Master Molder® I: Woodstock, Georgia, 2020-08-17

Course Description

There’s a reason why Master Molder has been the premier standard of excellence in molding for decades and continues to be a sought after qualification.

This 10-day* certificate course focuses on the best practices of DECOUPLED MOLDING® II process development, documentation, and duplication for any mold in any capable machine. To help students apply scientific molding principles, the schedule offers a blend of hands-on time with the molds and machines and participative classroom time. The goal is not necessarily to be able to “run machines” but to achieve an understanding of the “whys” behind the manipulation of key processing variables from the plastic’s point of view.

During the last 2 days, participants are assessed on process development, process matching, and general molding theory and methodology through timed final exams to confirm the effective transfer of the critical knowledge and skills.

Anyone who is responsible for implementing a processing strategy in their plant or who is held accountable for quality issues are prime candidates for this training.

Students earn points through a combination of assessments:

- Quizzes

- Final Exams:
  - - Theory and Methodology
  - - Graphical Data

- Final Processing Exams:
  - - DECOUPLED MOLDING II Process Development for two different machines/molds
  - - Evaluate injection molding machine performance
  - - DECOUPLED MOLDING II process match on a different molding machine

A minimum of 80 out of 100 points is required to earn a Master Molder I Certificate of Completion.

Course length: 2 weeks

*Notice! Beginning January 2026, Master Molder I will become an 8-day duration. 2025 classes will remain 10 days long. Please ensure to note course dates at time of registration.

Course Highlights

Use a proven sequence of data-driven studies to systematically develop DECOUPLED MOLDING II processes that meet given production and quality standards
Duplicate established DECOUPLED MOLDING II processes on other target machines utilizing Machine Independent Variables to document and facilitate transfer
Explore the process from the plastic’s point of view through the lens of the 4 plastic variables to better understand the implications of adjusting processing variables and as a means of troubleshooting processing inconsistencies and part quality issues
Evaluate machine and non-return valve performance

Course Prerequisites

It is strongly recommended that the participant has prior machine operation experience, has successfully completed the following courses, or has equivalent knowledge/experience: