By Lindsey Munson, editor, The American Mold Builder

Robert “Robbie” Earnhardt Jr. Named 2025 AMBA Mold Builder of the Year

“This is amazing… This has been a journey of life, you can’t even imagine,” said Robbie Earnhardt, owner of Superior Tooling , Inc., Wake Forest, North Carolina, as he accepted the AMBA Mold Builder of the Year Award with tears in his eyes. Standing alongside his three daughters and wife, Karen, who is his partner of 45-plus years and secretary and treasurer at Superior Tooling, he said, “I was listening to the speaker, and when I heard the part about the lathe and using it to start a business, I knew there was only one person in the world who would have started a business that way. I was 26 years old with two kids and no money, but big dreams. My name was called, and I felt a tap on my shoulder – there was my family. I already was emotional thinking about all my family has been through and sacrificed over the last 40 years to build the business. So, when I saw them, I totally lost it. My wife, Karen, has been with me since day one.”

From his backyard garage to building a complete in-house facility, Earnhardt has poured his heart and soul into the mold industry through his company, Superior Tooling, Inc., which specializes in plastic injection molds and blow molds. The AMBA Mold Builder of the Year Award, sponsored by Progressive Components, was created to recognize outstanding contributions as an industry leader and active AMBA member – congratulations, Robbie Earnhardt!

In high school, Earnhardt had a shop teacher who inspired, educated and helped carve a path into what now has transpired into a 50-year career in mold manufacturing. After graduating and getting married, in 1978, he started the company in his family’s garage with a tool purchased at a yard sale – a lathe (which is proudly showcased in the facility’s front lobby today). Earnhardt put boots on the ground, resulting in the family working at the kitchen table, heating plastic parts. Then, in 1979, he and Karen started a family and shifted his work to Black and Decker, but quickly realized their “dream” to start a machine shop. The backyard garage of the family home became Superior Machining. In 1985, Earnhardt landed his first big job and he hired two young employees (one of whom still is with the company). Soon after, Earnhardt worked with the Town of Wake Forest to purchase land that later would become an industrial park. Superior Tooling, Inc. was the first building in the park and moved into its “forever space” in June 2001. As time progressed, the company added a second building that houses a technology center and currently is running molding machines. By the end of 2025, a third building will break ground, but this time it will be managed by SHL Advantec Company, which is the new owner of Superior Tooling.

With Earnhardt at the helm, Superior Tooling has championed education, increasing visibility for moldmaking within the community through its involvement and successful implementation of the North Carolina Triangle Apprenticeship Program (NCTAP). Earnhardt and the backbone of Superior Tooling brought the NCTAP to fruition in 2013, alongside 12 local manufacturing companies, each promoting and hiring apprentices in different areas of the industry. To give an idea of the depth of this program, in October 2016, the program visited over 40 high schools and reached more than 1,750 students. The program covers invitations to visit partner companies, orientation events, four four-hour days of training and building a selected project, and finally, if the students have skill sets that the companies are seeking, they are selected for a six-week summer internship. After the internship, each company selects a student(s) who will be enrolled in the four-year apprenticeship.

In serving on the North Carolina Apprenticeship Council Board of Directors and the local workforce development board, Earnhardt, alongside Senator Chad Barefoot, led the charge on budget negotiations for apprenticeships and brought moldmaking back to the forefront. According to Earnhardt, “Many people ask, ‘How can we afford this type of investment?’ but we ask, ‘How can we afford not to make the investment?’”

Earnhardt dedicated 14 years to American Mold Builders Association Board of Directors from 2003 to 2017, during which he assisted with implementing the AMBA Skills Certification Program and the American Mold Manufacturing Advancement Fund. From the start of his time as an AMBA member, his family recalls, “… family trips were AMBA trips. While we were enjoying time in a new place, he was in meetings and at shows.” Today, Earnhardt uses his path in AMBA to promote his passion and excitement for mold building to the younger generation. He said, “This organization has been phenomenal. It’s part of my life.” He plans to use the Progressive Components grant of $5,000 toward NCTAP’s apprenticeship program.

In Earnhardt’s final words, he shared, “My mother raised me on these words, and I heard it my entire life: ‘Can’t… can’t do anything.’ The moment you say you can’t do something is the moment you become a failure. I never gave up and always believed ‘I could.’”

More information: www.sti-nc.com

Electroform Named 2025 AMBA Tooling Trailblazer of the Year

“We were truly honored and thrilled! It was a proud moment for Electroform, especially knowing how much effort has gone into our educational outreach and partnerships. Winning this award is a powerful validation that our work to support and inspire the next generation of moldmakers is making a meaningful impact,” said Electroform CEO and President Wade Clark.

The AMBA Tooling Trailblazer of the Year Award, sponsored by Progressive Components, was established to recognize the accomplishments of an AMBA member company that has resulted in a notable impact in the area of education.

This year’s awardee is Electroform Company, Inc., Machesney Park, Illinois, which specializes in molds for multi-shot and in-mold applications, product development, single-cavity prototypes to multi-cavity, high-volume hot-runner molds and stack molds, as well as manufacturing cell development, injection molding and mold validation. It is committed to fostering the next generation of mold builders and workforce development through its active engagement in local high schools and colleges, providing students with hands-on learning experiences.

When asked what this award meant to the company, Clark said, “This award represents more than just recognition – it symbolizes our commitment to shaping the future of the mold manufacturing industry. For us, it reinforces the importance of investing in students and educational partnerships. It energizes our team and motivates us to keep pushing forward with an even greater purpose.”

Electroform’s key initiatives in 2024 and 2025 include school partnerships, hiring and training students, career development and community engagement. “We have hired and trained four recent graduates,” said Clark, “from local engineering and manufacturing programs, equipping them with real-world skills and knowledge.

Currently, we are working with educational institutions to identify and onboard two more students to our training program.” While these students contribute to Electroform’s workforce development efforts, the work done by the company in attracting and mentoring young talent has resulted in 30% of its workforce being under 30 years of age.

Additionally, Electroform collaborated with Hononegah Community High School’s Education Manufacturing Connection (EMC) program, Harlem High School’s engineering department and Rock Valley College’s Manufacturing Engineering Technology program. “Our partnership with Hononegah Community High School showcases how real-world collaborations can inspire students and bolster technical education programs. Students gain hands-on experiences of the moldmaking process,” said Clark.

Accepting the award at the Conference on behalf of Electroform was Zachary Clark, project manager, who is a vital part of the partnership with Hononegah High School. In expanding awareness from career fairs and company tours to mentorship, tuition assistance and classroom consulting, Electroform has given up-and-coming engineers and manufacturers a platform to make their dreams a reality.

“Electroform has introduced students, parents and educators,” Clark said, “to the opportunities available in mold manufacturing – helping to reshape perceptions about the industry.”

As a trailblazer, paths are forged with strong outside support, and Clark said, “AMBA has been a key resource for Electroform by connecting it with peers and providing industry insights. The organization’s emphasis on workforce development and education aligns with our values, and its support helps amplify the impact of our outreach efforts. Being part of AMBA has helped us stay ahead, connected and inspired.”

When Electroform was asked about its plans for the $5,000 scholarship grant given by Progressive Components, Clark said, “We plan to donate the full grant to Harlem High School, an underserved school in our region with an emerging engineering program.” The funding will support its manufacturing and engineering curriculum, giving students access to resources, equipment and training.

Since 1988, Electroform has been committed to what it can do for mold manufacturing, and with that comes expanding its outreach efforts in 2025 and beyond, including strengthening school partnerships, expanding apprenticeship and training programs and enhancing career exposures. It’s about inspiring and equipping the next generation of skilled workers to ensure the future of the industry is strong, stable and sustainable.

Clark shared two pieces of advice for younger moldmakers:

“First, stay curious and keep learning – this industry constantly is evolving, and those who succeed are the ones who embrace change and continually grow their skills.

Second, take every opportunity that comes your way, even if it pushes you outside your comfort zone. Whether it’s taking on a new project, a training course, or learning a different machine, these experiences build confidence, skill and long-term success.”

More information: www.injectionmoldmaking.com

Austin Sykora Named 2025 AMBA Emerging Leaders Rising Star

With seven years in mold manufacturing and one year in his current role, Austin Sykora, a manufacturing engineer, handles Vincent Tool’s continuous improvement and talent development. The AMBA Emerging Leaders Rising Star Award, sponsored by AceTronic Industrial Controls, is intended to recognize outstanding growth, leadership and/or contributions by an emerging professional in the AMBA community and a part of the US mold manufacturing industry. Congratulations, Austin Sykora, on receiving this award!

“When my name was called at the awards ceremony, I wasn’t expecting it at all,” said Sykora, “and to win the award was great! I give thanks to the owner of Vincent Tool, Kenny Skar, for the opportunities he has given me.”

“From the front office to the shop floor, he has immersed himself in every aspect of the job, including managing incoming students, overseeing shipping and receiving, checking in steel and learning the intricacies of CNC equipment. His engineering background has enabled him to streamline and improve many of these processes,” said Vincent Tool President Kenny Skar, “particularly through the implementation of lean manufacturing principles, and Sykora is not only paving his career path but also contributing to the continued success and growth of Vincent Tool. He has firmly established himself as a key player in the company and the industry.”

Reflecting on prior experiences, while in school at the University of Wisconsin – Stout, Sykora attended the AMBA Conference, where he had his first experience with the AMBA Emerging Leaders program. “Sykora shared that the exposure he gained from the AMBA Conference was ‘exponentially powerful in just three short days,’ underscoring the value of networking and learning from industry peers. This event solidified his passion for mold manufacturing,” said Skar.

In addition to his bachelor’s degree, Sykora furthered his education by earning an associate degree in Machine Tool Techniks from Chippewa Valley Technical College. With the blend of an educational foundation and practical experiences, Skar said, “He drives continuous improvement in every project he tackles.”

Sykora plays an important role in Vincent Tool’s knowledge base – preserving it and passing it down, engaging veteran team members and new hires to facilitate the transfer of knowledge. An excellent example of Sykora’s leadership is his involvement in the integration of a new Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) at Vincent Tool. He has adopted this new technology and also is the driving force behind the talent development efforts required to ensure a successful implementation. “His engineering background allows him to bridge the gap between new technology and practical, day-to-day operations,” said Skar, “making sure staff is equipped with the skills to operate the CMM.”

As an advocate for Vincent Tool, Sykora is engaged in and connecting with the youth at career fairs, educational events and several organizations, including AMBA Emerging Leaders and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (where he served on the board for three years and as president of the UW-Stout SME student chapter). Sykora said, “This award gives me a sense of validation knowing that the time I’ve spent building a career in manufacturing and introducing manufacturing and CNC machining to young individuals has not gone unnoticed.”

He serves as the face of the company, inspiring the next generation of mold manufacturers; however, beyond Vincent Tool, Sykora is dedicated to educating young people about all facets and opportunities in manufacturing. In his dedication to the youth of manufacturing and forging forward as an emerging leader, Sykora shared that he plans to use the $500 contribution toward his professional development to join the Chippewa Falls/Eau Claire Young Professionals organization and to attend local leadership training. He said, “All of this to continue the journey of becoming an effective leader.”

When asked to give one piece of advice he would share with the younger generation, Sykora said, “I would tell them to have ‘no fear of failure’ but make a point to understand why you failed and improve the outcome next time you are put in a similar situation.” n

More information: www.vincenttool.com