Building the Future by Sharing the Craft

Manufacturing has always been about more than machines.

It's about people willing to invest their knowledge in the next generation.

Senior Mold Maker Dennis Lafever brings more than 40 years of experience to our team. While his technical expertise helps us tackle some of the industry's most complex tooling, it's his commitment to developing others that leaves the greatest impact.

When Dennis joined our company three years ago, he was looking for a new challenge. After decades of working on smaller molds, he stepped into an environment where he could utilize his expertise on large, highly complex molds weighing up to 96,000 pounds.

Today, Dennis leads our second-shift mold making team, helping expand production capacity while mentoring the next generation of skilled tradespeople.

Ask Dennis what matters most, and the conversation quickly shifts from molds to people.

Whether he's explaining a complex mechanical system or troubleshooting an issue, or even walking through a repair, he believes knowledge should be shared, not protected.

"I don't withhold information," he says. "I give them whatever information I can because it helps make my job easier later."

That philosophy has become contagious. The employees he's mentored are now helping develop others, creating a culture where knowledge continues to multiply.

Dennis also believes that attitude shapes success.

Technical skills can be taught. Curiosity, work ethic, and a willingness to learn are what allow people to reach their full potential. He encourages teammates to ask questions and stay engaged, focusing on solving problems instead of assigning blame.

As manufacturing continues to evolve, experienced craftspeople play a critical role in preserving knowledge while preparing the next generation to build on it.

For Dennis, that's one of the most rewarding parts of the job.

The molds may leave the building.

The knowledge shared with people stays with them for a lifetime.