The ongoing economic uncertainty and the structural change of many traditional sales markets continue to pose significant challenges for toolmaking. It is all the more important for companies to regularly assess their future viability and clearly position their competitive stance. For more than 20 years, the Werkzeugmaschinenlabor WZL of RWTH Aachen has been awarding the best tool and mold making companies in the German-speaking region as part of the prestigious competition 'Excellence in Production'.
This year, the overall victory went to the internal toolmaking of BMW Fahrzeugtechnik GmbH at the Eisenach location (Krauthausen). The company prevailed against a strong field of participants and particularly impressed the jury with its high productivity, excellent machine runtimes, and consistent use of modern automation technologies.
BMW Fahrzeugtechnik GmbH: Production-capable toolmaking with its own innovative strength
The jury cited the holistic strategic alignment, high process maturity, and extraordinary innovative strength of the toolmaking department of BMW Fahrzeugtechnik GmbH at the Eisenach location as decisive for the overall victory in the 'Excellence in Production 2025' competition. BMW's toolmaking impresses with a clear focus on design-relevant and highly complex outer skin surfaces and supplies not only the internal BMW network but also the supply chain of BMW with highly precise pressing tools.
To this end, the location consistently relies on digitization, automation, and simulation technology for tool optimization: from robot-assisted laser cladding with integrated optical measurement control, through the targeted use of additive manufacturing for selected components, to extensive tool and process simulations. In addition to tool quality, BMW Fahrzeugtechnik GmbH also focuses on its employees. A comprehensive training program with targeted cooperation with partner companies trains excellent specialists for tomorrow. The working conditions of current employees are also a major focus. Tool changers at the setup presses facilitate tool adjustment for employees by significantly reducing the workload in awkward positions, such as working overhead.
In summary, BMW's toolmaking at the Eisenach location presented itself as a highly modern, data-driven, and sustainably managed competence center that sets standards for the toolmaking of the future with clear structures, innovative spirit, and a lived team culture.
Eisenach is the cradle of automotive construction for the BMW Group. In Eisenach, the first vehicle of the brand rolled off the assembly line in history. In 1992, the BMW Group returned to the Thuringian location. Today, the Eisenach plant is the most significant location of the BMW Group for the design and manufacture of pressing tools for highly complex outer skin surfaces. The company currently employs 450 people at this location, 219 of whom are assigned to the toolmaking department.
Also best internal toolmaking with more than 50 employees
In addition to the overall victory, the jury of the competition also declared the internal toolmaking of BMW Fahrzeugtechnik GmbH as the winner of the category 'Internal Toolmaking with 50 Employees or More'. The jury also awarded certificates to the other finalists in this category: Craemer GmbH from Herzebrock-Clarholz near Gütersloh, Hirschvogel Umformtechnik GmbH from Denklingen in Upper Bavaria, and Welser Profile Austria GmbH from Ybbsitz in Austria.
Category 'Internal Toolmaking under 50 Employees'
The victory in the category 'Internal Toolmaking with Less Than 50 Employees' this year goes to Roto Frank Austria GmbH from Kalsdorf near Graz.
The toolmaking of Roto Frank Austria GmbH at the Kalsdorf location near Graz impressed the jury as a pioneer in the field of sustainability in toolmaking. A systematic re-use concept for tool components considers the ecological and economic advantages of reusing tool components and is able to quantify the financial savings potential of reuse on a component or assembly basis. In combination with the use of a digital tool book, a new level of transparency is achieved throughout the entire tool lifecycle – from production to use to the reuse of individual components.
Roto Frank Austria GmbH employs around 370 people, of whom 32 are active in toolmaking. The company looks back on over 150 years of corporate history. Its diverse product portfolio includes fittings for tilt-and-turn/turn/tilt windows, mechanical and electronic multi-locking systems for entrance doors, residential door hinges, comfort fittings for shutters, electronic accessories for windows and doors, components made of zinc and plastic, as well as stamped parts. With its clear commitment to quality, innovation, and sustainability, Roto Frank Austria GmbH is now considered one of the flagship companies of the Styrian industry and sets new standards for responsible and digitally connected toolmaking.
Another finalist in the category 'Internal Toolmaking with Less Than 50 Employees' this year was ifm electronic gmbh from Tettnang on Lake Constance.
Category 'External Toolmaking from 50 Employees'
Best 'External Toolmaking with 50 Employees or More' in 2025 was RICO Elastomere Projecting GmbH from Thalheim near Wels in Austria.
The toolmaking of RICO Elastomere Projecting GmbH impressed the jury as a highly specialized provider for the production of highly productive and reliable elastomer and injection molding tools. Particularly noteworthy is the advanced technical center with an extremely extensive machine setup, which allows for the testing and maturation of tools for use in highly automated series production under real production conditions. In addition to technological excellence, RICO places great importance on training its own specialists. In a modernly equipped training workshop, around 30 trainees are currently being trained in various technical professions with a unique training concept. This strategically invests in the specialists of tomorrow and secures the quality and innovative strength of the company in the long term.
RICO Elastomere Projecting GmbH, based in Thalheim near Wels, was founded in 1994 and currently employs around 300 people, of whom just over 100 work in toolmaking. RICO is internationally known as one of the leading manufacturers in toolmaking and silicone injection molding for the health care, food, industrial, consumer & appliances, sanitary, and mobility sectors. As a full-service partner, RICO serves the entire process chain, from development to series production. With over 25 years of experience in toolmaking, the company realizes individual silicone and multi-component tools for the most demanding applications with the highest precision requirements.
Another finalist in the category 'External Toolmaking with More Than 50 Employees' is Schneider Form GmbH from Dettingen unter Teck on the edge of the Swabian Jura.
Category 'External Toolmaking under 50 Employees'
Winner in the category 'External Toolmaking with Less Than 50 Employees' is FORMOTiON GmbH from Wilnsdorf near Siegen.
FORMOTiON GmbH stands out as a highly specialized provider for the processing of aluminum tools and molds for applications in thermoforming as well as in the processing of PUR and PE foams. The jury particularly highlighted the uniquely high level of digitization in the indirect processes relative to the company's size of only 7 employees. From intelligent C-parts management with automated reordering to automated coolant management and fully digital order planning and control. Additionally, the entire production is paperless, and intelligent leftover utilization is employed to increase material efficiency. This creates a consistently interconnected, efficient, and transparent manufacturing environment that promotes not only productivity but also sustainability.
Since its founding in 1987, FORMOTiON has stood for excellent aluminum molds and clever manufacturing approaches. From design to CAD construction to assembly, the team partners with its customers through all phases of the project. The guiding principle 'Everything that annoys gets a sensor' aptly describes the company's innovative spirit: processes are not only automated but designed to be enjoyable, create space, and foster creativity. With their combination of digitization, precision, and enthusiasm for technology, FORMOTiON GmbH demonstrates that even a small, highly qualified team can set large standards.
As further finalists in the category 'External Toolmaking with fewer than 50 employees', BBG GmbH & Co. KG from Mindelheim in Swabia and Klaucke & Meigies Formenbau GmbH from Lüdenscheid in the Sauerland were awarded.
Excellence in Production: Selection of the best toolmaking companies in the German-speaking region
The researchers from Aachen, together with an expert jury, identified the best tool and mold making companies in the German-speaking region this year in four categories. The basis for the detailed comparison was an extensive questionnaire as well as on-site visits to the top-ranked companies during the summer months. Based on this, the ten jurors from industry, politics, associations, and science determined eleven finalists, the category winners, and the overall winner.
The competition 'Excellence in Production' took place this year for the 22nd time. The day after the award ceremony, the International Colloquium 'Toolmaking with a Future' was held. Under the motto 'Toolmaking today - how competitive, innovative, and future-proof are we tomorrow?', current developments from an organizational and technological perspective are discussed, and solutions for future challenges are collaboratively found. Contributions from industry and research illustrate where the journey can go in the coming years: What do you need to do today to still be able to produce tomorrow?
New opportunity next year
Next year, the best German-speaking tool and mold making companies will again compete against each other. Interested parties can already find detailed information about the competition at www.excellence-in-production.de and register in advance. All participants in the competition will receive an individual evaluation of their current positioning in the industry, including their strengths and areas for improvement, after the end of the competition year.
Starting from December 1, companies can fill out the first part of the questionnaire with a small number of central questions. Based on this, they will receive an initial evaluation of selected key figures during the ongoing competition. In the second phase of the competition, more detailed questions need to be answered, and participants will receive a more comprehensive evaluation of key figures. Additionally, two on-site visits by the Aachen toolmaking experts will be raffled among all participants in the second phase.
This year's competition is supported by Hasco Hasenclever GmbH & Co. KG as the main sponsor, the KC Kunststoffcluster Österreich, and the Swiss toolmaking association Swissmem, the Association of German Machine and Plant Manufacturers, the Association of German Tool and Mold Makers, and the WBA Aachen Toolmaking Academy GmbH.
The media partners Form + Werkzeug, VDI Nachrichten, and Werkzeug & Formenbau promote the competition through their extensive reporting on the winners and finalists. Another partner of the competition is the trade fair for additive manufacturing 'formnext'.
Contact:
www.wzl.rwth-aachen.de
