Some 14,000 visitors attended Moulding Expo in 2015 to discover everything about the 620 exhibitors, their products and services. However, the varied accompanying programme also attracted many skilled workers to Stuttgart. One of the focal themes at Moulding Expo 2015 is once again in the spotlight this year: qualifications and further training.
"Well qualified talented young people safeguard the future of the industry," explains Ralf Dürrwächter. People are what make the difference to the Association of German Tool and Mould Makers’ Managing Director. "Only companies that invest in trainees as well as in technology will gain a competitive edge." The association has therefore taken up the cause of qualification. "We want to roll up our sleeves with the sector so that tool construction and mould making remains a globally renowned brand in Germany." His colleague from the Federal Association for Pattern and Moulding Making regards the trade fair as an major opportunity for the sector: "We are thrilled that Moulding Expo is focussing on apprenticeship professions – as it did two years ago – and is hoping to attract students back to the trade fair. We will take advantage of this platform to make our vocational trades better known and thus inspire suitably qualified young people about tool construction, pattern and mould making."
Training course at Moulding Expo Florian Niethammer, Project Manager responsible for Moulding Expo, explains how the subject of training and education will be presented at Messe Stuttgart: "With the slogan "Get your future in shape!", together with our partner associations, we will be showcasing the most important apprenticeship professions in tool construction, pattern and mould making in Hall 4 on Stand B35. School classes will have an opportunity to discuss their future with trainers and apprentices there." And to give the idea a more practical edge, there will also be guided tours around the trade fair. A "guide" from the sector will take a group and, after a short introduction on the training stand, will accompany them around the trade fair to discover what the industry has to offer.
Presentation of study opportunities within the industry Young people interested in finding further education courses at the forthcoming Moulding Expo will also be spoilt for choice – for instance on the Schmalkalden University stand. From the summer semester of 2017 onwards, engineers and technicians can attend a course in Additive Manufacturing Processes and Rapid Technologies over two semesters whilst working. It is offered by the university in conjunction with the Association of German Tool and Mould Makers (VDWF), the Institute for Toolless Fabrication (IwF) at the University of Applied Sciences Aachen and the Chair for Manufacturing Technology at the University of Duisburg-Essen as training partners.
"There is huge demand by industry for qualified employees in 3D technology," explains Gerd Witt, Professor for Production Processes and Machine Tools at the University of Duisburg. "However, up to now there has been no training and no standards." The new course combines the teaching experiences of the three universities with input from business. Thematically, it is structured on the basis of the main material branches of additive manufacturing, that is metal and plastic, but is also supplemented by a focus on application-orientated design. "Tool construction and mould making, as well as pattern making, are the pioneers in this technology," explains Gerd Witt. "It is therefore essential for us to present the new course and teaching opportunities at Moulding Expo."
It is hoped to showcase the focus of the course at the trade fair by using the components on which the university is currently working. "We will possibly also find new ideas at Moulding Expo, which can be realised using this process or even how it behaves with other materials," states Gerd Witt.
Moulding Expo – International trade fair for tool construction, pattern and mould making Moulding Expo focuses on tool, pattern and mould making with injection moulding, die-cast, casting, punching and forming tools, as well as various pattern-making and prototyping processes. Components and accessories, machine tools, processing tools, measuring technology and special machines, software, systems and services for tool construction, pattern and moulding making complete the range of exhibits. Technical forums and special exhibitions round off the diverse programme. 620 exhibitors attended the first exhibition in 2015, which was visited by 14,000 trade visitors.
Messe Stuttgart is the organiser of Moulding Expo. It is supported by the Federal Association of Model and Mould Making (MF), the Association of German Mechanical Engineering and Plant Construction (VDMA), the Association of German Tool and Mould Makers (VDWF), the Society of German Machine Tool Factories (VDW) and the International Special Tooling and Machining Association (ISTMA).
The next Moulding Expo will be held from 30 May to 2 June 2017. http://www.moulding-expo.de/
