Knowledge transfer for the industry

VDWF Managing Directors’ Meeting Knowledge transfer for the industry

2025-01-27 From Richard Pergler 3 min Reading Time

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The Association of German Tool and Mold Makers (VDWF) invited companies in the Eisenach area to its first VDWF Managing Directors’ Meeting “Voll Wild” (Wild) in 2025. The event was fully booked.

On the ‘Voll Wild’ tour of the Association of German Tool and Mould Makers (VDWF), entrepreneur Thomas Müller explains the concept and processes of his company Vario-Metall, a service provider specialising in deep-hole drilling for the industry, to the managing directors.(Source: Maschinenmarkt) — On the ‘Voll Wild’ tour of the Association of German Tool and Mould Makers (VDWF), entrepreneur Thomas Müller explains the concept and processes of his company Vario-Metall, a service provider specialising in deep-hole drilling for the industry, to the managing directors.
(Source: Maschinenmarkt)

More than 80 executives from tool , pattern and mould making companies took the opportunity to learn about current innovations and the latest trends in standardisation, digitalisation and corporate strategies, among other things. During company visits and tours, the participants were able to take away numerous important ideas and suggestions for their day-to-day work in the industry.

Deep insights into the companies visited

The starting and finishing point of the two-day event was the Penta Hotel in Eisenach. The first stop was the DMG-Mori plant in Seebach, where the participants were given a deep insight into the processes and structures of the machine manufacturing company. The Thuringian site of the world's largest machine tool manufacturer in terms of sales is one of the most important employers in the region. The factory covers an area of around 155,000 m² and employs approximately 700 workers. The core competence in Seebach lies in the construction of 5-axis milling centres: the world's most successful 5-axis milling machine from DMG Mori, the DMU 50, is developed and produced in Seebach. The site has a total assembly capacity of 2,000 machines per year. The DMU 50 3rd Generation and the DMU 40, among others, are built on 30 automated guided vehicle (AGV) systems.

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At DMG Mori in Seebach, the participants were given a very detailed insight into the production process of the machining centres manufactured there.(Source: Maschinenmarkt)

The range of workpieces produced on the DMG-Mori machines extends from large mould components to the smallest medical technology products.(Source: Maschinenmarkt)

RSB rationelle Stahlbearbeitung in Merken is a diversified machining service provider for, among others, tool and mould making as well as general mechanical engineering.(Source: Maschinenmarkt)

Whether milling electrodes, sinker EDM, creating mould inserts, eroding carbide, deep-hole drilling and more – the specialists at Gezea in Eisenach ensure precise manufacturing and fast processes.(Source: Maschinenmarkt)

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During their visit to Vario–Metall in Leimbach, the participants learnt a great deal about the work of this specialist in the deep-hole drilling and milling of mould plates and inserts, machine components or hydraulic units. Since its foundation 12 years ago, the company has established itself as a service provider in the mould-making market. The hallmarks of the company are the high quality of its work, excellent service and fast, reliable delivery. One of the core competences of the machining company is deep-hole drilling. The experts in Leimbach have ten high-performance deep-hole drilling and deep-hole drilling/milling centres for this task alone.

Service provider for tool and mould making

The next company on the tour, RSB Rationelle Stahlbearbeitung in Merkers, was founded in 1997 as a pure sawing company with warehousing. Today, the company has developed into a system supplier and service provider in the fields of mould and tool making as well as mechanical engineering. Around 200 employees work in a 10,000 m² facility. The production of special and individual parts accounts for around 80 per cent of sales. The remaining 20 per cent is made up of standard parts (normal dimensions) for tool and mould making.

At FFT Werkzeug + Karosserie in Eisenach, a service provider for vehicle development and system supplier for body-in-white construction in the automotive industry, the managers learned more about developments in sheet metal forming and the manufacturing of components and assemblies – everything that modern small series in today's automotive engineering requires. Modern vehicle development and its demands on future body structures are based on innovation. That is why the body specialists are continuously developing procedures and processes in forming and joining technology.

Industry networking

Since the company was founded in 1994, the management at Gezea has established its family business in Eisenach as a reliable and experienced partner for toolmaking and mould making. The former two-man company has now grown into a tool and mould making service provider with 23 employees. Whether milling electrodes, sinker EDM, creating mould inserts, eroding carbide, deep-hole drilling and more, the company's specialists ensure precise manufacturing and fast processes. A decentralised organisation brings great advantages in job production and also protects against failures in production processes.

During a visit to the Bad Salzungen graduation works and a guided tour several hundred metres underground in the Merkers Adventure Mine, the participants also learned numerous details about the extraction of the minerals to which the Eisenach region owes much of its wealth: salt in various forms, from pure table salt to potash salt as a raw material for fertiliser. The evening event at RSB Rationelle Stahlbearbeitung and the time spent together on the coach were used by the participants for extensive networking. ‘Voll Wild’ in Eisenach – an all-round successful event in the opinion of the participants, with a very dense transfer of information.

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