Grand Rapids, Mich. — Justin McPhee, vice president of engineering at Willernie, Minn.-based Mold Craft Inc., was named Mold Maker of the Year for his commitment to the industry, education and innovation.
The 24-year Mold Craft employee is part of a team that manufactures high-volume, single- or multicavity injection molds to produce small, intricate plastic, silicone, ceramic and metal molded parts.
Founded in 1964, privately held Mold Craft serves the medical and microelectronics markets with molds to produce parts as small as 5 milligrams for bone screws, filtration screens and implantables.
McPhee mastered his craft and has been on a mission to cultivate the next generation of mold builders in his community.
"It's why God put me here — to push forward manufacturing," McPhee said after accepting his glass trophy May 11 from the Indianapolis-based American Mold Builders Association during its annual conference in Grand Rapids.
McPhee promotes manufacturing careers to students and advocates for U.S. mold manufacturers in Washington, D.C., fighting for causes such as tax reform, open competition for materials on federally funded projects and stronger free trade policies to open international markets to U.S. exports, according to Tom Barr, president of TK Mold & Engineering Inc. in Romeo, Mich.
Barr, the recipient of the award last year, presented McPhee with this year's honor.
"From forming an alliance with other AMBA members to better the customer experience to storming Capitol Hill for the betterment of the industry — I don't think that was Jan. 6 — to creating a family culture at work to provide a better work environment for his team, Justin McPhee is always there with an attitude of go bigger or go home," Barr said.
In his position, McPhee has been a leader, educator and true ambassador of promoting careers in the mold building industry for decades, Barr said.
"It's not just an endeavor. No, it's a commitment. He takes it to the extreme like all aspects of his life. It's how he rolls," Barr added.
