What is your company niche, and what does your company do that is notable, unique or different?

Twin Mold & Engineering LLC’s niche is team effort.  When you work as one team, you are able to grow technologically.  We do this by setting the kinds of goals, such as surpassing the competition through better quality, timing and on-time delivery, which make for a better future for the company.  What makes us unique is our rapid response to all of our customers’ needs.  Everybody wants things faster so timing is key.  Engineering changes, “crash and burns” (mold damaged while running), even service calls – we try to respond to those needs and more as quickly as possible to help get the tools back up and running again.

When and how did you get into the industry, what attracted you to it?

Twin Mold was established in October 2004 by Jamie Smith and Jason Van Laere who came from Canada in 1996 and worked for other mold companies before starting Twin Mold.  We also did side jobs finishing basements at the time.  However, our hours working in the tooling industry and side work became so great that we decided to open our own tool shop.

Relate a notable "best time" for your company.

A great accomplishment for Twin Mold is knowing that a company starting from absolutely nothing can make it past its first year in business and continue growing in sales and employees (the company now has 14).  It just goes to prove that when you put your mind and effort into something, you get consistent growth.

Similarly, relate notable challenges that your company has overcome.

Twin Mold faced its greatest challenge on May 3, 2005, (1-1/2 months after we were open for business) when we lost Elio Nardecchia, our father-in-law who was a big part of the birth of the company.  The name Twin Mold comes from his twin daughters Dena and Renee.  Elio retired from Marshall Field’s (a Chicago department store and landmark) after 42 years of service and loyalty.  He came to our shop every day to help in the building process, cleaning and painting and offering support.  Even though he did not know much about the tooling industry, he would say, “If anyone can do it, you guys can!”  We believe today that Elio is still a big part of the growth of Twin Mold & Engineering and we’d like to say, “Elio, you’re simply the best!”

Twin Mold will always work to meet our customers’ urgent needs when it comes to production level changes and repairs. We all know how competitive it is out there and we understand the high demands for today’s production, so we are always there for engineering support as well as press side help.  Our goal is to help the customer achieve better design for tooling and molding that is capable of keeping up with today’s high production standards. With every tool that we build we try at least one new, innovative idea to make the tooling quality better and more efficient for all production and cycle times. Twin Mold will always strive to eliminate as much down time during production runs as possible, to keep our customers’ expectations at the highest level.

When you are working on projects with your customers, what aspects would you like them to better recognize?

When Twin Mold works with our customers, we want them to know that our priority is paying attention to their needs.  It is important that they feel a part of our program.  We also want to ensure that each customer receives the same treatment as any other.  We feel that this courtesy is helping make us a leader in our industry.

List newly acquired technology, machinery or key personnel (in last year).

When Twin Mold first opened for business on March 25, 2005, we acquired large EDM capabilities for working on tooling for such products as fascias, door panels and other large parts for automotive.  Our latest machinery purchase is our 2006 Okuma 56VA High Speed Milling Machine with CAM tool software that will take Twin Mold to the next level of machine finishing.  This is a big factor in our ability to reduce the time factor on most projects we work on.  Your finish cut job will reduce bench work and EDM time because this machine performs the work in lights out mode. 

Has your company recently expanded?  Plans to expand or form partnerships/alliances?

Twin Mold has always set high goals for growth and improvement.  This explains our move into a 36,000-square-foot building of which 26,000-square-feet is being reserved for future growth.  It will be easier to expand when the time is right to do so.  We have explored other options and we do have a tool shop in Windsor, Ontario, where if we get into a project that is too large for our capabilities, we can farm it out to them and find a way to get the job done.  As for overseas connections, we are of the mindset to keep as much business here as possible and help reinvigorate the U.S. tooling industry.

Are you involved in any industry organizations or educational programs related to the trade?

Twin Mold believes that young talent is always needed in the trade.  We are always looking at high schools that have machine shop classes for young people today so we can help those kids get into the work environment via co-op programs.  We have an apprentice in the shop now.  It is how Jason and I came up through the trade, but it’s getting so that schools that have those programs are harder to find.  So we work closely with the two high schools in our area to get the talent we need.

What do you think about changes occurring in the industry due to globalization?  How has it affected the way you do business?

We believe that changes in the industry due to globalization have only created different challenges to overcome.  Our focus on consistent growth and technology gives us a leading edge over our competition.  Even though overseas competition is increasing, it makes us work to meet the challenge even harder by figuring out how to keep the work here.  Each time you overcome those challenges it takes you to the next level and gives you the leading edge.  As a new company, it’s a little easier to grow with new technology versus being an older company that has lots of older machinery and resources that cost more to replace or update.

 What will the industry look like in 3 to 5 years?

With technology always changing, Twin Mold takes the stance that companies grow with the new technology and that it is only a matter of time before the market will be strong in North America again.  The industry doesn’t look very promising in the near term.  It’ll take some time to turn it around if we all keep working at solutions.  It’s happened before with competition from Canada and Mexico, so hopefully the same will happen with China and the industry will become strong again by the sheer virtue of speed to market, speedier service, and convenience.

Additional Background Information:
           
Number of years in business: 2

Current number of employees:  14

Current square footage:  10,000 square feet with room to grow.

Additional locations:  None at this time.

Website:  www.twinmold.com

Types of tools built and/or run:  Injection mold tooling

Industries served:  Automotive and willing to expand beyond that.

Contact Information:

Twin Mold and Engineering L.L.C.
51738 Filomena Dr.
Shelby Twp. Mi. 48315
Phone: 586-532-8558
Fax: 586-532-8598