ISTMA Europe brought together representatives of
national associations and companies from the European mould, die and tooling
industry in Brno, Czech Republic, from 5 to 7 October, for a meeting focused on
knowledge sharing, industry challenges and strengthening cooperation across
European markets.
Hosted by SVAZ NÁSTROJÁREN, the meeting took place
alongside the International Engineering Fair (MSV Brno), providing an
opportunity to connect the European tooling community with one of Central
Europe's leading industrial events. The meeting brought together around 35
participants from eight countries.
Competitiveness and European cooperation at the heart
of the discussions
The meeting focused on the need to strengthen
cooperation among European mould and tool manufacturers in order to enhance the
competitiveness and resilience of the industry, particularly in the face of
growing international competition.
The discussions highlighted the importance of a more
coordinated European response to the challenges facing the industry, including
increasing competitive pressure from other regions and the need to safeguard
Europe's industrial know-how, skills and manufacturing capabilities.
The Brno meeting forms part of ISTMA Europe's broader
agenda to strengthen the competitiveness and visibility of the European tooling
industry through market intelligence, knowledge sharing and engagement with
policymakers. It also precedes ISTMA Europe's planned activities in Brussels,
including discussions with European Parliament representatives on the
protection of European know-how and the European market in the face of
international competition.
Technology, industry and direct contact with companies
The technical sessions addressed developments in
production technologies, industrial transformation and the need for companies
to anticipate and adopt new technological solutions.
The meeting's technical programme was complemented by
visits to industrial companies, providing participants with first-hand insight
into different manufacturing environments, technological capabilities and
production solutions.
The programme included visits to FrenTech Aerospace
and Czech toolmaker Ryšavý, offering an opportunity to gain a closer
understanding of the technologies, expertise and production approaches
developed by the Czech tooling industry.
Participation in MSV Brno further complemented
the programme, allowing participants to follow technological developments
across the wider industrial landscape and identify trends with potential
implications for the future of tooling.
Strengthening the voice of the European tooling
industry
For ISTMA Europe, meetings such as the one in Brno are
increasingly important at a time when the industry is facing multiple and
interconnected challenges, from international competitiveness and technological
transformation to access to markets, skills availability and the growing
pressure from global competitors.
Beyond being an institutional meeting, the Brno event
reinforced the value of a strong European tooling community capable of sharing
information, identifying trends, developing joint initiatives and articulating
a common perspective on the strategic importance of tooling for European
industry.
Cooperation between national associations, combined
with direct engagement with companies and other industrial stakeholders, will
therefore remain a key priority for ISTMA Europe, contributing to a more
competitive, innovative and resilient European tooling industry.
ISTMA Europe thanks SVAZ NÁSTROJÁREN for
hosting and organising the meeting in Brno, as well as all participants and
partners who contributed to three days of valuable discussion, knowledge
sharing and cooperation around the future of Europe's tooling industry.
