MA Alexander Stark

Moulding Expo is this year’s most important trade fair for the European tool and mould making industry. The event offers an opportunity to come together to explore current trends and challenges. 400 exhibitors have registered, with more than a third coming from abroad.

The surface finish of moulds is crucial, because it has a major impact on the quality of the articles produced and on the lifetime of a tool. ECP is a unique method that ensures smooth surfaces. PMM Moldes from Portugal makes this technology available to other mould makers as well.

According to a recent market research report published by Markets and Markets, the Micro Injection Moulding Machine Market will be worth 609 million Dollars by 2026. The tools and moulds required for these processes have to be machined with specialised cutting tools that ensure accuracy down to the micron.

Selecting a tool steel supplier is a key decision for the tool maker, the tool user and the end customer. It is not only crucial to select the correct steel grade for a specific tool and mould but it is more and more important keep the overall CO2 emissions for steel products and the supply chains of final customers in mind.

With the Virtual Innovation Day on 10 June 2021, Moulding Expo has launched a first targeted measure for the next physical trade fair for tool, pattern and mould making in 2023. At the beginning of the four-hour online event, industry leaders discussed the status quo, challenges and the future of European tool, pattern and mould making. ETMM has summarized the most important aspects of the discussion for you.

Italy — In a press conference on 26 May 2021, Emo Milano and German machine tool association VDW presented a preview of the upcoming trade fair to be held in Milan in October 2021. Barbara Colombo of Ucimu expressed her optimism that the industry is recovering, not least because of reviving international trade. Indeed, market figures point at a strong recovery looming on the horizon.

UK — With the arrival of the Figure 4 Standalone 3D printer from 3D Systems, the Engineering Technology Group (ETG) now has an affordable solution for functional prototyping and low volume production.

Germany — For some years now, it has been possible to manufacture metal components using fused layer modeling (FLM). Its limitations and quality characteristics compared to metal injection molding have now been explored by researchers at Fraunhofer IPA.

Germany — The aspect of digitalisation has gained further momentum in the wake of the Corona pandemic. But what role do people play in an increasingly digitised production environment? in this article Metav puts the spotlight on the changing corporate culture in smart factories.

IMTS 2022 — The International Manufacturing Technology Show, which runs 12 to 17 September at Chicago’s McCormick Place, is chock full of exhibitors, conferences, and other attractions focused on advanced manufacturing technology.

A tool and mould maker in transformation. What is changing at this medium-sized company as a result of the conversion to Industry 4.0 and digitalisation?

Germany — Using selective laser melting, a research project has designed an internal combustion engine that is 21 percent lighter. In addition, a new design achieved better cooling characteristics and a more efficient oil circulation system.

Germany — Manufacturer of 3D printing equipment, Asiga, is partnering in Henkel’s Open Materials Platform to accelerate the adoption of additive manufacturing in various industries with production-grade 3D printed parts that are both accurate and functional.

Germany — Medium-sized companies in the tool and die industry are often short of engineers, and competition in the Far East is getting fiercer. For these reasons, a start-up called Clous has developed a platform for outsourcing design tasks. Read how crowdsourcing is set to enter the engineering industry.

Italy — In a press conference on 26 May 2021, Emo Milano and German machine tool association VDW presented a preview of the upcoming trade fair to be held in Milan in October 2021. Barbara Colombo of Ucimu expressed her optimism that the industry is recovering, not least because of reviving international trade. Indeed, market figures point at a strong recovery looming on the horizon.

Office-friendly metal additive manufacturing systems are on the rise. Next-Generation technology further simplifies metal 3D printing for low volume production with a breakthrough, two-step process.

With the Virtual Innovation Day on 10 June 2021, Moulding Expo has launched a first targeted measure for the next physical trade fair for tool, pattern and mould making in 2023. At the beginning of the four-hour online event, industry leaders discussed the status quo, challenges and the future of European tool, pattern and mould making. ETMM has summarized the most important aspects of the discussion for you.

In some areas of industrial manufacturing, AM is increasingly emerging from the shadows of conventional processes. But the big breakthrough in series production is still missing. We asked our 3D experts why.

Electromobility is catching on and is forcing an entire industry to transform. But how do the individual markets develop in terms of demand, production and infrastructure? An analysis of six countries.

In 2022 K in Düsseldorf will once again be one of the most important information and business platforms for the global plastics and rubber industry. The trade fair has comprised the challenges facing the industry in three distinct leading themes.

Ireland — 2k moulding is one of the most innovative processes in use in plastics manufacturing today. Although the concept has been around for many decades, as with all tech processes, there have been a lot of technological advances in the use of 2k moulding in recent times. With a wide set of applications, it has many practical uses.

The Swiss company Exxentis AG will present the advantages of porous aluminum at Hannover Messe 2019.

The partnership of organizations leading the marketing industry with ABM insights and resources, ABM Leadership Alliance, announces key findings from its 2020 ABM research study. Conducted in partnership with Itsma, “Rethinking ABM for the Next Opportunity” is the fourth annual ABM benchmark study from the two organizations.

Tool manufacturer Widia has added an AL Geometry to its ISO Turning portfolio, adding to its broad offering of tooling solutions for small to medium sized machine shops, machining aluminum and non-ferrous materials.

Germany — Novel hybrid process chains expand classic mould making to include the advantages of 3D printing. The Blöcher foundry is the first company from Europe to use a new 3D sand printing system.

Nexa 3D, the maker of ultrafast stereolithography production 3D printers, and Henkel announced an expansion of their partnership with Henkel to immediately deliver three new performance photopolymer materials through Nexa 3D channels globally.

Switzerland — Many tool and mould makers are also located in Asia, and they are giving the European industry a hard time. A Swiss mould maker shows how to arm oneself against this with its well-selected milling machine park.

Austria — After a challenging year 2020, Meusburger is looking positively to 2021, mainly due to the new office building in Hohenems, the numerous digital solutions that have been newly and further developed for customers, and the product diversity as a full-range supplier in tool and mold making.

Germany — A host of training opportunities in technical and administrative positions will be offered by the British high-tech company Renishaw this year — including in Germany...

USA — Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF) specializes in micro-precision 3D printing. The company's Micro Arch system is based on a 3D printing technology called PμSL (Projection Micro Stereolithography).

Guide systems are one of the most important components of a properly functioning punching tool. In this area, Meusburger offers an extensive and systematic range of rolling and sliding guides for different requirements. In addition to numerous combination options between guide column and guide bushing, the guides are DIN/ISO compatible and optimally matched to Meusburger standard frames

Germany — For the 8th time in a row, Cadenas and partners call on students to submit their design ideas for a chance to win cash prizes.

Austria — The Austrian steel and technology group, Voestalpine, reports further recovery in key business segments during the third quarter of the business year 2020/21. This development followed a considerable decline in demand in almost all customer segments and regions during the first quarter 2020.

Trumpf Venture announces the final closing of the $ 15 million Series A funding round for Carbice Corporation led by Downing Ventures with additional funding provided by Trumpf Venture and Toyota AI Ventures.

Increasing importance is being attached to greater cost-efficiency and occupational safety during production processes. Hasco offers a wide range of solutions for meeting these requirements in the temperature control of injection moulds.

Mapal has launched a new series of drills for machining in the micro range. The drills of the new series Micro-Drill-Steel are available in a diameter range of 1-2.9 mm.

Germany — In a research project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi), ATS Elektronik, the Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Machine Tools at Leibniz University in Hanover and Fauser are developing new functions for the Manufacturing Execution System of the future. The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2021.

South Korea — Software component provider Module Works announced that Doosan Machine Tools has integrated their cutting simulation technology into their Sketch Turn product. The software replaces Doosan’s previous cutting simulation engine and is part of the group’s strategy to optimize the availability and effectiveness of machining information on the shop floor.

For anyone who is afraid of the intellectual and financial investments in 3D printing, experienced contract manufacturers are the obvious choice. These companies rely on different experiences and priorities.

The Netherlands — On January 1, 2021 Open Mind Technologies has taken over Dutch-based CNC-Consult & Automation. The company, which has served for many years as a distribution partner for the Hypermill CAD/CAM suite, has now become the sixteenth subsidiary in the global Open Mind network.

The veil has been lifted: In mid-September, Volkswagen (VW) presented the chassis of its new "ID" electric model family for the first time in Dresden – and provided deep insights in its platform strategy for electric cars.

Frank Venier from Audi Lightweight Construction Centre started this year's "Automobil Industrie" Lightweight Summit with a keynote speech on the multi-material design of the new A8 and the fourth generation "Audi Space Frame".

Most foundry entrepreneurs are aware of the big tasks at hand. There are many small measures that have a big effect on productivity in die casting industry. Efficiency is an important factor in a foundry.

E-mobility not only affects automobile manufacturers, but also has an impact on smaller suppliers. Dr. Jochen Kress of Mapal explains what changes a C parts supplier is facing and how the company intends to compensate for potential sales losses.

The US is imposing punitive tariffs of 25% on steel imports and ten percent on aluminium imports – the Amag Group is expecting losses in the mid-single-digit million euro range. Meanwhile, VDA CEO Mattes calls for an "objective discussion".

For the development of a new helicopter model, Airbus had to machine large gear components. To this end, Rösler Oberflächentechnik designed a drag-finishing machine with automatic workpiece clamping and a manipulator for part handling.

Lightweight construction generally pays off because more weight always equals higher energy consumption. Lightweight construction can also be inexpensive and improve competitiveness.

Last fall, two new multi-laser 3D printers were introduced. Both printers are based on the powder bed process. Where are the similarities and where are the differences of both systems?