Posted by Yehoram on February 27, 2000 at 17:31:22:
In Reply to: The wireless market posted by todd on February 27, 2000 at 10:22:21:
We are not yet in the market for making tools or dies for plastic injection molding or metal die casting. What you refer to are experiments that we have successfully made to prove this concept. Plastic injection molding or die casting tooling is a different market, than the one that we pursue. For us a different business model is desired. One in which the tool is not a "stand alone" product, but a part in a product launch service. In this respect, Soligen is developing several approaches how to eliminate the risk of building tools that have to be reproduced or altered due to changes in the design that occur after the release of the part geometry to conventional tool makers. Die casting of aluminum and magnesium, is a good example because these tools are expensive and long lead items.
In addition to making DSPC casting (which need no tools and thus enable functional testing prior to making a tool), we have created hybrid tooling concepts in which we cast in iron or tool steel cavities that are than used as "bridging" or short run production tools for die casting machines. The benefit of these solutions are that they are used in conjunction with other methods to overall reduce time to market, and that is the uniqueness of our Parts Now programs.
Regarding injection molds for plastic. At present we are not pursuing the plastic tooling at all. We do not have the skills in house to design plastic injection molding tools and we have elected to turn all these solicitations down. The metal casting is huge, and I believe that we should first conquer it prior to diversifying to plastic. So, you wont see us soon making plastic parts for cellular phones or others, or tools for their manufacture.
Yehoram