Mold Builder of the Year
RICK FINNIE, President and owner of M.R. Mold & Engineering was presented with the prestigious Mold Builder of the Year award at the 2019 annual American Mold Builders Association Conference this week.
This award recognizes an individual whose life long talents and dedication to the mold building industry stands out above the rest.
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Rick Finnie is honored..........
The recipient of this year’s AMBA Mold Builder of the Year Award has been a leader and mentor in the mold building industry for over 40 years. He is truly passionate about the industry and supports the MADE IN THE USA label – continually exemplifying this in his actions.
This year’s award recipient started learning the trade in his father’s cutter and grinder business when he was just 15. At an early age, he learned the value of a strong work ethic and what it meant to take pride in one’s work. Two decades later, he opened his own shop with one employee. Today, 30+ employees strong, he has assembled a management team that reflects the core values and beliefs upon which his company was built - driving continuous improvement to promote its growth and future sustainability.
Mentorship is not only a priority, but a responsibility, to this recipient. His employees look up to him for guidance in their work and no matter how busy he may be, he always finds the time to provide input and help problem solve an issue. Outside of the company, his mentorship activities are relentless. Whether it’s conducting shop tours through his facility, teaching seminars or participating in National Manufacturing Day, he continually shares his knowledge and passion for the industry in an effort to promote careers in manufacturing.
Well respected by industry colleagues for his expertise in mold building, his innovative “outside the box” thinking has put his company on the map as one of the top three silicone moldmakers in the U.S. Over the years, he has developed his own cold runner system, universal base, pneumatic stuffer box, valve-gated controller and vacuum seal. These key components have not only secured his company’s foothold within the industry but they also have provided its customers with the same technology that saves time and money in getting product to market. The continual addition of new technology over the past few years, including a 5-axis Yasda coupled with Open Mind’s Hyper Mill software, two new Arburg molding machines and one ENGEL, have contributed to the company’s record sales in both 2017 and 2018.
He is actively involved in education-related activities through several trade organizations and committees. He is very involved in The Los Angeles Rubber Group Incorporated (TLARGI), sits on the Board for Century High School STEAM program in Santa Ana and is part of a team of industry experts that offers a ”fundamentals of silicone” course twice a year through various universities. In addition for the last three years, he has sat on the steering committee for the LSR Conference. He also has partnered with NTMA to recruit apprentices to the shop and started the company’s first internship program last year, mentoring three juniors from a local high school – one turning into a permanent hire! And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, as 2019 is producing some great interest!
He sat on the AMBA Board for several years back in late 1990s to early 2000, and was responsible for the creation of the California Chapter, serving as president of the chapter for several years. His company has been the recipient of several AMBA Educational Outreach Awards, AMBA AMMA Grant Awards and has been featured in numerous trade publications and online news posts. Just last year, the company hosted more than 400 students in a 5-day week-long Manufacturing Day event where students from five different Scholl districts visited the shop to learn about the industry of mold manufacturing.
Talk to Rick Finnie for just 5 minutes and there is no question about his passion – pouring his heart and soul into the industry and taking pride in the quality work his company, MR Mold, produces. He believes and supports the AMBA and all it stands for and is proud to be a member, and truly believes that a strong community of sharing can only make the industry better as a whole.
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Progressive Components has donated $5,000 in conjunction with this award to pay education forward. M.R. Mold will embrace the local schools and their needs with this generous donation.
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