The participants of the Strategy Days represented well-known companies in the industry at management level as well as research institutes and universities, particularly from the tool and mold making and plastics technology sectors. In addition to Hermle, the hydraulic cylinder specialist AHP Merkle and the precision tool manufacturer Zecha Hartmetall-Werkzeugfabrikation supported the organization of the event.

The aim of the FDWF is to support companies in the industry and to ensure the innovative strength and international competitiveness of tool and mold making through joint pre-competitive research and development.

Strategy days for networked research in tool and mold making

The toolmakers in the German-speaking world see networking and joint research activities as a way of pooling their own resources sensibly and successfully defending their technological leadership internationally. At the conference, FDWF President Prof. Thomas Seul first provided information on the current situation with regard to Industrial Collective Research (IGF). The federal government is providing around 200 million euros in funding for this area this year via the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Seul then gave a comprehensive overview of the status of the projects that have already been submitted.

Jens Lüdtke from Tebis Consulting, who is also a board member of the industry initiative Marktspiegel Werkzeugbau, provided information on current trends in the industry. Werner Siedl (Traumfirma) presented the Executive Board team's thoughts on vision and strategy for discussion. The second day was opened by Anna Tschacha, 1st Deputy Chairwoman of the FDWF for the injection mold making sector, and Mario Kiefer, 2nd Deputy Chairman for the stamping, bending and forming die making sector, with a summary of the previous day and a question and answer session to detail the vision and strategy.

Strategy Days provide a stage for research institutes

The presentation of the research institutes integrated into the FDWF and their focal points took up a lot of space. Prof. Wolfgang Boos, Managing Director of the WBA Aachener Werkzeugbau Akademie, presented his institute. After six years of "permanent crisis", he sees the industry facing a fundamental paradigm shift. In his view, eco-efficient production in tool and mold making will become a major topic. Other topics cover a broad spectrum from the integration of additive processes as the sixth field of technology in production, collaborative cooperation and the recruitment of skilled workers to dealing with changing globalization.

Udo Hinzpeter from the Kunststoff-Institut Lüdenscheid demonstrated the advantages of the strong network around the institute in addition to the possibilities for projects along the entire plastics processing chain. He used the example of process development in the field of CVD coatings for plastic molds to show how technological boundaries can be pushed. Here, layers with high density can be deposited that offer reliable protection even at high temperatures. Another research focus is on energy-efficient production tools.

Constantin Vogel from the Deggendorf Institute of Technology outlined the three main focuses of the Lower Bavarian institution in the areas of data management, collaboration and knowledge management. One of the most interesting projects is the research and development of a common "language" for collaboration between different companies on a digital level. The medium for comprehensive information transfer is detailed color coding, which enables clear, transparent and unambiguous communication. And, as a consequence, a comprehensively automated and optimized processing of orders, regardless of which of the companies involved has the resources available for production. An ideal prerequisite if previous company boundaries are no longer to play a role in collaboration.

The "Applied Plastics Technology" department at Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences, headed by Professors Thomas Seul and Stefan Roth, is part of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Seul referred to the facility's excellent facilities for product and process development in the fields of tool and mold making and plastics technology. "The focus is always on the product, which ultimately determines the process," said Seul. In addition to the digitalization of tools and manufacturing processes using AI in combination with machine learning, the research projects in Schmalkalden focus on the simulation-based prediction of wear and the rule-based design process of products and tools.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU in Chemnitz is the leading German institute for resource-efficient production within the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. The researchers focus on the entire process chain in the spirit of regenerative systems and the circular economy. In the "Cognitive Production" research center, they primarily investigate the combination of IT, software, mechanical and electrical components to create embedded, intelligent means of production, in short: cyber-physical production systems.

All of these research institutes work in a very practice-oriented manner and are also in close contact with companies in the industry. The contacts for interested companies are on an equal footing with the practitioners in tool and mold making - ideal conditions for successful research work.

Refinement of the roadmap

Finally, the participants evaluated the FDWF's research roadmap, "Key position production tool", using a points system. The FDWF members clearly prioritized the topic of "Business models for tool and mould making". This involves the development of innovative process maps, research into the development of new business areas, as well as digital transformation and the creation of networked structures in collaborative value chains for the manufacture of production tools in industrial tool and mold making. Among many other topics, the areas of "development of energy-efficient and resource-saving production tools and new technologies", "automation concepts" and "processes and manufacturing strategies" were rated as important.

In addition to the work in plenary sessions, there was plenty of time for networking - including during the exciting tour of Hermle's production facilities. The next FDWF Strategy Days on January 28 and 29, 2025 will continue the agenda and the roadmap.