The Brazilian Tooling Industry Association (ABINFER), supported by various entities, hosted the 16th ENAFER on June 20-21 in Joinville. This event is the largest conference for debates and lectures in the country's tooling sector. More than 900 professionals from this production chain attended the two-day event, including global industry representatives such as Robert Williamson, the president of the International Special Tooling and Machining Association (ISTMA). These professionals traveled to Brazil for a global ISTMA meeting, representing 8,000 tooling companies from 22 countries and a market that moves $150 billion annually worldwide.
The opening ceremony featured the presence of the Vice President of the Republic and Minister of Development, Industry, Commerce, and Services, Geraldo Alckmin, who was awarded the title of 'Ambassador of Brazilian Tooling.' Federal, state, and municipal political authorities, as well as business leaders from Santa Catarina, also attended.
The 16th ENAFER addressed crucial themes to enhance the sector's competitiveness, with the support of public policies, aiming to position Brazil's tooling segment among the top ten most significant globally in the coming years. The event's agenda included discussions on the current market context and sustainability, technological and managerial advancements in tooling, new technical training formats, pathways to innovation towards Industry 4.0, and the need to attract young talent to the industry.
"Most products around us began their manufacturing journey with the technology, quality, and precision provided by the molds and dies we produce. Tooling not only shapes materials but also the future of Brazilian industry, enabling technological advancement and the creation of products that make our lives more practical, comfortable, and efficient," highlighted Christian Dihlmann, president of ABINFER. In Brazil, Joinville/SC boasts the highest concentration of tooling companies, followed by Caxias do Sul/RS.
"During this event, we evolved in the sharing and commitment of the production chain. One of the major objectives was to raise national awareness about the sector's importance, both for the Brazilian population and public managers. The live broadcast enabled virtual attendance for those who could not be present. The opening, attended by Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, SC's Vice Governor Marilise Boehm, Joinville's Mayor Adriano Silva, Senator Esperidião Amim, and other parliamentarians and secretaries, informed federal, state, and municipal authorities," stated Dihlmann.
"Another goal was to gain international recognition for the professional training model proposed by ABINFER/SENAI in collaboration with ISTMA. This objective was fully achieved through testimonials from members from Germany, Argentina, Mexico, Portugal, and South Africa, including the president of the World Tooling Association. The event was a great success, generating many new demands for future events," he concluded.
Federal Government Contributions
In his opening remarks at ENAFER, Alckmin listed the main government programs underway to support the sector's development, part of the four priority pillars of the New Brazil Industry: Innovation, sustainability, competitiveness, and exportation.
The initiatives include the Mover program (Green Mobility and Innovation), which is set for presidential approval on July 2 and will serve tooling companies related to the automotive sector; the Accelerated Depreciation program, sanctioned in May, allocating R$ 3.4 billion for renewing machinery and equipment in the Brazilian manufacturing sector; the Brasil Mais Produtivo program, aimed at micro, small, and medium-sized companies seeking digital transformation; and the Semiconductor Brazil Program (Brasil Semicon) bill, designed to encourage technological advancement and strengthen the ecosystem of research, development, innovation, design, production, and application of semiconductor components, displays, and solar panels in the country.
[All photos: courtesy of ABINFER]
