During the jury meeting on September 17, 2025, the jury of the competition nominated eleven companies for the finals for the title 'Toolmaking of the Year 2025'. They proved themselves in a special way among this year's participants. The award ceremony for 'Toolmaking of the Year' will take place on November 12, 2025, in the Coronation Hall of Aachen City Hall.
The eleven finalists were selected by a ten-member jury from science, federal politics, associations, and industry, after experts from the WZL tool machine laboratory of RWTH Aachen visited the top-ranked companies and conducted a detailed audit. The first place winner will receive a coveted trophy, which will be presented during the festive evening event in the Aachen Coronation Hall by the previous year's winner, the toolmaking of Oechsler AG at the Ansbach location.
Two-stage process determines the best toolmaking in the German-speaking region
After registering at www.excellence-in-production.de, companies could fill out the first part of the questionnaire from December 1, 2024, to March 1, 2025. This includes a selection of around 30 central questions, which were evaluated after the first competition phase and made available to participants in the form of an initial key figure evaluation. In the subsequent second round of data collection, companies had to complete the questionnaire with in-depth questions by May 1 to qualify for the finals. An expert team from the WZL of RWTH Aachen then visited the 15 top-ranked companies on-site. A detailed audit was conducted to assess the performance capability along the entire process chain. On September 17, 2025, the jury nominated eleven of the visited companies for the finals, from which the overall winner will ultimately emerge.
By succeeding in a highly competitive environment against the rest of the participants, the finalists have confirmed that they are already among the best tool and mold making companies in the German-speaking region. In addition to technological capability and organizational excellence along the value chain, a robust and future-oriented corporate direction as well as current sustainability activities are also among the jury's evaluation criteria.
Partners in the toolmaking industry support the competition
The competition 'Excellence in Production' is supported by Hasco Hasenclever GmbH + Co. KG as the main sponsor, as well as the WBA Aachen Toolmaking Academy GmbH, the Kunststoffcluster Österreich, Swissmem, the Association of German Machine and Plant Manufacturers e.V., and the Association of German Tool and Mold Makers.
International Colloquium 'Toolmaking with a Future'
On November 13, 2025, one day after the award ceremony, the 24th International Colloquium 'Toolmaking with a Future' will take place in Aachen – as usual at the event location 'Das Liebig'. The industry meeting point offers participants practical recommendations for action to strengthen their competitiveness in Europe. Under the motto 'Toolmaking today – how competitive, innovative, and future-proof are we tomorrow?' current developments from an organizational and technological perspective will be discussed. In addition to expert presentations, the colloquium guests can expect a panel discussion on the future of toolmaking under the current challenges of the industry with participants from industry and science, as well as an industrial exhibition of leading technology and solution providers for toolmaking.
Overview of the finalists:
Category 'Internal Toolmaking under 50 Employees'
- ifm electronic gmbh, Tettnang
- Roto Frank Austria GmbH, Kalsdorf near Graz (Austria)
Category 'Internal Toolmaking from 50 Employees'
- BMW Fahrzeugtechnik GmbH, Krauthausen
- Craemer GmbH, Herzebrock-Clarholz
- Hirschvogel Umformtechnik GmbH, Denklingen
- Welser Profile GmbH, Ybbsitz (Austria)
Category 'External Toolmaking under 50 Employees'
- BBG GmbH & Co. KG, Mindelheim
- Formotion GmbH, Wilnsdorf
- Klaucke & Meigies Formenbau GmbH, Lüdenscheid
Category 'External Toolmaking from 50 Employees'
- RICO Elastomere Projecting GmbH, Talheim near Wels (Austria)
- Schneider Form GmbH, Dettingen unter Teck
Registration for the two events:
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