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Photo courtesy of Accu-Mold, Inc. Accu-Mold General Manager Len Hyde (right) and retiree Steve Scott (left) stand in front of the ultra-high speed CNC machines he operates. Gager enjoys the sense of accomplishment that comes from working and creating something, as well as the ability to still contribute to the workplace. ���It also keeps my mind active and helps keep it from growing old,��� Gager notes ���Working with the younger employees helps keep your outlook on life more upbeat and positive. And lastly, earning a few extra dollars doesn���t hurt a bit.��� Over at LS Mold, Inc. (Holland, MI), its President Larry Koning reports the company retains three retirees���two that work between 16 and 20 hours a week and the other one between 24 and 30 hours a week. ���We bring them in a few days a week, making sure they don���t log in so many hours that they lose their benefits,��� he says. ���They fill in the holes we need, and at the same time we don���t have to pay their health insurance.��� Two of the three retirees are company truck drivers, Koning continues. ���One works two days and the other works three. ���The two-day guy was a 30-year employee who was a moldmaker before he retired,��� he notes. It is a perfect opportunity for him to get out of the house and make a little money; and I have a guy who is very capable and familiar with handling plastic injection molds. It really is the best of both worlds.��� The third retiree���who also was a toolmaker for the company for 35 years���is happy to come in from time to time to do some toolmaking, Koning adds. ���He makes a little money and is able to see the guys,��� he notes. Electroform Co. (Rockford, IL), also has a former retired employee, Jim Brancato, working three days a week. ���I feel with that generation there is a lot of passion for the industry still,��� Electroform President Wade Clark states. ���They still enjoy the shop. It keeps them active. They enjoyed their careers; and I think it���s also nice for them to know they can stop working whenever they would like to.��� Brancato does some project management as well as estimating. ���I didn���t want to just walk away from a job not knowing what the future would bring,��� Brancato says. ���It gives me the opportunity to still keep in contact with clients, vendors and the people at Electroform, and to also have extra time to do all the things I enjoy. It is working out great, and I am grateful to Wade for giving me this opportunity.��� Martin, Snow, Koning and Clark concur that having retirees work in the shop has had a positive impact on their companies as a whole. ���The guys don`t mind at all when the retirees come in,��� Koning states. ���Most of the time they ask. If a toolmaker is behind in a job it is a nice way to pick up time���and also keep the job in-house.��� Grow Young Talent At the other end of the spectrum, several shops are targeting America���s youth to address the skilled labor shortage. Paul Ziegenhorn, President, Matrix Tooling, Inc./Matrix Plastic Products (Wood Dale, IL), notes that the company prefers to moldmakingtechnology.com 45