features CNC machine tools, a CNC control, a line of automation systems, intelligent manufacturing technologies, customer services and more.

Indiana Mold Builder Decatur Mold Offers a History of Grit and a Future of Innovation

Decatur Mold Tool and Engineering Inc. serves as a tooling tour guide, helping busy tooling managers reduce uncertainty, lighten workload.

Most-Viewed Content of 2022

The most popular MoldMaking Technology content according to analytics reports over the past 12 months.

Okuma America Recognized as a Top Workplace in 2022

The Charlotte Observer granted a 2022 Top Workplace distinction to the company based on a survey that polled 24 different topics related to job satisfaction and company culture.

IMTS 2022 in a Flash

With this still being the month of IMTS, I thought I’d highlight some of the technology mold builders have expressed growing interest in and are actively investigating, and what was on the show floor.

Get Ready for IMTS With These Mold Manufacturing-Focused Exhibits

It’s always important to visit IMTS with a general plan of action. MMT editors help familiarize you with several machining, software, cutting tool, EDM and mold repair innovations that will be exhibited and are geared toward moldmaking.

Building Blocks and Partnerships

Attendees can experience a variety of live demonstrations, as well as toolpath optimization, machine monitoring and connectivity demos and more as they work their way through the Controls and CAD/CAM and Machine Tool halls where Vericut is being highlighted.

Bringing Market-Specific Engineering Experience to Every Project

Experience, acumen and attention to detail help Prodigy Mold & Tool create value and build long-lasting customer relationships.

Horizontal Machining Center Work Envelope Optimized for Cutting Molds

Okuma experts will be available at IMTS 2022 to showcase the MA-8000H horizontal machining center’s many features and capabilities.

Horizontal Machining Center Showcases Upgraded Features, Design and Specs

Okuma has launched the 55,000-pound MA-600HIII with added X-axis travel capabilities and automatic tool change operations in less than four seconds.

2021 Leadtime Leader Award Winner: Westminster Tool—Perseverance with a Plan

Westminster Tool’s latest commitment to the plan—investment in new technologies, processes and capabilities, workforce development/training and sales & marketing—helped them edge out this year’s competition.

Okuma America Partners with Rowan-Cabarrus Community College for New Machine Tool Training Academy

Partnership will provide technical training to Okuma customers, distributors and employees, with courses expected to commence in October 2021.

Double Column Roughs and Finishes Press Dies in One Setup

The MCR-S double column machining center from Okuma America Corporation reduces cycle time by 25%.

Okuma America Corporation Debuts Virtual, Global Showroom

Okuma’s interactive, virtual showroom enables visitors globally to view in-depth machine videos, interact with 360-degree machine renderings and chat with Okuma experts during the tour.

Five-Axis Hard Milling Improves Electrode Accuracy

Fully automated, high-speed hard milling centers saved moldmaker time, money, handwork, allowed wider-range of EDM burns to be achieved.

Noteworthy News: Deals & Steals!

Already missing the thrill of all those great Black Friday bargains? Lucky for you, it’s still the season for a good deal, even within the mold manufacturing industry.

Moldmaking In the Heart of Europe

Culture, technology investment and industry involvement make this small Slovenian mold builder globally competitive despite a skills gap and rising labor costs.

Suhner and Velocity Products Form Partnership

Suhner has teamed up with Velocity Products to maintain the SU-matic line at a consistent level of quality and functionality.

Machining Center Combines 5 Axis Milling with Laser AM

With so much happening in a busy show year between NPE2018, Amerimold 2018 and IMTS 2018, MoldMaking Technology is revisiting some of the technology that was on display. In case you missed it: At IMTS 2018, Okuma America Corp.’s MU-8000V Laser EX multitasking machine combined five-axis machining with a Trumpf laser.

Three Solutions for Improved CNC Networking

Products to consider for better machine productivity in 2019.

Open Mind Announces Partnership with Okuma

Open Mind Technologies announced it has joined the Partners in THINC collaboration, founded by Okuma America Corporation.

Okuma Corporation Names Summer Cline as Vice President of Finance

Cline brings several years of successful finance experience to her new role.

2018 Technology Review and Sourcing Guide: Machining

MoldMaking Technology’s annual Technology Review and Sourcing Guide is an accurate, comprehensive, easy-to-read and easy-to-use use guide for researching today’s technology, equipment, products and services. The year’s latest moldmaking product developments within mold engineering/design, build and maintenance/repair are broken down into 10 sections, including machining.

Throwback Thursday: Flexible High-Speed Mold Machining

A throwback with helpful tips: Use this planning guide to identify the right double-column machining center to fit your mold machining needs.

Technology Tuesday: A Mix of Machining Products

Cruise through this week’s Technology Tuesday slideshow to see the latest products in machining.

2017: Gone but Not Forgotten

I wish to thank everyone I’ve worked with to write features that have appeared each month in MMT. Plus, a look at a series of features about one of my favorite topics: Workforce development.

Do You Make a Lasting Impression on Customers... and Youth?

Cavalier Tool and Manufacturing Ltd. (Ontario, Canada) is one mold manufacturing company that likes to leave a lasting impression.

Technology Showcase: On Display at EMO 2017

EMO is a large, international metalworking tradeshow with thousands of exhibitors. Check out the slideshow to see what will be on display!

Supplier-Based Training Programs Fuel Mold Industry Needs

Moldmaking industry supplier companies establish workforce development programs to increase the flow of new talent for themselves and for the industry.

Dodging the Skills Gap in CNC Programming

Sometimes the search for fresh, new and skilled employees is like a game of dodgeball.

Technology Showcase: Case Studies, Part 2

For the many differences between moldmaking companies that I’ve observed, there are just as many similarities, and by that I mean challenges shared. You may find some solutions here.

Looking for Ways to Reduce Energy Costs?

Then consider areas in the machining processes that unnecessarily consume energy. For example, machining center idling, unnecessary pump rotation and continuous running of peripheral equipment. Managing these areas can save a shop a lot of money. This is the subject of a white paper I came across recently that reveals how shops can achieve significant energy savings using the right CNC control to reduce power consumption during machine operating and waiting times.

What's the Big Deal about Hand Scraping?

It's said that hand scraping maintains high levels of CNC machining accuracy and reduces wear and tear, which yields long, stable and productive machine tool life. Here's some data to consider to help prove it.

Breakthroughs and Possibilities

Okuma’s annual Technology Showcase highlighted the latest innovations in manufacturing technology.

Slideshow: EMO 2015

Here are some highlights from this year's event.

2015 Leadtime Leader Awards Winner: Cavalier Tool & Manufacturing - Setting the Pace Holistically

This mold manufacturer has radically transformed its business by instituting a standardized, flexible process, advanced technology and a people-centric philosophy.

Increasing Five-Axis Accuracy

Probing and five-axis auto-tuning can correct machine misalignments in minutes, not hours.

Flexible High-Speed Mold Machining

Use this planning guide to identify the right double-column machining center to fit your mold machining needs.

VIDEO: Making Gun Parts

A new video series demonstrates how various firearms are cut on CNC machining centers and a horizontal lathe with high-speed, precision, live tooling, milling and drilling.

Smooth Surfaces without Hand Finishing

Advances in NURBS functionality speed up cycle times, meet high-accuracy finish requirements and allow molds to be completed on the machine.

2014 Leadtime Leader Awards Honorable Mention: Aalbers Tool & Mold Inc

A rush of recent change for this moldmaker belies a long-term growth strategy that’s anything but aggressive. Key aspects of this cautious approach include strategic expansion, continuous improvement, extensive data tracking, and investments in workforce development and environmental sustainability.

Rethinking Three-Axis Capabilities

Ballnose cutters don’t necessarily require five-axis machining routines to impart fine surface finishes that don’t require hand polishing.

Smart Machining

Among the highlights of Okuma’s recent Technology Showcase event were productivity-enhancing “apps” for the company’s open-architecture CNC; a tool monitoring and adaptive control system; and an auto-tuning system that eases error compensation on five-axis machine tools.

Tech Event Highlights “Smart” Machining Technology