In The Hopper

New Releases for Mold Management 

ProFile, the industry’s first mold management software, was released by Progressive Components in 1996. This month, Progressive will release the latest version of the popular program, ProFile 6, offering more enhanced features for even easier mold management. 

ProFile is a custom database manager for production molds, similar to a CRM program, where last and next actions for a tool may be recorded and tracked, plus it houses critical vendor and customer information for each tool to streamline the management process.  Other features include:

• An integrated Bill of Materials program that gives users histories of costs for the products within the mold and links costs back to the actions being performed.

• Several canned reports to submit status updates to colleagues or mold owners. Plus, the data can be exported to other programs for further manipulation.

• Embedded spreadsheets allow for tool-specific data to be stored as well as general information via a program-specific spreadsheet, perfect for calculations and general lists.

ProFile 6 offers user-friendly enhancements such as more reports for more data presentation options and more streamlined entry of work orders, memos, and scheduling of actions. 

ProFile 6 is $495 for a full version, while current ProFile users can upgrade for $75. 

To download a demo, or to find out more about ProFile, CLICK HERE or call 800-269-6653.

RTI’s Reduce Mold Building Time 

Rapid Tooling Inserts (RTI^®) from Progressive reduce mold building times for prototype and short run applications. The RTI Design features default locations for return pins, guide pins, and assembly screws, while the inserts are safer with easier handling during changeovers. 

Leading mold shops choose RTI’s for their convenience and performance, and for value-added features that other manufacturers don’t offer. Competitively priced, RTI’s fit all standard sizes including Solid, Laminated and T-Style versions.   

Progressive also offers RTI Complete, which comes with a pin plate area pocketed for complete quick tooling changes, and RTI Accessories, which include Frame Sprue Bushings, Frame Clamps, Support Pillars, Mold Straps and T-Handles. All of these accessories are manufactured from quality materials, to exacting standards. 

Look to Progressive for RTI Cavity and Core Inserts, available in DH2F, which requires no additional heat treatment and is ready for cavity and core details, or in Aluminum, for faster cutting speeds for prototype tools. Progressive also offers RTI Pin Plate Inserts, which are designed to be matched with cavity and core inserts for each project and inserted into the RTI Complete pocketed unit insert. 

Find out more by clicking HERE.  

It's Been Said...

Three years ago, at NPE2006, Progressive introduced the SRT™ Slide Retainer, as part of its new Friction Free™ line.  Later that year, John Anderson at Prestige Mold let Progressive know how pleased his company was with the design and performance of this product.  The company had installed them on 25 molds and some already had well over one million cycles on them without any customer complaints, he said. 

On the eve of NPE2009, Progressive checked back with John for an update: 

“They work great,” he told us.  “You can’t beat them… I remember when we first started using them, customers were raising their eyebrows at anything new, and we even bought extras to show them what they were and why we liked them. The roller design works extremely well and we have zero complaints. We like the installation advantages, and our customers like the longevity versus other approaches.” 

To see the SRT’s in action, visit www.procomps.com/demo or visit Progressive in Booth 12138, South Hall, at NPE2009, which will be held June 22 – 26, at Chicago’s McCormick Place.

Distribution Expansion

RIGON Features Progressive Products at Italian Events 

Progressive’s distributor in Italy, Rigon, exhibited at the Eurostampi show in Parma on March 19-21, and then the following week they represented Progressive at the Plast 09 show in Milan on March 24-28. John Wakefield, Managing Director of Progressive’s European office, was on hand for the shows. 

“Progressive was well represented and the feedback from the Rigon team was very positive about both shows,” John said. “They have also increased their sales force in Italy and have many more enquiries for the more technical and innovative products such as C-Cores and Expandable Cavities.” 

Rigon also offers Alignment products, CounterView Cycle Counters, Lifters and all items from Progressive’s exclusive Friction Free line.  Email John Wakefield at sales.eu@procomps.com for more information.

ProComper Spotlight

Kathy Godan
Shipping Coordinator

How do those boxes of components magically appear at your door accurately, day-in and day-out? Kathy Godan, who celebrates seven years with Progressive this month, is a key part of those behind-the-scenes workings.  

As Progressive’s Shipping Coordinator, Kathy’s department is part of an order accuracy rate of 99.58%. Another way of tracking accuracy is only one error is made for every 400 line items the Shipping team picks and packs. Although that is strong for this industry, improvements are always being made.  

“I have great employees that work together everyday to continuously provide great customer service,” she explains.  “We have high standards for shipping orders accurately and quickly. It’s what my team can do to maintain a high level of customer satisfaction.”   

Progressive’s annual Shipping Survey, one of several surveys sent to customers to gauge satisfaction, helps Kathy and her team to be geared towards increasing accuracy and satisfaction. The survey results help shape the Continuous Improvement effort. So while there’s nothing magic as to how these accuracy levels are achieved, Kathy leads an extraordinary team to ensure continued satisfaction.

Kathy welcomes customer feedback on shipping issues and can be contacted at Kathy.Godan@procomps.com.