BACKGROUND

     I started in the trade as an apprentice tool and die maker when I was 17 years old back in 1977.  Fifteen years were spent on the bench, with several of those spent working as general manager at the same time.  I spent about eight of those years doing part time die design.  This was a mixture of progressive die design and fineblank die design.  Those first years were spent relatively isolated from the actual stamping process from a production standpoint.  All I knew at that point was how to design and build good quality tooling profitably.

     In 1992 I took a job working for a production metal stamper.  I spent some time as a tool and die maker and some time in die design before becoming the tool department manager.  This involved overseeing the tool room, die design, laser department and wire EDM department.  I soon learned that there's a big difference between designing and building a die to just produce a good part, and designing and building a die to run at maximum production speeds and provide maximum uptime - in addition to producing a good part.

     I've always been very involved with the die design end of the business.  I've had the opportunity and the pleasure to work with many talented people over the years - customers, owners, and fellow employees - and I thank them for the knowledge they've shared with me, and I thank the good Lord above for allowing me to absorb what I've learned.  Click here if you'd like to see a more detailed resume of my background and continuing education.  Click here if you'd like to see more detail on the type of tooling I have the most experience with.