Press Release 
                                                                                    Contact: Melissa Millhuff, Executive Dir. 
For Immediate Release                                             American Mold Builders Association 
March 10, 2008                                                                      630-980-7667 

Peter W. Manship of Mold Craft Inc. Named 2008 AMBA Mold Builder of the Year 

Medinah, IL: The American Mold Builders Association is proud to announce the winner of the AMBA Mold Builder of the Year: Peter W. Manship, Chairman of Mold Craft Inc. in Willernie, Minnesota. The award was presented to Manship on March 5 at the AMBA Annual Convention in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The award was presented by last year’s winner, James Florian of Quality Mold and Engineering. 

Mold Craft has been a member of the AMBA since the Minnesota Chapter was formed. Pete, who began working at Mold Craft in 1982, attended numerous local chapter meetings and annual AMBA conventions as Mold Craft’s representative, and continue the company’s member-ship when he became the new owner of Mold Craft Inc. in 1991. Manship served as President of the AMBA for two years, 2004-2006. He has also served in numerous positions at the local Chapter level and continues to serve on the AMBA Board of Directors. 

Manship has been active in educational programs and was instrumental in setting up policies and procedures for the Minnesota Chapter’s Education Committee, and continues to provide assistance to the current chairman for administration of the program. He worked with Dunwoody Institute to promote mold building at an information booth in the technology center at the Minnesota State Fair. He also helped develop the new AMBA Mold Builder Career brochure that promotes mold manufacturing careers to young people at high schools and college’s through-out the U.S. 

He has hosted tours of Mold Craft for students enrolled in mold making courses at local trade schools and the Minnesota Precision Manufacturing Association. Manship works with local high school industrial technology instructors, giving presentations on mold making careers, hosting shop tours, and serving as an advisor on their “School to Careers” committee. He also donates equipment to mold building programs at technical colleges, and supports their programs with financial pledges, and has served as an advisor for curriculum planning. 

Manship has built a strong, viable business in the face of competitive challenges by positioning Mold Craft for future growth through revising his business plan to optimize the company’s strengths; making capital equipment investments to improve productivity and efficiency to be more competitive. Under Manship’s leadership, Mold Craft has doubled the physical size of the production facility and implemented the latest machine tool technology and lean manufacturing techniques to shorten lead times and innovate cost savings. 

The AMBA Mold Builder of the Year was chosen by a panel of three judges: Matt Defosse, editor, Modern Plastics Worldwide; Jeff Mengel, Partner and CPA for Plante Moran; and Glenn Beall of Glenn Beall Associates. The judges reviewed the submitted criteria for all entrants and the Mold Builder of the Year was selected based on business acumen, community and industry service, and overall representation as the ideal American Mold Builder. 
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