By Shelly Otenbaker, president, WayPoint Marketing Communications In today’s manufacturing landscape, activity is not the same as progress. Mold builders and their suppliers are investing more than ever in marketing – new websites, digital ads, tradeshows, CRM systems and automation tools. On paper, it looks like momentum. But in reality, many organizations are generating … [Read more...] about Creating Clarity: The Importance of Defining the Ideal Customer
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Beyond the Paycheck: Why Benefits and Culture Drive Retention in Mold Manufacturing
By Rachael Pfenninger, director of strategic execution, AMBA In AMBA’s 2025 report, Recruitment and Retention Takeaways for US Mold Manufacturers, respondents demonstrated that employees recommend and remain at their companies for several reasons. Employees cited advancement opportunities, work-life balance, reimbursement for training, respect, collaboration, clean … [Read more...] about Beyond the Paycheck: Why Benefits and Culture Drive Retention in Mold Manufacturing
Who Is Telling Our Story?
By Kym Conis, managing director, AMBA Earlier this year, four American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) member CEOs had the opportunity to meet directly with representatives from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). Their purpose was straightforward: to help government officials better understand the realities facing America’s mold builders and the … [Read more...] about Who Is Telling Our Story?
More Than Shop Rates: How Industry Intelligence Drives Better Business Decisions
By Rachael Pfenninger, director of strategic execution, AMBA In late spring 2026, American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) conducted its Shop Rate Survey, which benchmarks US rates across moldmaking, engineering and specialty services. This year, over 80 domestic mold builders participated, providing insight into their average charge rates and available service offerings. … [Read more...] about More Than Shop Rates: How Industry Intelligence Drives Better Business Decisions
Securing the Mold Shop: A Q&A on Cybersecurity, AI and Digital Readiness
By Lindsey Munson, managing editor, The American Mold Builder Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), digital systems and connected technologies are creating new opportunities across the molding industry to improve productivity, streamline workflows and gain greater visibility into operations. At the same time, these technologies present challenges surrounding … [Read more...] about Securing the Mold Shop: A Q&A on Cybersecurity, AI and Digital Readiness
Dynamic Tool Uses Apprenticeships to Address the Workforce Gap
By Liz Stevens, writer, The American Mold Builder Workforce recruiting is a perennial task for mold builders, and stark numbers back up the claim. For just one category of jobs – machinists and tool and die makers – more than 1/4 million job openings are estimated over the next eight years. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Overall employment of machinists … [Read more...] about Dynamic Tool Uses Apprenticeships to Address the Workforce Gap