EUROGUSS takes a close look at tool and mould making

It is particularly striking how closely tool and mould making is linked to the automotive industry - with all the advantages and disadvantages this entails. 95 per cent of all companies participating in the survey stated that they supply moulds to car manufacturers. They are followed in second place by the electronics industry (64 per cent) and in equal third place by energy technology and the furniture industry (41 per cent each).

The predominantly small and medium-sized companies - 36 per cent of the companies surveyed have fewer than 25 employees, almost two-thirds fewer than 75 - seem to be surprisingly advanced in terms of formulating a mission statement and a strategy. In 95 per cent of the companies, a strategy was developed together with managers and in 82 per cent it is questioned and readjusted at least every two years. The tool and mould makers do not close their eyes to the future either: a vision for the next five or ten years has been defined in 86 per cent of the companies.

Mexico as an important sales market

With regard to the use of machines, the results vary considerably more: additive machines were in use in 38 per cent of the companies at the time of the survey. 62 per cent of these companies have invested in additive technology in the last twelve months. Only a quarter of the companies surveyed use augmented reality or virtual reality tools.

When asked about the importance of non-European regions for their own business, the exhibitors stated that they consider Mexico (33 per cent), the USA (19 per cent) and Brazil (14 per cent) to be particularly important sales markets at present and in the future.

At the time of the survey, a total of 95 per cent of the participants expected their order volume to remain the same or increase in the next six to twelve months. It will be exciting to see if this proves true in view of the economic development in 2023. The upcoming EUROGUSS from 13 to 17 January 2024 in Nuremberg will once again offer a platform to compare expectations and reality.

The "Marktspiegel Werkzeugbau" initiative

The survey was conducted by the "Marktspiegel Werkzeugbau" initiative on behalf of EUROGUSS. Founded in 2017, the initiative aims to ensure market transparency in tool, mould and pattern making. Within the framework of benchmark analyses, it examines the competitiveness and value creation of companies and compares them with each other. In this way, participants gain insight into the industry and concretely implementable recommendations for action. Thomas Seul, President of the Association of German Tool and Mould Makers (VDWF), heads the initiative together with the trio of experts Jens Lüdtke, Claus Hornig and Markus Rausch.

Figures, data, facts from the toolmaking industry

- approx. 34 per cent of the turnover is generated with the largest customer (74 per cent with the 5 largest)
- approx. 42 years is the average age of the employees 
- approx. 11 per cent of the turnover is exported
- The average productive machine running time is approx. 2,000 hours.
- about 0.9 per cent of turnover is invested in research and development
- only about 5 per cent of the companies do not produce for the automotive industry at all 

Source: Initiative "Marktspiegel Werkzeugbau"