Focus on innovations and practice / Great importance attached to the promotion of young talent

When the doors of the L-Bank Forum (Hall 1) open at Messe Stuttgart on 13 June 2023, everything will revolve around tool, pattern and mould making. Exhibitors and visitors will come together in order to review new projects, discuss innovative technologies and talk about the opportunities and challenges in the industry. Anyone wanting to learn more about the topics should definitely take a look at the accompanying programme.

Future Forum on tool, pattern and mould making as the focal point

The focal point of this year's accompanying programme will be the Future Forum on tool, pattern and mould making. The Forum will be held on Stand 1D41 in the L-Bank Forum (Hall 1) and will be chaired by Richard Pergler from Pergler Media.

"I am very much looking forward to finally meeting the tool, pattern and mould making industry again in one place and seeing what new processes and technologies are available. This year, the accompanying programme will highlight the current needs in the industry and will also outline long-term solutions. The Future Forum on tool, pattern and mould making will examine in particular current challenges such as sustainability, efficiency or the shortage of skilled workers," summarised Pergler.

BME Buyers' Day as a central feature of the programme

The BME Buyers' Day on 15 June 2023 will be a central feature of the accompanying programme. Its objective is to provide experts from the industry with the basis for clever purchasing decisions and present the latest trends in purchasing of injection moulding tools. It will be shown how costs are composed, the directions which mould and tool purchasing are taking due to changes in legislation, e.g. the Supply Chain Law, and what technical developments will play a role.

"Due to the massive global changes in the last three years, buyers must rethink their global sourcing strategies and look for new suppliers. There will also be a greater shift from single sourcing to multi-sourcing as part of risk and supplier management. Moulding Expo is a perfect opportunity to quickly obtain an overview of a large number of new potential suppliers," said Dr. Frithjof Kilp, Divisional Director, Federal Association of Materials Management, Purchasing and Logistics (BME).

Special show of INNONET: "Plastic value-added chain"

The special show of INNONET on Stand 1D21 in the L-Bank Forum (Hall 1) will present the individual processing steps involved in the production of a plastic part from mould making and plastic processing through to joining and printing.

"The special show of INNONET will be an outstanding opportunity to get information about the latest technologies in the plastics industry. Visitors will gain exciting insights into the live production of a filigree and stable pair of plastic tweezers – from the idea, prototyping, tool construction and mould making, and manual and automated injection moulding of the finished product through to downstream processes and recycling," said Jörg Vetter, Technical Director at Hermann Hauff and organiser of the special show on the INNONET joint stand.

New Moulding Expo: Kunststoff Magazin User Forum

The accompanying programme will include for the first time the User Forum "Sustainability through digitalisation in tool construction and mould making". This event is being organised by Kunststoff Magazin. On 14 June 2023 requirements and solutions in smart tool construction and mould making will be discussed during practical talks in the gallery in the L-Bank Forum (Hall 1) room 1.5 and best practice examples relating to topics such as material optimisation, energy savings and reject minimisation will be presented.

"Digitalisation harbours great potential for manufacturing products more sustainably and ensuring competitiveness. For example, material quantities for production can be minimised through the use of simulation software. Energy costs can be reduced with the aid of digital technologies. Sensors and data analysis facilitate predictive maintenance. These and other topics will be explained by industry experts in practical talks," said Annina Schopen, Chief Editor of Kunststoff Magazin, WEKA Business Medien GmbH.

New platform for the Technical Forum on Safety + Automation

The Forum Safety + Automation will also be staged for the first time as part of Moulding Expo. Concentrated know-how relating to safety in automation technology will be imparted in the atrium at the Entrance East on 14 June 2023.

"Since Moulding Expo is one of the most important European events for the tool, pattern and mould making industry, it will provide a suitable setting for the Forum Safety + Automation. Visitors will learn everything about current requirements and trends in the areas of safety and security, and will profit from valuable practical tips relating to the trend topics in safe automation," said Horst-Dietrich Kraus, Marketing and Communications Vice President at Pilz GmbH & Co. KG.

Great importance attached to the promotion of young talent

Moulding Expo will also pay special attention again this year to the promotion of young talent. The long-term cooperation with Reutlingen University is being continued this year.

Mechanical engineering students will present SCHOOLTOOL, an integrated, varied and coordinated teaching and learning concept in the areas of injection moulding tools for moulded parts, moulded part development and the injection moulding process.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Ritter from the Mechanical Engineering Department in the Faculty of Technology at Reutlingen University: "We regard cooperation with Moulding Expo as a unique opportunity for us to present a real project. This is naturally an entirely different aspect for the students than any theoretical or internal university project. With our SCHOOLTOOL we show the learning world that has evolved over the years in relation to the development of injection moulding components, injection moulding and mould making."

Just like in the past, the students have also developed the official trade fair give-away for Moulding Expo: "Mouldmaker - The game" combines the content of the SCHOOLTOOL concept in a playful way and every visitor will be able to obtain their personal item on Stand 1D11.

The accompanying programme for Moulding Expo is available online.

About Moulding Expo

Whether a hidden champion or a large group, the best that the first-class European tool, pattern and mould making industry and its suppliers have to offer meet at Moulding Expo.

The focal points of the International Trade Fair for Tool, Pattern and Mould Making are small and medium-sized tool, pattern and mould making companies along with their expertise and know-how for the implementation of customer-specific projects. Moulding Expo also features all the relevant technology partners in the industry who satisfy the high industry demands for quality and accuracy: from standard components, materials, hot runner systems, processing tools, clamping devices and machine tools through to testing and measurement technology and software suppliers.

Latest news: http://www.moulding-expo.de

Images:

MEX_19_W_001.JPG: Moulding Expo will welcome the tool, pattern and mould making industry along with its technology partners from 13 to 16 June 2023. | Picture credits: Landesmesse Stuttgart GmbH

MEX_19_W_336.JPG: A varied accompanying programme will show the future opportunities for the industry. | Picture credits: Landesmesse Stuttgart GmbH

MEX_17_W_043.JPG: Special attention will be paid to the promotion of young talent at Moulding Expo. | Picture credits: Landesmesse Stuttgart GmbH