Tool and die making

Constant change demands flexibility and speed

Toolmaking is often the starting point for production: A large proportion of all products originate from tools – from metal and plastic parts in cars to smartphones. With mobile communication, tool-integrated sensor technology and modern production control systems, processes in toolmaking today become transparent and flexible. The networking of customers and suppliers helps to precisely plan delivery dates in distributed production networks and to better utilize free capacities through transparent work and resource planning. This shortens throughput times and allows longer productive use of tools in series production..

Expertise from Aachen: a key player in toolmaking

The Fraunhofer IPT has known and supported the industry for many years, enabling us to bring an in-depth understanding of technology to projects with our customers. Here, we draw on our benchmarking database with more than 1,000 current data sets from international moldmaking companies.

We not only develop targeted individual technologies such as milling, die-sinking EDM, wire EDM, turning and grinding for our customers and help them to expand their process limits. Through our experience with the process chains and their interactions, we help to ensure that in the end the overall result – the tool – can be provided ready for use in the desired quality.

In close cooperation with the WZL of RWTH Aachen University and the WBA Aachener Werkzeugbau-Akademie, we are able to provide our customers with standardized and customized offers that enable companies to become and remain fit for global competition.

 

Our offer at a glance

 

Technology development

Technologically at the forefront: this has always been the toolmaking industry. We plan and optimize your manufacturing processes together with you, relying on state-of-the-art CAx technologies that we develop further in-house.

 

Toolmaking database

Our toolmaking database with worldwide data sets the benchmark - known from the trade press through the competition for the "Toolmaker of the Year".

 

Further training

Together with the Machine Tool Laboratory of RWTH Aachen University and other partners at the site, we offer the industry tailored seminars and workshops on various topics.

 

Research

New developments are precious, but not priceless: On an individual basis or together in a consortium, we research the fundamentals and further developments of your manufacturing technologies for you.

Studies

Here you will find an overview of current studies on the subject of toolmaking.

Always informed

We will be happy to send you further information on our events and research topics on request. Please fill out our contact form for this purpose.

"Excellence in Production" competition and international colloquium "Tool an die making for the future"

The "Excellence in Production" competition, with which the Fraunhofer IPT and the Machine Tool Laboratory WZL select the best toolmaking in the German-speaking region every year, has become firmly established in the tool and die industry.

The International Colloquium "Tool an die making for the future" is considered the central meeting point for the industry. In a compact way, the combination of both events offers practical recommendations for action so that companies can compete successfully in the long term.