Barbara Schulz

Maximum product protection with a minimum input of materials, decorative design and resource efficiency in production, storage and transport – the requirements are very diverse.The world market for packaging is projected to grow by 3.5% from $839bn in 2015 to $998bn in 2020.

EDM drilling is a non-contact drilling process which makes it possible to produce the smallest of drill holes, independent of material hardness at high speed. Once mainly used for creating starter holes for subsequent wire EDM operations, it is now extensively used in mould, tool and die making.

Europe - Poland and the Czech Republic have a well-trained and competitive workforce and serve as an extended workbench and an alternative for companies in Southern Germany. Moreover, the Czech Republic has also been showing positive signs of further economic recovery.

Germany – The question of value chain resilience is likely to be closely linked to digitalisation and networking In the machine tool industry which is one of the topics that will feature prominently at Metav digital from 23 to 26 March 2021.

Smart moulds equipped with sensors yield new applications and greater process gains. This Germany-based mouldmaker has been recognised for its smart moulds for Industry 4.0 applications in the“Excellence in Production 2020” competition.

Germany – The economic impact of the coronavirus has drawn a negative effect on Germany’s precision tools industry in 2020. Nevertheless, manufacturers are confident of being able to achieve a significant increase in sales this year, the German VDMA Precision Tools Association announced at its annual press conference in January.

High-performance hard machining resources impressed the jury. Organised by the Fraunhofer IPT and the WZL RWTH Aachen, the award is given annually to German top toolmaking shops, selected by a top-class jury consisting of representatives from industry, trade associations and research.

Germany – Whether in prototyping or series manufacturing, the rapidly increasing use of Additive Manufacturing (AM) and 3D Printing processes in industry is generating high demand for qualified service providers. The 13th international trade show and conference for additive manufacturing, Rapid-Tech (14–16 June 2016, Erfurt) is staying abreast of this development with its new trade forum “Additive Contract Manufacturing”, organiser Messe Erfurt said.

Our industry can only survive the crisis by joining forces and innovative ideas. Three companies recently joined forces to hold a webinar on plastic injection moulding.

Siegfried Wendel and Jacek Kruszynski join the precision tools manufacturer's management board.

Austria – After reviewing its entire mould production process, Austrian-based Haidlmair Group found many CO2-saving opportunities, including optimised, compact mould designs, mould-optimised cycle times and the use of technologies such as digital mould monitoring which enables significant energy savings in production.

UK – To mitigate against the possible impacts of Brexit, UK-based 3D printing and measurement expert Renishaw has been focused on ensuring that its customers within the EU are able to receive optimal support from local offices.

UK – Enable Manufacturing Ltd has been granted funding from Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency, for a project to prove the concept of its Additive Casting process.

Called the Flat Die Unit (FDU), this hot runner system passes melt through a long slit instead of a circular hole like a conventional nozzle. The result is said to be faster injection of more melt through a thinner gate opening, with lower shear and injection pressure, as well as lower melt temperature.

Makino's International Die & Mould Forum features the latest manufacturing trends in the die and mould industry from 26 to 29 January 2021.

Japan/ South Korea - Over the course of 2016, WBA Aachener Werkzeugbau Akademie is presenting spotlights on the most important international tooling markets. This edition focuses on Japan and South Korea.

EMO, the leading trade show for the metalworking industry, returns to Italy in October 2021. According to the organisers, the number of exhibitor applications is rising, and new regulations are to ease the application process amidst the current COVID-19 pandemic.

UK – All businesses will be glad to draw a line under 2020 and move into 2021, but for Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC), 2021 will be a landmark year as the UK cutting tool manufacturer celebrates 30 years of business. Here, we take a look back at 30 years of ITC and how this prestigious UK manufacturer has grown over the last three decades – a brand that will be celebrating its anniversary with several 2021 special offers for manufacturers to look out for.

The traditional trade show for the German plastics industry goes digital on 25 and 26 February 2021. It's a must-attend event for all professionals to network, exhibit and present technical innovations.

Italy/Europe – Modena-based CRP Meccanica, an industry-leader in the field of high-precision CNC machining, now offers after-sales support, service, maintenance, and production-phase backup for Velo3D’s advanced additive manufacturing systems in Italy and Europe.

Tool and mould makers in German-speaking regions are busy to remain competitive as they are exposed to an intensive price war.

Converting mould systems previously driven by hydraulic or pneumatic means to electrically-driven mould motions, specifically via servo-motors and actuators, offers many advantages. ETMM will present the basics of servo-driven mould functions, various control solutions, the key benefits of mould electrification and the application testing process in a free webinar on 25 February 10:00 CET (09:00 BST, 16:00 ICT).

Open Mind Technologies Benelux BV took over CNC-Consult & Automation BV was taken on 1 January 2021.

Victor extends its line of machine tools with the Vcenter AX630 5-axis vertical machining centre (VMC).

United States - Stylish and unique garments and accessories designed by students of the Savannah College of Art and Design will be made of recycled and reused Plastics.

The Mouldmaking Index ended on a high note in December in the U.S. thanks to increased readings for both production and new orders.

Walter extends the concept of its multiple-row thread milling cutters for producing shorter threads.

Slide retainers are needed to hold slides securely in the end position when the mould is open.

To meet the criteria of ever-expanding customer demands, Chiron has now launched its latest machining centre, the 5-axis Chiron DZ22W.

United States - US-based Milacron, specialist in plastics processing equipment, technologies and services, is set to unveil a huge range of innovative products at their biggest stand in NPE history. We asked the Milacron team what to expect and what their plans are for the future.

Portugal - With a centuries-old glass-making tradition that crossed naturally over into creating moulds for plastics parts in the 1940s, Portugal is today a hotbed of mould making and exporting, and moulds from Portugal can be found in almost every major end market for plastics.

Like most European manufacturers, Portuguese mould makers are unable to compete on price alone. Those who take advantage of the latest technology, such as a combination of EDM technology and high-speed machining, will have an edge up on the competition.

China - Over the course of the entire year 2016, WBA Aachener Werkzeugbau Akademie, Germany presents spotlights of the most important international tool and mould markets. This edition focuses on China, the world’s largest and most complex tooling market.

UK - Renishaw's Head of Communications Chris Pockett puts it in a nutshell: "We are always restless, always investing in the future." The precision engineering company has been experiencing serious growth over the last few years and on 21 July revealed some of its innovative products which will make their European trade show debut at EMO 2015 in Milan.

Germany – With dimensions and complexity on the rise in the specialist plastic industry, companies increasingly rely on machine centres that can combine size with accuracy. Now an Austrian supplier has invested in a 5-axis system with a difference - and it’s not just the unusual controller.

Japan/Germany – Japan-based DMG Mori Co. has acquired further shares in the German DMG Mori AG and reached a total shareholding of 76% of shares in AG, including the shares by its consolidated company, DMG Mori GmbH, the company announced.

Germany – Lapping reaches its limits when processing convex or concave surfaces. A special pendulum device retrofitted to conventional surface lapping machines eliminates this drawback. By Hardy Möckl, lapping product manager at Joke Technology.

Germany – From 20 to 23 April 2016, Hermle was once again hosting its traditional Open House event in Gosheim, Germany, which was expected to attract more than 2000 visitors (final figures to be confirmed). The new affordable 5-axis machining centre C 250 took centre stage.

Germany – Within Europe the largest injection moulding market is Germany, thanks to the size and scale of its manufacturing industries. Germany saw an increase of 2% for polymers used in injection moulding in 2015 and its automotive production was up 3%, despite the industry's emissions scandal.

Germany – A look at the misinformation that prevents mouldmakers from taking advantage of 5-axis machining strategies to shorten total machining times. By Michael Cope, Senior Applications Engineer from Hurco

Germany - Small batches and mass production are somewhat incompatible, because the lower the product price, the more important are high production numbers. While additive processes are not ready for mass production yet, they may be able to mitigate these conflicting interests.

Germany - On the occasion of a recently held press conference, the Aachen-based IKV opened its doors to give selected journalists an insight into the institute's research activities. Speakers will also tackle these and other current topics in research at IKV's upcoming Colloquium in February 2016.

Germany - The 17th Bensheim Technology Days, this time dedicated to the topic of precision injection moulding, concluded successfully on 11 September.

Germany –Skantek is the main supplier for coolant nozzles for CNC machines to large tooling distribution groups and CNC machines manufacturers in Germany.

Germany/ Switzerland - Process safety and energy efficiency are hot topics in hot runner technology. Precision parts and parts with special surface quality for example are particularly demanding. Modular, low-maintenance systems are required for productive, multi-cavity tools.

Brazil/France - Writing computer numerical control programs the old-fashioned way is a complex and time-consuming task. Now a firm of Brazilian toolmakers has switched to a standard programming language which uses macros that guide users’ choices.

Germany - Increasing cost pressures and fiercer competition are driving toolmakers to embrace new concepts such as Tooling 4.0 and to industrialise their operations to reduce idle and lead times by limiting the number of variations in tool components and processes.

Europe - Europe’s tool and mould makers are facing fierce competition caused by increasing cost pressures and globalisation; which, on the other hand, also offers opportunities to tap into new markets and embrace new technologies. Let’s see what 2017 holds for the industry.

United States - DMG Mori has launched a direct-to-customer sales and service model in the US. The company said it will double its existing local service and sales centres to 27 locations across the country in close proximity to customers. Dr. Thorsten Schmidt will lead DMG Mori USA as CEO.

Germany - From 19 to 26 October 2016, 230,000 investment-oriented visitors from all over the world made for excellent mood at K 2016. According to show organiser Messe Düsseldorf, exhibitors reported a host of new leads, many of which already led to closed deals over the eight days of the trade fair.

Germany – Special machinery is required to bring paste-like materials such as marzipan into the required form. A company based in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany produces complex rolling tools, using machine tools equipped with a state-of-the-art CNC.