American Mold Builders Association: AMBA Press Releases

Press Release - AMBA Introduces Strategic Economic and Financial Resources for Members

October 1, 2024

The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA), Indianapolis, IN, is proud to announce the launch of two new webinar series intended to provide professional development to its members. These new offerings include a Financial Literacy Series aimed at enhancing financial acumen and business performance and The Emerging Leaders Series on peer and performance management. These exciting initiatives are issued under the direction of AMBA Board of Directors and newly elected Officers, President Tyler VanRee, Legacy Precision Molds Inc.; Vice President Andy Peterson, Industrial Molds; Treasurer Hillary Thomas, Westminster Tool Inc.; Secretary/Legal Counsel Alan Rothenbuecher, Benesch, Friedlander Coplan & Aonoff LLP.

View full release here.

Press Release - AMBA Releases Shop Rate Data

August 8, 2024

On July 25, 2024, the American Mold Builders Association (AMBA), Indianapolis, IN, announced the release of its 2024 Shop Rate Report to AMBA membership. The report includes charge rates specific to services in engineering, moldmaking and specialty services, as well as current v. anticipated capacities, company demographics, average overhead and more. Additionally, the published rates are accompanied by high-level business insights and expert takeaways to provide a competitive edge to AMBA members.

View full release here.

Press Release - AMBA Applauds Biden Administration's Retention of Chinese Mold Tariffs

May 15, 2024

Indianapolis, IN – The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) commends the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) for retaining the tariffs on imported molds, tooling and dies imported from China following its completion of the Section 301 tariff action review. This critical tariff of 25 percent on Chinese-made molds, tooling and dies, first put in place by the Trump Administration, continues to support manufacturing in America.

View full release here.

AMBA Announces 2024 Mold Builder and Tooling Trailblazer of the Year Award Recipients, alongside Inaugural 2024 Emerging Leaders Rising Star Award

March 21, 2024

The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA), Indianapolis, IN, proudly presented Roger Fox, Accede Mold & Tool, Rochester, NY, with the 2024 Mold Builder of the Year Award and United Tool and Mold (Liberty, SC) with the 2024 Tooling Trailblazer of the Year Award during the AMBA Conference 2024, March 19-21, 2024, Grand Rapids, MI. The awards, sponsored by Progressive Components, include a $5,000 endowment to each winner for continuing education in mold building, to be presented to the educational institution of the recipient's choice.

Read full release here.

AMBA Announces New Industry Award for Emerging Leadership Alongside 2024 Conference Theme

January 31, 2024

Indianapolis, IN - The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) has announced a new industry-wide award to celebrate up-and-coming leaders within its membership. The AMBA Emerging Leaders Rising Star Award is intended to recognize outstanding growth, leadership and/or contributions by an emerging professional in the AMBA community. This award will be announced during the upcoming AMBA Annual Conference 2024 in Grand Rapids, MI, March 19-21, at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, alongside the annual 2024 Mold Builder and Tooling Trailblazer of the Year awards.

Read full release here.

AMBA Urges Swift Passage of Tax Bill Critical to Mold Builders

January 22, 2024

Indianapolis, IN – The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) applauds Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith for crafting the bipartisan Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024, which the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee overwhelmingly passed Friday, January 19, by a vote of 40-3. The inclusion of the immediate deduction of research and development (R&D) expenses, Bonus Depreciation, restoring Section 163(j) and the increase to the Section 179 deduction will help to ease the tax burden on America’s job creators allowing them to invest in and continue to grow their businesses.

Read full release here.

AMBA Releases 2023 Shop Rate Report to Participating Membership

August 18, 2023

Indianapolis, IN – On August 17, 2023, the American Mold Builders Association (AMBA), Indianapolis, IN, announced the release of its 2023 Shop Rate Report to AMBA membership. The report includes charge rates specific to services in engineering, moldmaking and specialty services, as well as current v. anticipated capacities, company demographics and sales information. Additionally, and for the first time, the published rates are accompanied by high-level business insights and expert takeaways to provide a competitive edge to AMBA members.

Read full release here.

AMBA Releases Member Collection of Operational Efficiencies

July 25, 2023

Indianapolis, IN - Today, the American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) announced the release of its first-time collection of operational efficiency strategies and measures in U.S. mold manufacturing facilities. Responses were collected in both a traditional survey format prior to AMBA Conference 2023 and via a live benchmarking session facilitated by AMBA Executive Director Troy Nix and Laurie Harbour, owner of Harbour Results, Inc. (Southfield, MI) during the conference.

Read the full release here.

AMBA Announces 2023 Mold Builder and Tooling Trailblazer of the Year Award Recipients

May 12, 2023

The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA), Indianapolis, IN, proudly presented Justin McPhee, Mold Craft, Inc., a Westfall Technik Company, Willernie, MN, with the 2023 Mold Builder of the Year Award and TK Mold & Engineering (Romeo, MI) with the Tooling Trailblazer of the Year Award during the AMBA Conference 2023, May 10-12, 2023, Grand Rapids, MI. The awards, sponsored by Progressive Components, include a $5,000 endowment to each winner for continuing education in mold building, to be presented to the educational institution of the recipient's choice.

Read full release here.

Tariffs and Taxes: AMBA Continues to Apply Pressure in Washington

May 5, 2023

Indianapolis, IN – The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) continues to remain front and center in Washington, D.C. on both tariffs and taxes, announcing last week, its endorsement of bipartisan legislation to reinstate full expensing of Research and Development activities, retroactive to January 1, 2022. This legislation outlines making the R&D tax benefit permanent, while also removing the requirement to capitalize and amortize R&D for U.S. mold manufacturers. This effort is a high priority for the AMBA, as it continues to lobby members of Congress to address the 2017 tax law requiring businesses to amortize and capitalize their R&D starting on January 1, 2022.

Read full release here.

AMBA Announces New Board of Directors Executive Committee

April 20, 2023

Indianapolis, IN – The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) is excited to announce a new Executive Committee at the helm of the AMBA Board of Directors in advance of the AMBA Conference 2023 - Powering Growth. The new AMBA Executive Committee features AMBA Board President, Tom Barr, TK Mold & Engineering (Romeo, MI); Vice President Tyler VanRee, Legacy Precision Molds (Grandville, MI); Treasurer Andy Peterson, Industrial Molds (Rockford, IL); Immediate Past President Jim Sperber, Master Tool & Mold (Grafton, WI) and Alan Rothenbuecher, Benesch Law (Cleveland, OH), the board’s secretary and legal counsel.

Read full release here.

AMBA Announces New 2023 Sourcebook and Cover Contest Winner

March 1, 2023

Indianapolis, IN – The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) 2023 Sourcebook is now available featuring a cover photo of a micro-fluidic medical device mold designed and manufactured by this year’s Cover Contest winner Westminster Tool, Inc., Plainfield, CT. With an increased circulation of more than 2,000 Sourcebooks annually, AMBA distributes directories to AMBA members, as well as to additional mold manufacturers and mold buyers at tradeshows and other industry events throughout the year. The digital version of Sourcebook reaches a global audience, providing advertisers a direct link to current and potential customers.

Read the full release here.

AMBA Conference 2023 Registration and Annual Awards Nominations Now Open

February 21, 2023

Indianapolis, IN -- The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) has announced that registration is open for AMBA Conference 2023, May 10-12, 2023, at the Amway Grand Plaza in Grand Rapids, MI. Mold manufacturers and other industry professionals are invited to connect with one another on a variety of hot-button topics and honor this year’s winners of the AMBA Mold Builder of the Year (MBOY) and Tooling Trailblazer of the Year (TTOY) Awards for which nominations are now being accepted.

Read full release here.

Newest AMBA Report Calls for Cautious Optimism among U.S. Mold Builders in 2023

March 7, 2023

Indianapolis, IN - The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA), Indianapolis, IN, recently released its annual AMBA Business Forecast Report. Data for this report was collected from 83 U.S.-based mold manufacturers during AMBA’s Business Forecast Study (conducted from late-November 2022 to early-January 2023). This benchmarking report provides an in-depth analysis of the trajectory of the U.S. mold building industry, identifying trends and challenges that will have a significant impact on mold manufacturers in 2023.

Read the full release here.

AMBA Celebrates 50th Anniversary in 2023

February 7, 2023

Indianapolis, IN – This year, the American Mold Association (AMBA) celebrates 50 years of service to the mold building industry. Over the last five decades, the AMBA has grown to be a tremendous catalyst of community among mold manufacturers nationwide, generating thousands of connections between executives and mold manufacturing facilities alike.

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AMBA Calls Its Members to Submit Comments to USTR during Tariff Review

December 13, 2022

Indianapolis, IN – On November 22, the American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) called its members to action and asked them to file comments with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) asking that it not lift the 25% tariff of molds, tooling and dies imported from China. USTR is currently accepting public input during its statutorily required review of the tariffs.

Read the full release here.

Annual AMBA Wage and Salary Report Now Available for Purchase

November 30, 2022

Indianapolis, IN – The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA), Indianapolis, IN, has announced the release of its 2022 AMBA Wage and Salary Report. This annual report is the leading compensation study in the U.S. mold building industry. Now in its twelfth year, AMBA’s Wage and Salary Report contains comprehensive analyses on over 50 job classifications from mold manufacturers who serve a variety of end-use markets. This year’s report also benchmarked information related to cost-of-living increases, vacation benefits, employee incentives, salary adjustment opportunities, hiring expectations, employee demographics and more.

Read full release here.

Over 60 U.S. Mold Manufacturers Rally to AMBA Call-to-Action, Filing to Keep China Tariffs

September 22, 2022

Indianapolis, IN – Earlier this summer, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) requested comments on the continuation of Section 301 tariffs on China, prompting an immediate call-to-action from the American Mold Builders Association (AMBA). In response, over 60 comments were filed from mold and die makers who support keeping the 25 percent tariffs in place on tooling, dies and plastic injection molds.

Read the full release here.

AMBA Launches New Work Capacity Tool

August 2, 2022

Indianapolis, IN - The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) is excited to announce the launch of the AMBA Work Capacity Tool – an innovative resource now available at AMBA.org to help mold manufacturers share and fill capacity when needed. Designed specifically for AMBA member shops, this online, members-only tool allows a mold builder to locate open capacity in over-capacity situations and conversely, fill open capacity when work is needed, thereby helping to fuel sustainability and growth.

Read the full release here.

AMBA Announces 2022 Mold Builder and Tooling Trailblazer of the Year Award Recipients

May 13, 2022

The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA), Indianapolis, IN, proudly presented Tom Barr, TK Mold & Engineering, Inc., Romeo, MI, with the 2022 Mold Builder of the Year Award and CompuMold Tool & Design, Inc. with the Tooling Trailblazer of the Year Award during the AMBA Conference 2022, May 11-13, 2022, Itasca, IL. The awards, sponsored by Progressive Components, include a $5,000 endowment to each winner for continuing education in mold building, to be presented to the educational institution of the recipient's choice.

Read the full release here.

AMBA Conference 2022 Set to "Shift the View" for Industry Professionals

Apr. 12, 2022

Indianapolis, IN – The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) announced today its final programming line-up for AMBA Conference 2022, which will once again bring industry leaders to the forefront as they share the best practices that have helped them tackle today’s challenges.

Read the full release here.

U.S. Mold Manufacturers Face Varied Challenges, Aim to Stay Competitive in Newest AMBA Report

Mar. 3, 2022

The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA), Indianapolis, IN, recently released its annual AMBA Business Forecast Report. Data for this report was collected from 80 U.S.-based mold manufacturers during AMBA’s Business Forecast Study (conducted from late-December 2021 to mid-January 2022). This benchmarking report analyzes and highlights information on the anticipated outlook for the U.S. mold building industry for 2022.

Read the full release here.

AMBA Launches Premier Virtual Plant Tour Workshop

Jan. 20, 2022

Indianapolis, IN – On March 8, 2022, 12-2pm EST, the American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) will host its first virtual plant tour workshop with Dramco Tool Co., Inc. Attendees will have the opportunity to tour a member facility, share best practices, problem-solve with peers and improve operations – all without leaving the office.

Read the full release here.

AMBA Release First-Time Report Compilation

Jan. 17, 2022

Indianapolis, IN – To address one of the most critical challenges in workforce development facing the U.S. moldmaking industry, AMBA has published for the first time its Employee Attraction and Hiring Playbook – A Best Practices Guide. Developed in conjunction with its 2021 Workforce Development Task Force, this 65+ page playbook encompasses best practices and industry insights related to the attraction, hiring and retainment of high-quality, high-performing employees.

Read the full release here.

Annual AMBA Wage and Salary Report Now AVailable for Purchase

Jan. 10, 2022

Indianapolis, IN – The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA), Indianapolis, IN, has announced the release of its annual 2021-22 AMBA Wage and Salary Report. This annual report is the leading compensation study in the U.S. mold building industry. Now in its eleventh year, AMBA’s Wage and Salary Report contains comprehensive analyses on over 50 job classifications from mold manufacturers who serve a variety of end-use markets. Newly added sections include questions relative to cost of living increases, incentives to attract qualified labor and sales bonus structures.

Read the full release here.

AMBA Publishes Never-Before-Seen Data in Industry Shop Rate Report

Sept. 20, 2021

Indianapolis, IN – The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA), Indianapolis, IN, today announced the release of its 2021 Shop Rate Report, a report that – for the first time in the industry - gathered charge rates specific to services in engineering, moldmaking and specialty services, as well as current v. anticipated capacities, company demographics and sales information.

Read the full release here.

Effective Leadership and Process Improvement Explored in Upcoming Symposium

Aug. 8, 2021

Indianapolis, IN – The AMBA Emerging Leaders Network has launched its 2021 Communication Symposium, a half-day virtual event where attendees will study business-impacting communication techniques and their practical application in the workplace. During this session, up-and-coming leaders will study specific techniques in listening, communication and conflict management that will enable professionals in emerging leadership roles to identify process improvements, reduce inefficiencies and utilize the tools needed by leaders to successfully drive organizational change and bottom-line impact.

Read the full release here.

AMBA Announces 2021 Mold Builder and Tooling Trailblazer of the Year Award Recipients

June 24, 2021

The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA), Indianapolis, IN, proudly presented Ray Coombs, Westminster Tool, Inc., Plainfield, CT, with the 2021 Mold Builder of the Year Award and Wepco Plastics, Middlefield, CT, with the Tooling Trailblazer of the Year Award during the AMBA Conference 2021, June 22-24, Grand Rapids, MI. The awards, sponsored by Progressive Components, include a $5,000 endowment to each for continuing education in mold building, to be presented to the educational institution of the recipient's choice.

Read the full release here.

**AMBA 2021 Health and Benefits Report Now Available for Purchase**

May 12, 2021

The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA), Indianapolis, IN, today announced the release of its 2021 Health and Benefits Report. For the first time, this report is inclusive of data across three separate manufacturing sectors: plastics processors, mold manufacturers and rubber products manufacturers.

Participants in this year’s study included over 200 manufacturers who reported on healthcare and ancillary benefits details offered by their organizations. The data represents 26,815 eligible (full-time) employees, out of which 18,252 (70 percent) participate in their company’s healthcare plan. On average, survey respondents report spending approximately $727K annually to offer healthcare benefits to their employees - an average of $10,143 per participating employee per year (PEPY).

Read the full release here.

Nominations Underway for Prestigious AMBA Awards

April 29, 2021

Nominations for the American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) Mold Builder of the Year (MBOY) Award and the AMBA Tooling Trailblazer of the Year Award (TTOY) are now being accepted. Award recipients will be recognized at the AMBA Conference 2021 in Grand Rapids, MI, June 22 - June 24, at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, and will receive a prestigious award and a $5,000 scholarship grant to be given to the educational institution, project or initiative of their choice.

Read the full release here.

AMBA Conference 2021 Opens Registration for First In-Person Industry Event of the Year

April 21, 2021

The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) has announced that registration is open for AMBA Conference 2021, June 22-24, 2021, Amway Grand Plaza, Grand Rapids, MI. The opening of conference registration marks an occasion where, for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, mold builders and other industry professionals will have the opportunity to once again meet in person in a socially distanced, responsible manner, adhering to all CDC guidelines and recommendations.

Read the full release here.

AMBA’s Emerging Leaders Access Mentorship Opportunities with New Program Offering

March 1, 2021

Members of AMBA’s Emerging Leaders Network – a community of 40-and-under young professionals passionate about leadership growth and industry advancement – will discuss operational leadership, risk-taking, communication challenges, and problem-solving strategies during in AMBA's newest, "Meet the Mentor" series. This program track provides an opportunity to industry executives and up-and-coming leaders to address challenges facing the next generation of leadership in mold manufacturing.

Read the full release here.

**AMBA Announces 2021 Sourcebook Cover Winner**

March 1, 2021

AMBA proudly announces the winner of its 2021 Sourcebook Cover Contest - Ameritech Die & Mold, Mooresville, NC - established to promote the quality craftsmanship of AMBA mold manufacturers. This year’s cover features an example of a high-tech, high-efficiency mold for a Class A automotive application that utilizes a sequential valve gate manifold and RJG monitoring technology to create a stable and controlled process through adjustable pressure/temperature settings.

Read the full release here.

Optimism in Mold Manufacturing Reflected in AMBA 2021 Business Forecast Report

February 9, 2021

The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA), Indianapolis, IN, recently released its annual AMBA Business Forecast Report. This benchmarking report analyzes and highlights information on the anticipated outlook for the U.S. mold building industry for 2021. The 2021 Business Forecast Report showcases data on sales trends, profit levels, capital expenditures, shop and design employment levels and challenges faced in the industry. This data is pulled from surveyed responses on over 40 economic indicator questions that cover 2020 performance, fourth-quarter performance and forecasts and expectations for 2021. This year, new data was gathered specific to the impact felt by mold manufacturers during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Read the full release here.

Mold Builders Call on Congress to Allow Deduction of Paycheck Protection Program Expenses

December 7, 2020

On December 3, 2020, the American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) joined over 500 national and state organizations calling on Congress to pass legislation clarifying that recipients of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans may deduct approved expenses if the Small Business Administration forgives their loan. Despite congressional intent and repeated statements from leading lawmakers, the IRS continues to disallow the deduction - a surprise tax increase of up to 37 percent on some PPP borrowers.

Read the full release here. Read the letter to Congress here.

**AMBA Releases 2020/2021 Wage and Salary Report**

November 24, 2020

AMBA’s 2020-21 Wage and Benefits Report represents the largest compensation study focused on the United States mold building industry. Now in its tenth year, AMBA’s Wage and Salary Report contains comprehensive analyses on over 50 job classifications from mold manufacturing-related firms.

Read the full release here.

AMBA Conference 2021: Connections Reimagined! Sets New Dates

November 17, 2020

The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) is pleased to announce that new dates have been set for the AMBA Conference 2021: Connections Reimagined! Originally slated for February 17-19, 2021, in Grand Rapids, MI, the 2021 conference now will take place June 22-24 in the same location: Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids. According to AMBA Managing Director Kym Conis, the strategic move was made in direct response to member feedback that indicated a strong desire to meet “responsibly and safely” in-person, just as soon as the pandemic will allow.

Read the full release here.

AMBA Tackles Lean Manufacturing Principles in Application-Based Series

September 16, 2020

Industry knowledge meets critical thinking in the newest series offered by the AMBA’s Emerging Leaders Network, “Get Lean – A Project-Based Application Series.” During this six-part series, "Get Lean - A Project-Based Application Series for Emerging Leaders," Continuous Improvement Consultant Matin Karbassioon will coach 40-and-under AMBA member attendees through the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of lean manufacturing principles.

Read the full release here.

**AMBA Releases R&D Tax Credit Use in Mold Manufacturing Report**

September 1, 2020

The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) has kicked off its third quarter benchmarking with the release of the AMBA 2020 R&D Tax Credit Use in Mold Manufacturing Report. As income taxes continue to be one of the tool shops’ most significant expenditures, it is important for all mold manufacturers to identify areas where they can reduce their overall tax burden in order to maintain profits and remain competitive in today’s environment.

Read the full release here.

AMBA Takes Pulse of Mold Building Industry during COVID-19 Crisis

June 11, 2020

In mid-April, the American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) launched a periodic Industry Pulse Survey to provide business leaders and industry professionals insight into the state of the mold building industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trending data indicates that while the COVID-19 pandemic most significantly impacted mold builders serving the automotive market at first, optimism is growing cautiously as these manufacturers begin returning to work.

Read the full release here.

AMBA Files Comments with USTR Against COVID-related Tariff Extensions

May 18, 2020

On May 7, the American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) filed formal comments with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) asking that it not lift Section 301 tariffs related to the COVID-19 pandemic for HTS 8480.71.8045, plastic injection molds imported from China.

Read the full release here.

AMBA, MAPP and ARPM Announce Leadership Webinar Series

May 4, 2020

The American Mold Builders Association, along with the Manufacturers Association for Plastics Processors (MAPP)and the Association for Rubber Products Manufacturers (ARPM), recently launched Leadership Confab 2020, a new leadership webinar series, set to take place May 6 and May 13, 2020. During this two-part series titled, Capitalizing on the Challenges of Leadership, speaker Phillip Van Hooser will lead participants through strategies that will help them to manage and control issues such as fear, stress and adjusting to change amidst the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Read the full release here.

AMBA, MAPP and ARPM Announce Workshop Series for Manufacturing Young Professionals

May 1, 2020

The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) Emerging Leaders Network, alongside the Manufacturers Association for Plastics Processors (MAPP) and the Association for Rubber Products Manufacturers (ARPM) young professional groups, is launching a new workshop series: Virtual Ignition - Lighting Your Path to Leadership. During these monthly workshops, the associations will host a series of speakers, facilitators and exchanges where young professionals and those new to the industry will explore how to lead through an environment of change and uncertainty.

Read the full release here.

AMBA Takes Pulse of Mold Building Industry during COVID-19 Crisis

April 29, 2020

The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) has published the first results of its bi-weekly Industry Pulse Survey, located on the COVID-19 Resources Hub page at AMBA.org. AMBA has launched these periodic surveys to give business leaders insight into the state of the mold building industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. This eight-question survey takes less than one minute for leaders to complete, but gives insights into how the mold building industry is faring so far and what executives are anticipating for the future.

Read the full release here.

**AMBA 2020 Health and Benefits Report Now Available for Purchase**

April 16, 2020

The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA), Indianapolis, IN, today announced the release of its 2020 Health and Benefits Report.
Due to increased interest in health and ancillary benefit policies for the mold building industry, this new publication represents the first time this data is available as a standalone report. Previously, portions of this information were published as part of the annual AMBA Wage and Benefits Report.

Read the full release here.

AMBA Hosts Crisis Roundtables, Connects Members with Resources

March 31, 2020

Last week, as states continued to announce statewide "Sheltering in Place" orders that advised all residents to stay home except for “essential activities,” the American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) launched an effort to virtually connect its members to one another and critical, coronavirus-related resources. Included on the calls were representatives from Benesch Law, who were able to provide critical counsel and guidance for employers navigating the evolution of the coronavirus.

Read the full release here.

AMBA, MAPP and ARPM Release COVID-19 Policies Report

March 19, 2020

In response to the recent outbreak of COVID-19 across the United States and the globe, AMBA (American Mold Builders Association), MAPP (Manufacturers Association for Plastics Processors) and ARPM (Association of Rubber Products Manufacturers) leadership teams worked to generate COVID-19-related policies for members. Working across the associations, 88 resources were compiled into a 300+ page document containing policies and procedures pertaining to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Read the full release here.

AMBA Conference 2020 Canceled

March 18, 2020

After careful consideration, the American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) Board of Directors has made the decision to cancel AMBA Conference 2020 this year in light of developments related to the COVID-19 situation. The conference was originally scheduled for Apr. 29 - May 1, 2020, Indianapolis, IN, at the Hyatt Regency Downtown.

Read the full release here.

AMBA Applauds Trump Administration Reinstatement of Tariffs on Plastic Injection Molds

December 20, 2019

The Office of the U.S. Trade Represenative (USTR) will publish on Dec. 23 a formal notice that it will not extend the exclusion from 25 percent tariffs for Chinese plastic injection molds granted on December 28, 2018. The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) strongly supports this reinstatement of the tariffs and applauds the Trump adminstration for heeding the calls of the more than 150 American mold builders who filed comments supporting the tariffs.

Read the full release here.

AMBA Files Formal Comments with U.S. government to Reinstate Chinese Mold Tariffs

November 30, 2019

On November 29, the AMBA filed formal comments with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) requesting it not extend the exclusion granted to importers from paying a 25% tariff on plastic injection molds from China for another year. Importers and manufacturers had until November 30, 2019, to register their support or opposition for extending the tariff suspension or reinstating the 25% tariff on Chinese imports. The comments were requested ahead of the scheduled December 28, 2019, deadline, when the USTR is scheduled to reinstate the tariffs.

Read the full release here.

AMBA Hires Lobbying Firm, Urges Trump Administration to Reinstate Chinese Mold Tariffs

November 7, 2019

The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) is pleased to announce it has engaged a Washington, D.C.-based lobbying firm to speak for the industry in the nation's capital and help policymakers make informed decisions about imposing tariffs on imported plastic injection molds from China. To make sure the voices of America's mold builders are heard in the trade debate, the AMBA is working with The Franklin Partnership to lobby the White House, Congress and policymakers to support U.S. manufacturers against low-cost imports from China.

Read the full release here.

AMBA Launches Annual Wage and Salary Survey

October 14, 2019

On October 10, 2019, the American Mold Builders Association (AMBA), Indianapolis, IN, announced the launch of its annual AMBA Wage and Salary survey. AMBA's Wage and Salary survey has historically represented the largest compensation study focused on the United States mold building industry. Now in its ninth year, AMBA's Wage and Salary survey will gather comprehensive analyses on 50 job classifications from mold manufacturing-related firms, who serve a variety of end-use markets. New this year, information regarding vacation packages, health insurance and other employee benefits will be gathered in a separate study in early 2020, due to increased interest in this data.

To read the full release and see where publications can be purchased, visit here.

AMBA Honors Community Champions with Educational Outreach Award

October 3, 2019

On October 3, 2019, the American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) honored three member champions with the AMBA 2018 Educational Outreach Awards in advance of Manufacturing Day. These awards recognize those AMBA members who have made a significant impact in the promotion of a career in mold building.

Read the full release here.

AMBA Releases New Reports: Efficiencies in Machine Programming and New Employee Onboarding Checklists

September 30, 2019

During the third quarter of 2019, the American Mold Builders Association (AMBA), announced the release of two new reports: New Employee Onboarding Checklists and Efficiencies in Machine Programming.

Because the AMBA has never benchmarked mold builders on either of these topics, both reports provide fresh content and new insight into the 2019 mold building industry.

Read the full release here. To purchase either report, click here.

AMBA Awards $70,000 through AMMA Grant

September 4, 2019

The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) has awarded $70,000 to the 2019 recipients of the American Mold Manufacturing Advancement (AMMA) Grant.

Developed and launched by the AMBA in 2017, the AMMA Grant invests in the advancement of the mold building industry by supporting programs and projects in three primary areas: training, advocacy/industry promotion and research and development. Applicants must be AMA members that support local workforce development initiatives in their communities relating to one of the primary areas. To date, AMBA has awarded $210,000 in grants in support of members' workforce development efforts.

Read the full release here.

AMBA Announces 2019 National Scholarship Winners

July 1, 2019

The AMBA recently announced the distribution of eight scholarships to students interested in mold building and related fields. Each $1,000 award is paid directly to the educational institutions on behalf of each student. Funds support pursuing a career in one of the following specialized areas: mold design, CAD/CAM programming for machine tools, machine tool skills or mold building; plastics industry manufacturing (including plastics engineering, plastic part design or plastics processing technicians; or other related areas of continued training/education.

Read the full release here.

AMBA Announces Plant Tour Workshop at Craftsman Tool & Mold Co.

May 21, 2019

On June 11, 2019, the American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) will host a plant tour workshop at Craftsman Tool & Mold Company, Aurora, IL. Co-located with Amerimold 2019, this event will feature the company's custom-designed software system, which maximizes efficiencies in all areas of its mold base manufacturing operation. The tour will begin at 1 PM CST and will finish with a networking event at Topgolf at 6:30 PM CST.

Read the full release here.

AMBA Conference 2019 Announces Record-Breaking Program Line-Up

April 12, 2019

The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) released its final programming, including the most value-packed line-up of speakers and sessions to date. AMBA Conference 2019 will focus on sharing best practices and addressing the challenges of today's mold builders. Strategies. Executed. is the theme of AMBA Conference 2019 and is set to take place at The Westin Northwest in Itasca, IL from May 8-10. This annual event is designed to inspire mold manufacturing professionals to work alongside their teams to learn and share industry knowledge and best practices, providing all attendees with new ways to improve profitability, connect with industry peers and become better at what they do.

Read the full release here.

AMBA Announces 2019 Mold Builder and Tooling Trailblazer of the Year Award Recipients

April 3, 2019

The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA), Indianapolis, IN, proudly presented Rick Finnie, M.R. Mold & Engineering Corp., Brea, CA, with the 2019 Mold Builder of the Year Award and Century Die Company, Fremont, OH, with the Tooling Trailblazer of the Year Award during the AMBA Conference 2019, May 8-10, Itasca, IL. The awards, sponsored by Progressive Components, include a $5,000 endowment to each for continuing education in mold building, to be presented to the educational institution of the recipient's choice.

Read the full release here.

Pack Value into the Amerimold Experience

April 3, 2019

On June 12-13, 2019, the American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) will exhibit at Amerimold 2019 in Rosemont, IL, Booth #532 after hosting a co-located plant tour workshop the day before at Craftsman Tool & Mold. At the AMBA booth, attendees will be able to access valuable industry reports, including AMBA's latest benchmarking reports, the 2019 AMBA Sourcebook, the latest edition of The American Mold Builder, association news and updates and more.

Read the full release here.

AMBA 2019 State of the Mold Industry Report

February 18, 2019

The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA), Indianapolis, IN, recently released its annual AMBA Business Forecast Report. Data for this report was collected from over 130 U.S.-based mold manufacturers during AMBA's Business Forecast Study (conducted from late-December 2018 to late-January 2019). This benchmarking report analyzes and highlights information on the anticipated outlook for the U.S. mold building industry for 2019.

Read the full release here.

AMBA Launches Network for Young Professionals

January 31, 2019

Today, the American Mold Builders Association announced the official launch of its Emerging Leaders Network, a gropu that will bring together innovative, creative and dedicated young professionals from across all AMBA member companies. These up-and-coming industry leaders come from all over the country and all areas of business.

"Launching a network available to young professionals in mold building is an exciting opportunity for the AMBA. For the first time, we'll be able to bring together a dynamic group of future industry leaders, meeting our members' needs and offering them unique experiences, including strategic networking with industry peers of similar ages, leadership development opportunities and access to industry mentors," said Rachael Pfenninger, AMBA project manager.

Read the full release here.

AMBA Releases Managing the Sales Pipeline Report

February 1, 2019

In early February 2019, the American Mold Builders Association (AMBA), announced the release of its first report of the year, Managing the Sales Pipeline.

This report is the first time the AMBA has benchmarked mold builders on best practices in managing lead generation and quoted work, both with and without automation. Respondents reported on data such as when to hire sales personnel, which employees manage and source most sales leads, the experience required for employees operating in sales roles, satisfaction with ERP/CRM systems for lead management and industry trends that affect lead generation.

Read the full release here.

AMBA and MAPP Partner with Plastec West

January 28, 2019

The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) and the Manufacturers Association for Plastics Processors (MAPP) in partnership with PLASTEC West/MD&M West, is excited to host a joint Happy Hour reception on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm, where mold builders and plastics processors will have an opportunity to mingle business with beer. The reception is sponsored by several AMBA partners and/or MAPP sponsors, including iD Additives, HASCO, Mueller Prost, Progressive and Sigma Plastic Services Inc. The reception will take place at Booths #805 and #803.

Read the full release here.