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BC LABS SESSION ONE:

Adapt or Die: Brand Survival 101       
Clinton Dybul, Vive
CFOs/Finance/IT, Sales & Marketing, Senior Leaders (VPs)

Building a better brand begins by breaking things down to the basics. In today’s world, solid brand identities are nothing if not two things: distinct and adaptable. While it is necessary to look the part and have a brand that fits with your industry, the worst thing you can do is get lost in the shuffle. In this breakout session, attendees will discuss how to highlight the company’s best attributes using real-life examples from a few brands you may have heard of. Talking points include logo development, advertising strategies, website builds, social media tactics, and how to get the most from AI.

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Automotive Industry Disruption Continues: What the Recent Headlines Mean for Processors
Ted Morgan and Mark Barrott, Plante Moran
CFOs/Finance/IT, Executive Stakeholders/Owners (CEOs/Presidents), Senior Leaders (VPs)

As the headlines continue to make waves, one thing is clear; processors are steering the course of change. Join Ted Morgan and Mark Barrott from Plante Moran as they dissect the recent headlines that have sent shockwaves through the automotive world. From electric vehicles that challenge the status quo to reshoring efforts driven by geo-political tensions and supply risk to when the UAW strike might reach an agreement, Morgan and Barrott will explore what these trends mean for the processors that power them. This presentation will provide an understanding of the developments that are propelling the automotive industry into the future.

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Banking on Success: Navigating the Business-Bank Relationship
George Hauser
CFOs/Finance/IT, Executive Stakeholders/Owners (CEOs/Presidents), Senior Leaders (VPs)

Your bank can be your greatest asset, especially when selling the business. However, choosing a bank, and managing the relationship moving forward, can be daunting for business owners. In this presentation, George Hauser, ex-CEO and past owner of Vital Plastics will share his extensive knowledge and experience gained through years of running a manufacturing facility and managing finances. Attendees will gain insights into banking basics (how they select you), considerations to take into account when choosing a banking partner, negotiation tactics, and several other best practices to be used to ultimately improve your operations and profitability.

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Cobot Revolution: Elevating Manufacturing Through Smart Utilization
Steven Lunder, Granite State Plastics, Inc.; Benjamen Lawson, Eclipse Mold, Inc; Gina Creco, PTA Plastics; Kyle Banks, Falcon Plastics and Forest Lee, Rapid Robotics, Inc. 
Automation/Engineering, Senior Leaders (VPs), Operations

In the heart of modern manufacturing, Collaborative Robots, or Cobots, have emerged as game-changers, redefining efficiency, flexibility, and productivity. Join four MAPP members as they share real-world examples showcasing the simplicity of programming, integration with existing machinery, cost-effective ways to implement, and minimal disruption to operations during the transition. Don’t miss the opportunity to revolutionize your operations.

Creating a Winning Culture: Insights from the Best Place to Work
Ron Hulbert, Colors for Plastics, Inc.; Bob Gafvert, Diversified Plastics Inc.; Shelley Fasano, Dymotek; Robert Clothier, Team 1 Plastics, Inc.
Executive Stakeholders/Owners (CEOs/Presidents), Human Resources/Safety, Operations

Step into the world of exceptional workplaces with our “Best Places to Work” panel discussion. During this session, leaders from the Plastics News Best Places to Work Award Winners share insights, and strategies that have helped define the pinnacle of workplace excellence. This panel discussion will give real-world examples of a workplace where people thrive, businesses flourish and excellence becomes the norm.

Improving Supply Chain Resiliency in the Medical Device Sector
Bruce Howell and David Rosa, MedAccred
CFOs/Finance/IT, Executive Stakeholders/Owners (CEOs/Presidents), Senior Leaders (VPs), Operations

As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, the resilience of the medical device supply chain has never been more crucial. During this presentation, join Bruce Howell of MedAccred to take a deep dive into the challenges and potential solutions for building a stronger supply chain through visibility, flexibility, controls, and collaboration. Howell will offer insights into how organizations can fortify their supply chains against unexpected disruptions, discover innovative strategies to enhance flexibility, optimize inventory management, and strengthen partnerships across the industry.

Navigating Disruptions: Transforming the Finance Function for the Future  
Neil Hussey, Prophix Software
CFOs/Finance/IT, Executive Stakeholders/Owners (CEOs/Presidents), Senior Leaders (VPs)

In an ever-changing landscape, disruptions can challenge even the best-laid plans. Join us for an insightful session driven by Prophix's 2023 Finance Leaders Survey, where we explore the path to elevate the finance function to new heights. Discover the evolving role of finance and how it adapts to meet the unique challenges of our time. Uncover strategies that finance leaders are employing to prepare for the unpredictable future.  The key takeaways will include survey insights revealing the current state of finance and emerging trends, best practices for strategic financial planning and analysis, seven crucial steps to evolve finance processes effectively, and real-world examples highlighting the power of data-driven decision-making.  Be inspired to ignite your own financial transformation, equipping your company to respond proactively when, not if, disruptions occur.

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Sustainability, Creating a Competitive Advantage 
Aoife Beirne, Mergon Corporation
CFOs/Finance/IT, Executive Stakeholders/Owners (CEOs/Presidents), Senior Leaders (VPs)

The topic of sustainability is hard to avoid and difficult to keep up with, as each year the expectations and standards increase. This is even more prominent in the manufacturing industry. At Mergon, we are working hard to make our sustainability journey accessible to all. We want our actions to make real and positive changes in the world and not just to our external scores. Aoife Beirne will outline what Sustainability means to Mergon, how they have framed it, and provide an overview of the projects that are currently underway. Sustainability is now embedded in everything Mergon does – from inquiries to product design to recruitment.     

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Training Best Practices - Fostering a Skilled Workforce
Alex Beaumont and Eric Bowersox, Beaumont | AIM Institute
Human Resources/Safety, Operations

As a result of ongoing labor shortages, what often keeps managers up at night is not only trying to find skilled people to fill open positions but also developing their job skills and knowledge so that they are effective in their new roles. A further challenge is how to retain these new employees once they have developed these skills. One proven approach to filling skilled positions is to grow employees from within through an apprenticeship program designed specifically for injection molding manufacturers. This presentation will provide insight into the results of, and strategies for, implementing such a model. In addition, other practices will be presented that are designed to help HR and operations managers ensure they are providing employees with the most effective training. Intertwined throughout this presentation will be the subject of job retention and its relationship to training and employee morale.

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Understanding Profitability: Better Visibility into Job Costing
Mike Devereux and Mo Abuali, Wipfli, LLP
CFOs/Finance/IT, Executive Stakeholders/Owners (CEOs/Presidents), Senior Leaders (VPs)

Plastics processors must juggle multiple projects, technical specifications, and a variety of lead times. Many processors have found themselves challenged to gain a complete picture of what it truly costs to manufacture and deliver finished products to their customers. Often, data from the shop floor gets unused or is not timely enough to make impactful decisions. This data, however, is one of the keys to unlocking a product and customer mix that produces the most profit.  By leveraging tools such as Industry 4.0 and Artificial Intelligence (AI), plastics processors can pull, aggregate, and present information from disparate sources that will provide meaningful information to managers and decision-makers.

During this presentation, the Wipfli team will provide thoughts, ideas, and case studies around the following:

  • How can we better understand profitability by part, tool, or work center, to either strategically make investments or divest in types of customers or jobs?
  • How can we predict the likeness of underperforming (jobs, assets, or work centers)?
  • How can we use our data to better forecast lead times and internal schedule attainment?
  • Industry 4.0 is all about process, technology, and people. Listen to real-world case studies that empower your maintenance and quality personnel with predictive and prescriptive insights to drive productivity.

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Unlocking Trade Show Success:  Defining, Measuring, and Achieving ROI
Sherry Cudd, Chase Plastics and Matt Saunders, PTA Plastics
CFOs/Finance/IT, Executive Stakeholders/Owners (CEOs/Presidents), Sales & Marketing           

Join industry trade show veterans, Sherry Cudd from Chase Plastics and Matt Saunders from PTA Plastics, as they reveal the keys to transforming your trade show investments into tangible returns.  This engaging session delves into both marketing and sales perspectives, covering essential topics such as:

  • Unraveling the art of defining and measuring ROI and overall value
  • Understanding the crucial role of goal setting in maximizing trade show outcomes
  • Empowering your booth staff through effective training techniques
  • Implementing strategic approaches to attract high-quality booth traffic
  • Unveiling the single most vital element that can make or break your trade show triumph
  • Sherry and Matt’s Tips and Tricks from lessons learned along the way

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What You Should Know Before a Disaster Strikes
Jonathon Benedict, Federated Insurance; Rick Walters, DeKALB Molded Plastics; and Alan Rothenbuecher, Benesch
CFOs/Finance/IT, Executive Stakeholders/Owners (CEOs/Presidents), Human Resources/Safety, Senior Leaders (VPs), Operations

The cornerstone of every strong risk management plan is preparation for unexpected events, such as fires, severe weather, losses of key staff members, power outages, and more. This session will focus on the steps a business should take to help expedite the recovery process and resume serving customers as quickly as possible when disaster strikes. Panelists will address the essential considerations for a proper plan including operations, workforce, key contacts and customers, IT resources, finances, and more.


BC LABS SESSION TWO:

 

Boost Profits with Transformative Science-based Molding & Kaizen's Small-step Strategies
Todd Bryant, Paulson Training

Automation/Engineering, Operations

If you’re a plant supervisor seeking to optimize your operations, have you considered introducing Kaizen? Sometimes big improvements come by way of small and continuous incremental changes, which is what Kaizen is all about. Join Todd Bryant of Paulson Training for an in-depth educational session exploring the benefits of incorporating Kaizen alongside strategic science-based molding principles. Learn how you can incorporate those valuable strategies into your manufacturing operations. Using Paulson’s powerful online injection molding simulation software SimTech, our senior instructor, Todd Bryant, will demonstrate how this approach can reap significant productivity improvements leading to increased profitability. You’ll learn which process variables to focus on and how to problem solve from the “Plastics Point of View”, as well as a few more strategies all in the name of helping you go further in your business.

Key Take Aways:

  • Understand the basics of the philosophy of Kaizen – using small incremental steps to implement change.
  • Learn to apply these “small step” techniques to the fast-paced world of injection molding.
  • Contain and reduce costs and improve quality by utilizing Kaizen
  • See how Kaizen’s small incremental changes can develop an optimized process in real time by using Paulson’s injection molding simulator SimTech
  • Conclude with an ROI calculator to demonstrate the financial impact of small changes (leading to larger profits)

Join us for this dynamic Paulson presentation and discover how to introduce the Kaizen philosophy and how applying practical scientific molding principles can help you increase plant efficiencies and profitability. Training is the pathway to profitability.

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Building the Automation Workforce of the Future: Training Strategies and Insights
Adam Noble, Blue Ridge Industries, Inc.; Rodney Davenport, CH3 Solutions and Jason Long, Wittmann USA, Inc.
Automation/Engineering, Human Resources/Safety, Senior Leaders (VPs), Operations

In a rapidly evolving world driven by technology, automation is a cornerstone of progress.  Join us as this panel delves into the strategies and insights that have aided these member companies in crafting a skilled workforce capable of harnessing the full potential of automation.  It will uncover the equip attendees with the knowledge and skills to define success in an automation-driven era.

Cross-Border M&A in Plastics: Industry Trends and Potential Implications
Mike Benson, Stout; Michael Molling, Rosti; Karl Stillman, Rosti; and Mike Walter, Demgy Chicago
CFOs/Finance/IT, Executive Stakeholders/Owners (CEOs/Presidents), Senior Leaders (VPs)

The plastics industry has witnessed a notable surge in cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A), a trend expected to gain further momentum. Cross-border M&A has altered the industry landscape impacting many industry players and offering opportunities for sellers to strengthen and grow their businesses. However, it also poses unique challenges. Hear from plastics business owners and operators as they discuss the significance of cross-border deals, prevailing trends, and advantages and disadvantages of selling to or being owned by an international parent company.

Expand Your Marketing Reach with Geofencing
Shelly Otenbaker, WayPoint Marketing Communications; Jarred Brejcha, RL Hudson
Sales & Marketing, Senior Leaders (VPs)

Many people are familiar with geofencing or location-based advertising, which has become popular among consumer brands and retail outlets. However, the digital marketing tool can be an asset for manufacturers as well. This session will introduce geofencing – what it is, how it works, and how manufacturers can expand their marketing reach to acquire new business and new talent. Additionally, we will share real-world examples of geofencing projects and their results.

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How to Keep Talent That You Work So Hard to Find?
Samir Patel, Midwest Molding, Inc. and Kristi Stuetzer, Revere Plastics Systems, LLC
Executive Stakeholders/Owners (CEOs/Presidents), Human Resources/Safety, Senior Leaders (VPs)

HR processes usually fall into one of three categories – good, bad, or downright ugly. Transitioning from an analog process to an electronic system can have an extreme impact on the category under which a company falls. In this session, Kristi Stuetzer, Samir Patel, Jasmine Silva, and Matt Doyle will provide insight into how organizations, both large and small, can be impacted by the implementation of digital HR management tools. Attendees will have a better understanding of the challenges and benefits they can expect to experience with HR automation.

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Implementing Sustainable Change: Understanding the Importance of Training Your Technicians

Dan Stephens, Routsis Training LLC
Automation/Engineering, Human Resources/Safety, Operations

During this fast-paced presentation, Daniel Stephens will discuss some of the factors that affect implementing a technical change in your facility. During this discussion, the role of Management, Engineers, and technicians will be discussed with respect to sustainable change as well as how they can be involved in resisting change. The example of implementing advanced processing and documentation at your facility will be used to clarify how each role contributes to implementing or resisting long-term improvements. All participants will receive an eight-pack of the highly-circulated Scientific Molding Pocket Guide.         

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Navigating ESG Throughout the Value Chain           
Laurie Hoose and Mark Barrott, Plante Moran
CFOs/Finance/IT, Executive Stakeholders/Owners (CEOs/Presidents), Senior Leaders (VPs)

Many suppliers are fielding requests and trying to be responsive to OEM requests for ESG-related disclosures. The challenges abound, from collecting and measuring the data to complying with multiple survey/request formats and finding the time/resources in the organization to manage it all. However, the OEMs are not asking for the data just for the data’s sake. In the presentation, attendees will learn the current and future landscapes of customer requests, how to comply with them, and how to think about moving past compliance to create organizational benefits.     

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One Leader’s Health Journey – Embracing Limits, Uncovering Self, and Choosing Community           
Alex Hoffer, Hoffer Plastics Corporation
Executive Stakeholders/Owners (CEOs/Presidents), Senior Leaders (VPs)

Leaders often prioritize getting things done over everything else, including their health. Action is what makes them worth following. But over time, this can have unintended consequences for their health and the health of their team. Eventually, this can make a leader feel like the pace they are at is unsustainable, the inner feelings are too dark or embarrassing to share, and, they simply do not have time for community. Although the solution might be simple, it is incredibly difficult to put into practice. Alex Hoffer shares his journey in being available for three concepts that have helped him regain health and be a better, more sustainable leader. The goal of this presentation is to be uncomfortably real about one's own health, and how these practices improve it. Taking the approach of a friend and not a health expert, Hoffer shares from his own experience that everyone wins when you get healthier (you, your family, your team, your suppliers, and your customers). Everyone is a work-in-progress as it relates to health. His goal is to help one person rediscover hope and return to the path of health.P

Powering Efficiency: Unveiling Energy-Saving Secrets for Businesses
Tom Thompson, Intec Sales Company, Inc.
CFOs/Finance/IT, Executive Stakeholders/Owners (CEOs/Presidents), Operations

Real Energy Savings:  Improve your bottom line by consuming fewer kilowatt-hours per kilogram of plastic produced. There are three ways to save money on energy:  produce your own electricity, pay less for what you consume, and consume less for your production. This presentation will take a high-level view of opportunities and concepts to make REAL energy consumption savings for several of the different processes necessary to make plastic parts.

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Safety In Automation      
Jeff Fryman, A3 Association for Advancing Automation
Automation/Engineering, Human Resources/Safety, Operations

While automation is a key in productivity, safety in the workplace is essential. Robots make automation possible but come with standards outlining the necessary safety for the worker. This introduction to automation safety includes an overview of understanding risk assessment when evaluating a new automation project.

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The Price Battlefield:  A Combatant’s Tips for Securing Price Adjustments  
Alan Rothenbuecher, Benesch
CFOs/Finance/IT, Executive Stakeholders/Owners (CEOs/Presidents), Senior Leaders (VPs)

Over the past year, Alan Rothenbuecher has engaged in weekly price battles with OEMs and customers on behalf of molders - including MAPP members. In his presentation, Rothenbuecher will provide best practices for securing price increases (even when a purchase order or contract says the price of the part can never be increased) as well as strategies that can be implemented now to maintain price increases in the future (without pushback from the customer). Because not every customer is a keeper, he will also discuss how to gracefully exit a relationship with an unprofitable or draining customer if and when the time comes. Always entertaining and sometimes profane, Rothenbuecher will deliver tips that add dollars to your bottom line!         

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We’ve Slayed the Healthcare Dragon….and We’re Winning!
Facilitator: Will Hinshaw, CS&O Captive Solutions and Options
Panelists: June Firestone, Crescent Industries; Larry Johnson, Manar; Diane Hoffman, HB Molding

CFOs/Finance/IT, Executive Stakeholders/Owners (CEOs/Presidents), Human Resources/Safety, Senior Leaders (VPs)

This session, facilitated by Will Hinshaw, Captive Solutions and Options, will feature current MAPP members who are active CAPTIV8 participants - June Firestone, Crescent Industries; Larry Johnson, Manar, Inc.; and Diane Hoffman, HB Molding. In a panel discussion format, these members will provide insights as to how the captive has impacted their businesses and protected them from the healthcare insanity. The discussion will be facilitated by Will Hinshaw, CAPTIV8’s captive director, as he has the panelists share their unique situations to help attendees understand how the captive options can be ‘molded’ to meet any company’s needs.

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BC LABS SESSION THREE:

Contracting Secrets: How To Make The Most of Your Contractual Relationships
Joe Keglewitsch, Ice Miller LLP

CFOs/Finance/IT, Executive Stakeholders/Owners (CEOs/Presidents), Senior Leaders (VPs)

During this breakout session, Joe Keglewitsch of Ice Miller explores key issues in contractual relationships, including points most companies miss and risk pressure points that unknowingly leave companies exposed. Keglewitsch will also touch on the low-hanging fruit of contract negotiations and how to get the most out of situations where you are dealing with an 800 lb. gorilla and have no leverage.

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Evaluation of The Stresses and Deformation of Mold Components    
Deepika Gaddam, SIGMASOFT® Virtual Molding
Automation/Engineering, Operations

The deflection of any mold component can influence the part's final dimensions and the tool's longevity. In this presentation, Deepika Gaddam, SIGMASOFT® Virtual Molding, will discuss the areas of the mold that are most susceptible to high stresses and deformation, how to further analyze the root causes of these issues, and how to achieve desired part quality and longer tool life - all of which can be accomplished through a DOE evaluation of the process variables and possible design options.

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Improve Profitability by Learning How to Make Quality Plastic Parts Every Time
Jacque Gibson, RJG Inc

Automation/Engineering, Operations

Today more than ever before, staying competitive and building up your bottom line are essential to maintaining and growing your injection molding operation. In this presentation, Jacque will walk through how you can effectively utilize technology to transform your cost of quality management, reduce labor costs and turnover, and deliver consistently good parts to your customers every time. The goal is that attendees walk away feeling empowered to boost their organizational efficiency and elevate quality standards to maximize profits and grow success.

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Manufacturing Matters: Unveiling the Top EPA and OSHA Violations
Chris Whitehorn and Kevin Weaver, U.S. Compliance
Executive Stakeholders/Owners (CEOs/Presidents), Human Resources/Safety, Operations

Discover the crucial intersection of manufacturing excellence and regulatory compliance in this eye-opening presentation. Chris Whitehorn and Kevin Weaver of US Compliance will uncover the most common pitfalls that processors face, navigating through intricate EPA and OSHA regulations. From insightful case studies to proactive solutions, attendees will be able to empower their team with the knowledge to enhance productivity, protect their workforce, and foster a culture of compliance. Don't miss this opportunity to fortify your manufacturing practices and elevate your business to new heights of success.

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Strategic Planning – Driving Growth Through Proper Alignment of Your Value Proposition with Your Sales Goals
Jeff Ignatowski, Champion Plastics, Inc
Executive Stakeholders/Owners (CEOs/Presidents), Sales & Marketing, Senior Leaders (VPs)

Many plastics processors struggle with an “identity crisis”. This structured approach to Strategic Planning focuses on both internal and external influences including market, product, technology, and competition with the ultimate goal of defining your ideal customers and placing focus on target business which coincides with your value proposition.  

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Unlikely Inspiration for Growing Your Workforce
Scott Pflughoeft and Ronda Adamo, Ashley Industrial Molding Inc.; Andrew Foster, and Aaron Roberts, Inspiration Ministries
Executive Stakeholders/Owners (CEOs/Presidents), Human Resources/Safety

In every community live marginalized people who want to improve their lives and find work yet lack the opportunity to do so. These motivated individuals are often an untapped potential source of diligent, resolute employees. Working with a recovery, re-entry, and restorative program and/or community impact organization that helps people re-enter the workforce is an innovative way to hire employees while reducing addiction, recidivism, and poverty within the community. In this session, attendees will learn how Ashley Industrial Molding and Inspiration Ministries implemented a transformative model of such a program to affect systemic issues and create unlikely inspiration.

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Unlock Efficiency – The Power of Low-Volume Automation
Kyle Barry, Engineering Industries; Gerry Bienias, Beacon Engineered Solutions;  Jacob Warrick, Key Manufacturing and Chris Caldwell, Yaskawa America, Inc.
Automation/Engineering, CFOs/Finance/IT, Operations

In manufacturing, where adaptability and precision are paramount, discover how harnessing the potential of automation can revolutionize your operations, even at low production volume.  The panelists will share how low-volume automation can transform workflow, streamline processes, and optimize resource utilization, all while maintaining the flexibility needed in an ever-changing market. Whether you’re a small-scale manufacturer, a boutique service provider, or an industry disruptor, this presentation is your gateway to staying ahead in a rapidly evolving business landscape.

Win New Business With Metal 3D Printed Tooling: A Discussion With Westec Plastics and Mantle
Daniel Miller, Mantle and Tammy Barras, Westec Plastics

Automation/Engineering, CFOs/Finance/IT, Operations

Join Westec Plastics and Mantle for a discussion on how Westec is incorporating Mantle’s metal 3D printing technology into their business. Mantle is the only metal 3D printer designed specifically for tooling, allowing for tool steel inserts at the push of a button. Tammy Barras, President of Westec Plastics, will share how they utilize their Mantle machine to win new business, shorten lead times, and solve labor challenges. Mantle will share insight into how additional plastic processors are utilizing Mantle’s machines. Tammy and Mantle will share use cases with metrics on time, cost, and lead time savings compared to traditional mold making.

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