A hydraulic expansion tool holder with dual-contact technology helped improve stability, reduce vibration and shorten setup times during trochoidal milling tests in demanding nitriding steel, demonstrating the impact of optimised tool holding on machining performance.

Injection moulding and FDM 3D printing offer different advantages when producing polypropylene parts. A theoretical study examines how mechanical requirements, production volumes and costs determine which process is the better choice.

Marking its 30th edition, Fakuma 2026 in Friedrichshafen (12–16 October) is rolling out its biggest supporting programme yet — from a new Innovation Award and the debut Paul Eberhard Schall Medal to a Round Table on European industry resilience, a startup showcase and Career Friday for young talent. Beyond the exhibits spanning injection moulding to recycling, the anniversary event promises a packed calendar of discussion, discovery and recognition for the plastics processing world.

Engineers can use natural language to develop custom CAD functions with a new capability for the Onshape platform. PTC’s Feature Script MCP Server connects AI coding models with CAD automation to help build, test and refine reusable design tools.

Advanced sorting and processing increased the share of end-of-life vehicle materials suitable for high-quality reuse from six to 51 percent in the Car2Car research project. BMW and its partners achieved particularly strong results for metals, while plastics and glass still present major technical challenges.

Italian machine tool orders declined sharply in the second quarter of 2026, as weaker domestic and export demand reflected geopolitical uncertainty and subdued investment activity.

With two all-electric production cells Negri Bossi will demonstrate how injection moulding, automation and process control can be combined for food and medical applications. The Fakuma exhibits focus on liquid silicone processing, cleanroom suitability and integrated manufacturing concepts.

A first rise in orders is giving Germany’s machine tool builders some breathing space. But weak investment, lower capacity utilisation and falling exports show that the sector is still far from a sustained recovery.

The Digital Innovation Days will bring plastics industry specialists and managers to Würzburg on 28 and 29 September 2026. Organised by SKZ, the event will examine digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence and practical approaches to implementing digitalisation projects.

Smart manufacturing, circular materials and changing international plastics markets will shape Taipeiplas 2026. Alongside technology presentations, the programme will examine recycling, supply chain resilience and practical approaches to reducing disposable waste.

Artificial intelligence, robotics, new business models, and evolving customer expectations are reshaping business and industry at an unprecedented pace. For leaders, simply reacting to change is no longer enough. What is required are strategic decisions that make organizations resilient, innovative, and future-ready. Transformation is no longer optional. It is a leadership responsibility. This will be the focus of the T3 Conference 2026.

Lamiera returns to Fieramilano Rho from 11 to 14 May 2027 for its 24th edition, with early exhibitor sign-ups already signalling strong industry demand. The show will bring together more than 500 working machines across six technology themes — from automation and welding to metrology and heat treatment — alongside a new Futuretech Award spotlighting the sector’s most innovative solutions.

New mould base and hot runner components will share the stage with digital design tools at Fakuma 2026. Hasco will demonstrate how standardised products, energy-efficient solutions and direct access to CAD data can support more reliable mouldmaking processes.

Visitors to the Meusburger stand at Fakuma 2026 can explore the company's latest standard components, engineering software and cleanroom solutions before taking a behind-the-scenes tour of its manufacturing site in Wolfurt.

A new reciprocating extrusion head from Guill enables continuous production of medical tubing with varying profiles in a single run, eliminating secondary assembly steps while reducing lead times and inventory.

From wear-resistant DLC coatings to anti-twist pins and blades built for extra-long strokes, Meusburger's ejector portfolio now covers nearly every demand mould makers face. A new configurator adds instant access to pricing, lead times and CAD data, letting designers select and customise components in a single step.

Industrial production has begun at Pro Materia, with the first batches of additively manufactured metal spare parts set for use within GMH Gruppe. The venture plans to extend production to small series and complex components for customers across a range of industries.

Core Technologie optimises its 4D_Additive 3D printing software with a new Build History, automated data preparation, and enhanced functions for SLM supports and lattice structures.

Injection moulding and FDM 3D printing offer different advantages when producing polypropylene parts. A theoretical study examines how mechanical requirements, production volumes and costs determine which process is the better choice.

Coretechnologie has enhanced its 4D_Additive 3D printing software. New features include Build History, automated data preparation and expanded functions for lattice structures and SLM supports.

At AMB 2026, Bimatec Soraluce will present a machine from its Productivity Line and demonstrate how automation and multitasking solutions can be used to implement customer-specific projects.

A compact 5-axis machining platform, 100-tool capacity and automated pallet handling are helping Avant Manufacturing expand high-mix, low-volume production while maximising output from limited shop floor space.

August Wenzler Maschinenbau, a Heller company, and Benz Tooling are joining forces to take the machining of megacasting components for e-mobility to a new level.

From September 15 to 19, the Chiron Group invites visitors to discover their latest solutions at AMB 2026 in Stuttgart. Under the motto “Where Automation meets Machining Excellence”, the company will demonstrate how machining technology, automation and digital systems can be combined to create high-performance manufacturing solutions.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has moved well beyond the buzzword stage, and the tool and mould making industry is no exception. With the global AI market projected to grow at a steep pace through the next decade, manufacturers are increasingly weaving AI-powered solutions into core production workflows and CAD/CAM is where much of that transformation is now visible. Major players such as Siemens, Mastercam and Open Mind Technologies have all incorporated AI-powered solutions directly into their platforms.

Embedded AI agents can connect ERP, MES and quality management data to automate routine tasks and identify potential problems earlier. At AMB 2026, Aptean will demonstrate how vertical AI can support machining and precision manufacturing operations.

Engineers can use natural language to develop custom CAD functions with a new capability for the Onshape platform. PTC’s Feature Script MCP Server connects AI coding models with CAD automation to help build, test and refine reusable design tools.

As WES Engineering Solutions expands its five-axis, lights-out machining capabilities, Vericut simulation and verification software provides the confidence to run complex CNC programmes safely, protecting high-value machines and components while reducing proving-out time.

New mould base and hot runner components will share the stage with digital design tools at Fakuma 2026. Hasco will demonstrate how standardised products, energy-efficient solutions and direct access to CAD data can support more reliable mouldmaking processes.

The cooling channel configuration inside an injection mould critically influences cost-efficiency and part quality. For twelve years, researchers at RWTH Aachen University have worked on optimising and automating its design through an inverse approach.

Oerlikon HRS Flow will highlight its cross-industry expertise in hot-runner injection moulding at Fakuma 2026. This includes developments related to the needle-less Stargate HRS system, new applications for the Xp nozzle series in thick-walled containers, and the use of Glow HRS to minimize post-processing steps for automotive visible parts.

A new tunnel gate insert series from I-Mold enables gate locations on non-visible surfaces through melt deflections of up to 270°, combining improved part aesthetics with easier tool design and maintenance.