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Members of the moldmaking community were recently honored for excellence at the Plastics Technology Exposition (PTXPO) 2025. The Mold Technologies Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers presented the following awards at PTXPO in the SPE Mold Technologies booth.

These four international awards are presented annually for individual expertise as well as individual contributions to the industry and community.

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Edward Duignan, , Rochester, New York, was named the 2025 Moldmaker of the Year, sponsored by Hasco America. Duignan is a 47-year veteran of the moldmaking industry having started his career at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT).

Jim Fattori, , was named the 2025 Mold Designer of the Year, sponsored by Progressive Components. Fattori is a third-generation moldmaker/designer with a degree in industrial engineering from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. He has written more than 60 articles for Plastics Technology and Moldmaking Technology magazines throughout the course of his career.

Markus Woeste, , in Shanty Bay, Ontario, Canada, was named 2025 Mold Repair Technician of the Year, sponsored by MoldTrax. Woeste is a 37-year veteran of the moldmaking/repair industry. His German heritage and drive for success help in ensuring that molds are repaired correctly not just “fixed” for the short term. Woeste is a member of the international community of moldmaking/repair professionals living and working in Ontario, Canada.

Nick Paxon, Thermo-Fisher Scientific, Rochester, New York, was named the 2025 Apprentice of the Year – Moldmaking, sponsored by PCS Company. Paxon completed his New York State Certified Apprenticeship in January 2025. His scholastic achievements include carrying a 3.8 GPA through the related theory program in advanced CNC programming. Paxon is an “all-around” moldmaker with the ability to take a project from initial release in the mold shop to testing in the press. He has demonstrated skills in all areas of machine technologies toward his credentials as a certified journey worker in the trade of Moldmaking.

This marks the second year for the presentation of the Apprentice of the Year for the division and shows further growth in the recognition of practitioners and trainees in the moldmaking industry. These awards are open to all members of the moldmaking community throughout the world. Along with each award is a $1,000 stipend to be donated to the award recipient’s training program of choice. The Moldmaking Apprentice of the Year receives $500 in tooling to outfit their toolbox and a $500 stipend for personal use.

In addition, MMT Editorial Director Christina Fuges was honored when the board unanimously named her an honorary moldmaker and presented her with her own Gerstner toolbox. Fuges is a 28-year veteran and proponent of all things moldmaking and design, the board says. 

Fuges has served as the division secretary to the board of directors for the Mold Technologies Division and works tirelessly to promote the industry. She helped create the first Amerimold Program/Event in Columbus, Ohio, and continues promoting moldmaking with joint events at PTXPO and/or Amerimold.

The board thanked Fuges for her efforts to bring together moldmaking organizations to promote the great opportunities available for moldmakers, mold designers and mold repair technicians as career choices.