In The Hopper

VersaLifter & UniLifter Offer Savings, Flexibility 

Progressive Components offers a wide range of undercut release solutions.  Newest among them is the VersaLifter, while the UniLifter System is one of the industry's most widely-used standard products.  Both provide tooling designers with a cost-effective range of options. 

The VersaLifter features support guides that provide smooth sliding action, reducing galling & flexing problems.  Its compact design allows for tighter ejector pin placement. 

Available in a wide range of sizes, the VersaLifter is manufactured in A-10 steel, which is finish machined and ready for molding detail. 

The UniLifter System offers smooth action due to the U-Coupling design, which eliminates the wear and binding found in other fixed angle lifter designs. 

In applications where space is limited, the MiniLifter Series are compact in design yet allow for standard lifter usage.  Progressive’s XL Series UniLifter molds and releases large undercuts and allows details to be machined directly into the core blade, or it may be used as a lifter rod by attaching an insert to it. 

These products are in good company with Progressive’s popular FlexiCore undercut release component that offers space savings and economy.   

For more information, including complete CAD geometry, visit www.procomps.com.

Simplify Ejector Sleeve Applications with Reliable Standards

Progressive's Thin Wall Sleeves are designed for today's thinner plastic wall sections and are engineered with wear resistance against both the pin and mold insert.  Instead of purchasing a custom ejector sleeve or machining a step in a standard sleeve, Progressive offers a standard line of sleeves with .03" wall thickness.   

Thin Wall Sleeves are available with inner diameters of 3/32ø to 3/8ø in two standard lengths, 4" or 6". The bearing lengths are similar to that of a standard sleeve, with 2" of bearing and a long tapered lead-in from the end of the sleeve. The sleeves are treated with Nicklon® on the inner and outer diameters to provide wear resistance and lubricity during production. 

In addition, Sleeve Extensions eliminate the need for special sleeves when utilized in larger molding applications where long sleeves are required. These Sleeve Extensions are compatible with all Progressive and industry-standard sleeves.

Progressive’s Core Pin Retainers provide a space-efficient method of retaining the center core pin in ejector sleeve applications. Unlike a set screw, the retainer allows the pin to float slightly for optimum pin/sleeve performance while eliminating the need to machine backup plates.  Metric sizes are now available. 

These products are a cost effective alternative and are available off the shelf for fast delivery.  For complete CAD geometry and more information, visit www.procomps.com.

It's Been Said...

Receiving feedback from customers about the products they use is invaluable to Progressive.  Just this week we heard from Dave Palang at RAMKO, who told us that the company has installed Roller Pullers on more than 20 3-plate molds last year.  Most of the tools have between 300,000 and 500,000 cycles on them and the Roller Pullers are performing without incident, he said.

“There is no other product that competes,” he explained.  “Before the Roller Pullers were available we were buying friction pullers and spring plungers from other suppliers.  Now all we need are Progressive’s Roller Pullers because they last longer and are strong enough where they can break the gate and retain the A & B plates as they open.  The adjustable system makes it user friendly, too. Progressive is a very innovative company and we love this product.”

Click HERE to view an online demo of Progressive's Roller Pullers.

Distribution Expansion

Gary Klockowski is president of Klockowski & Associates, based in suburban, Chicago, IL.  He has more than 30 years experience in the Die Cast Tooling industry and is Progressive’s Midwest Die Cast Tooling representative.  Gary promotes Progressive’s complete Die Casting Components line to customers through the Midwest and also works to promote them with the help of his associate, Dan Anderson, in Missouri, Arkansas, and western Kentucky and Tennessee. 

“My primary goal is to make sure that every die caster within my territory has Progressive Components’ exclusive Die Cast Tooling catalog and that they are well aware of what Progressive has to offer,” says Gary.  “Old sourcing habits die hard, but we’re changing them by offering value-priced standards that save tool building time and reduce scrap.” 

Gary will be in Progressive's booth at the upcoming Metalcasting Congress, which will be held April 7 – 10 in Las Vegas.  You’ll find him, along with Leon Suttles, Progressive’s U.S. Die Cast Sales Manager, in Booth 529. 

Contact Gary via email at gpklockowski@comcast.net, or view Progressive’s Die Cast Tooling catalog online at www.procomps.com.

ProComper Spotlight

Al Hickok
Midwest Sales Manager 

Since joining the Progressive sales team in October 2007, Al Hickok has expanded his duties beyond just Midwest Sales Manager serving customers in IL, MN, and the Dakotas.  He also focuses on development and technical support of Progressive’s Collapsing Core and Expandable Cavity lines from Roehr Tool, and provides technical sales support to large OEM’s.   

Al cites helping customers find financial and technical solutions that help them maintain and grow their business and profits is one of the most important aspects of his job.  Given that most of his 14 years working in the tooling industry have been spent on the Tooling Engineer and Project Management side of the business, Al is well equipped to help customers achieve those goals. 

“Our customers are challenged to find new methods for producing parts from challenging designs while reducing costs both up front and through the life of the mold,” he says.  “It’s our job to offer products that help them meet those needs and work with them on selection and implementation of products.  For example, using our C-Cores product line we’ve helped companies save money through up front tooling cost, reductions in cycle times, less maintenance and better overall part quality.” 

To contact Al, call 800-269-6653 or email him at Al.Hickok@procomps.com.