By Ron Shinn
Mold maker and injection molder American Tool and Mold (ATM) has added an in-house prototyping division that can produce up to 5,000 molded parts with the customer’s specified resin within seven to 10 days after part design approval.
The new service is called ATM-X. The Clearwater, Fla.-based company said fast turnaround enables clients to quickly test and evaluate their designs before proceeding with full-scale production. The ability to quickly modify or remake interchangeable components ensures flexibility and adaptability, ATM said in a news release.
ATM also recently installed a Toyoda 1250SX horizontal mill, which has a range of 86.6 inches X axis, 63 inches Y axis and 72.8 inches Z axis. The mill will machine larger plates while holding tolerances of 0.0002 inches, the company said.
The company builds complex, precision, multi-cavity injection molds and provides thin-wall, stack, hot runner, unscrewing and two-shot molds. Normal design and build time is 12 weeks to 20 weeks.
In addition to building molds, ATM operates 26 injection molding machines ranging from 55 tons of clamping force to 650 tons of clamping force. The presses include ones from Husky, KraussMaffei and Arburg.
The company has 160 employees.
ATM specializes in caps and closures as well as high-tech, high-cavitation applications for medical products. It is a pioneer in multi-material injection molds, including cube and stack molds.
ATM was launched in 1978 by Demetre Loulourgas, a Greek immigrant. The company is now run by CEO Emilia Giannakopoulos, Demetre’s daughter. She has a degree in engineering and has extensive experience at ATM. The company is certified as a woman-owned and -operated business by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council and is ISO 9001, ISO 13485 and is compliant with International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).
Giannakopoulos said most of ATM’s injection molding machines are equipped for multi-shot projects.
To eliminate the conflict between being a mold maker and molder, Giannakopoulos said “we will not mold for our customers’ customers, as we feel loyalty is key to our success.”
This period of growth for ATM comes after a deal to sell the company to Benpac Holding fell through when the Swiss-based company failed to make promised payments. Benpac controlled the company from December 2019 until the Loulourgas family regained control in November 2021. The Loulourgas family is currently suing Benpac for breach of contract.
Giannakopoulos said ATM plans to continue to expand through strategic investments and acquisitions.
“Because of our sales growth, we have invested over $4 million this year to acquire state-of-the-art technologies, as well as hiring employees who possess the skill sets and experience to execute these technologies,” Giannakopoulos said. “Exceeding our customers’ expectation with superior quality and on-time delivery is our number one priority.”
Ron Shinn, editor
Contact:
American Tool and Mold, Clearwater, Fla., 727-447-7377, www.americantoolandmold.com
Ron Shinn | Editor
Editor Ron Shinn is a co-founder of Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing and has been covering the plastics industry for more than 35 years. He leads the editorial team, directs coverage and sets the editorial calendar. He also writes features, including the Talking Points column and On the Factory Floor, and covers recycling and sustainability for PMM and Plastics Recycling.
