Molded Dimensions LLC announced today that its board of directors unanimously appointed Al Mejia as the next Chief Executive Officer. Mejia succeeds Linda Katz, the former CEO as of April 29. Linda Katz, former CEO, and Mike Katz, former President, will maintain a position on the Molded Dimensions board of directors.
Molded Dimensions: Where Great People Choose to Work
Posted on March 21, 2019 by The Molded Dimensions Teamby Dianna Brodine, managing editor, Inside Rubber. Originally appeared in Inside Rubber Magazine, January 2019
Molded Dimensions LLC has been in business since 1954. The company moved to Port Washington, Wisconsin, in 1973, where it has grown into a 100+-employee, three- shift facility with four separate divisions: rubber, cast urethane, moldmaking and strategic sourcing. President Mike and CEO Linda Katz purchased the business in 2001, and its project base focuses on low- to medium-volume custom manufacturing. This niche serves Molded Dimensions well, keeping its customer portfolio diversified and ensuring a continuous stream of interesting technical projects.
Starting Young for a Career in Manufacturing
Posted on March 6, 2019 by Mike Katz
The average age for someone working the manufacturing sector in the US is over 45 years old. This is more than 3 years older than the average for all other sectors and the gap is widening over time. What does this mean for young people? It means there has never been a better time to start a career in manufacturing. As people retire there will be a need to fill those employee’s shoes at an increasing rate, creating opportunity for those who want to take it. With an average salary of nearly $60,000, a manufacturing career can be a great long term, family sustaining, way to make a living.
Molded Dimensions is committed to continually advancing the positive message of manufacturing. Each year we host students from our local high school on Manufacturing Day, and we take part in all our area job fairs and round tables. We also are proud to be able to donate funds to the Port Washington High School tech education group to help them get the equipment they need to teach their students. Partnering with many other manufacturing companies in our area, the high school was able to secure a grant and buy several lathes, mills and a router. We are excited to see what these students will create with their new equipment, and to see the pride they feel when they make something real and tangible. We hope that they also see what a future in manufacturing might be like, and that fuels them to consider it as a career path.
Pedals – MDI Products in Action
Posted on April 13, 2018 by The Molded Dimensions Team
To the left is an example of a custom molded foot pedal used in large excavation equipment. The chemically-bonded urethane pad exhibits wear resistance, making it look better and last longer despite highly abrasive environments.
- Material Compound: Most pedals are made with 80 Durometer Shore “D” Black Pentathane®. Hardness, as applied to elastomers, is defined as the relative resistance of a surface to indention by an indenter of specified dimension under a specified load. The most commonly used measuring instrument is a durometer. Numerical hardness values are derived from the depth of penetration. The harder the sample, the further it will push back the indenter point and the higher the readings. On the durometer A scale, 0 is very soft, and 100 is very hard. Values are usually read immediately after firm contact has been established. The hardness range of elastomers is so broad that a single durometer cannot indicate practical measurable differences of hardness. For this reason durometers are available in more than one scale model, (eg., A and D scale durometers). The A scale durometer is widely used throughout the rubber industry. The durometer D model, which has a stiffer spring and a more pointed indenter, is used to measure the hardness of hard rubbers.
- Special characteristics: abrasion and cracking resistance helps keep the pedal looking brand new for years to come.
Door Bumpers: MDI Products in Action
Posted on March 30, 2018 by The Molded Dimensions TeamOften going unnoticed, door bumpers are important at work and in your home to protect your walls from dings and dents caused by doorknobs. Today, we’re talking about the features our door bumpers have that make them stand out from the competition.
- Material Compound: These bumpers are made with 35 Durometer Shore A grade elastomer. It also features a fastener chemically bonded to the SBR elastomer for easy attachment to equipment.
- Impact Resistance: The impact or shock resistance of an elastomer is determined by striking a sample with a swinging pendulum (hammer). The sample is placed at the lowest point of the arc traveled by the pendulum head. Measuring the difference in the distance of the upswing of the pendulum after the impact, compared to the same upswing with nothing in its path, determines the energy in breaking the sample which is the measure of impact strength.
- Non-marking Grey Color: The material and its impact resistance keep the bumper from making any marks on the door or wall, and its grey color keeps it hidden from view.
Gaskets: MDI Products in Action
Posted on March 12, 2018 by The Molded Dimensions TeamA gasket is a mechanical seal that fills the space between two or more mating surfaces, generally to prevent leakage from or into the joined objects while under compression. Continue reading
Rubber in the Olympics
Posted on February 27, 2018 by The Molded Dimensions TeamI’m sure you’ve been at least casually following the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. Continue reading
Grommets: MDI Products in Action
Posted on February 21, 2018 by The Molded Dimensions TeamA grommet is a ring or edge strip inserted into a hole through thin material, typically a sheet of textile fabric, sheet metal or composite of carbon fiber, wood or honeycomb. Continue reading