Inauguration

The 15th EuroMold exhibition opens today, December 3, 2008, and will run until December 6th, in the Exhibition Centre Frankfurt / Main. On the occasion of its 15th anniversary, the world fair for the tool- and mold-making industries, design, and application development will have 1523 exhibitors from 38 countries showing their products and services. Over 60,000 trade visitors are expected. In Halls 5.0, 6.0, 6.1, 8.0, 9.0 and in the Galleria, the exhibition will present many special topics, as well as an extensive accompanying programme of events.

EuroMold shows the latest trends in all aspects of the tool- and mold-making industries, design, and application development on over 75,000 m2;. EuroMold displays the complete process chain, „from Idea to series production“. In addition to the emphasis on tool- and mold-making, EuroMold also shows growth in the areas of Design and Rapid-Prototyping, and the emerging importance of both these topics as parts of the process chain.

Internationality and Importance of the German Exhibitors

German exhibitors form 68%, the largest number of exhibitors in 2008. At 17 joint-stands, many diverse items will be exhibited. The largest German joint-stands are the „Markt der Möglichkeiten - Gemeinschaftsstand Werkstoffe“ (324 m2;, Hall 6.1, E 121), the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (278 m⊃2;, Hall 8.0, L 113), VDWF (250 m⊃2;, Hall 6.0, D 140), and the Bundesinnungsverband Modellbau (198 m⊃2;, Hall 8.0, L128).

Internationally, there always has been yearly growth at the EuroMold – also among the Western European countries. After China with 22.8 %, the next largest country is Italy now with 10.2 %, with increased participation from France with 6.1 %, Switzerland, Portugal, and the UK, each with 4.1 %, Austria with 3.7 %, and Spain with 3.5 %. In Asia, the EuroMold as the global meeting-point for the tool- and mold-making industries, Design, and Application Development, has also grown in importance. After China, then comes South Korea with 5.6 %, the Host Country India with 4.4 %, then Taiwan with 3,0 %. New exhibitors have come from China, Hong Kong, Israel, and the USA, among other countries.

Specialty Areas

The tool- and mold-making industry with 22.8 % of the exhibitors is the largest block of exhibitors at the EuroMold 2008. Compared to last year, Rapid Prototyping is now 10.1 % showing that this innovative and future-oriented technology is the second largest block, making EuroMold 2008 the largest Rapid Prototyping marketplace in Europe. Additional large blocks in the Process Chain are Model- & Prototype Construction (9.8 %), Engineering (7.9 %), Software & Hardware (7.5 %), and Tool-making machinery (7.1 %), Tooling (7.1 %), and Design (6.0 %).

Special Topics

The 15th EuroMold will present many first-class and innovative topics. Among these, Boat-building (Hall 6.1), Rapid-Manufacturing (Hall 8.0), and Laser Technology and Hot-Runner Technology (Hall 9.0), the special block in Hall 6.0 for Engineering and Tooling and Equipment Construction there.
At 3 first-class Forums, „Simulation und Virtual Reality“, „Materials“, and „design+engineering“, will be presented, with the latest trends and state-of-the-art developments. These forums make the EuroMold extremely valuable as an international exhibition.

design+engineering

The „design+engineeringforum“ (Hall 6.1, D72) offers presentations in „green design“, sustainability, and resource management. Contributions here come from large corporations as well as small offices. Modern product-development has become extremely important in recent years, and, many presentations will pass information about the stand of developments and the application of the latest technologies. „MARKEN-DESIGN global“ shows possible business areas for German designers in increasingly international market-places – for example, the development process for ski bindings
Several experts will also discuss current industrial topics such as successful corporate positioning, design pricing, CAD/CAM in the future, „One-Off“ production, or, aluminium in auto body development. Trade visitors will find valuable information sources and experience the vision of these invited experts.

Virtual Reality + Simulation

The Virtual Reality + Simulation Forum, Hall 6.1, D88, will present insights into the latest VR developments, in larger corporations as well as in medium-sized companies. The Forum will present an overview of the product development process in various industrial areas such as medical technology, air-
craft construction, and others.
The latest visualizing technologies will be presented, with special emphasis on Immersive Engineering, and the applicable hardware and software. The second portion of this Forum will be dedicated to Simulation – especially, construction CAD. Topology in the design and optimization with bionc methods will be exhibited, for diverse uses.
Simulation is the growth market at EuroMold, with an increasing number of exhibitors each year, especially in the areas of service providers, ranging from large corporations, to small engineering bureaux. The EuroMold encourages Simulation by offering forum lectures, as well as offering potential exhibitors the opportunity to exhibit in the Simulation block, at special prices.

Materials

Materials are an additional important area of exhibition at the EuroMold. Materials usage from the entire range of plastics, to wood, ceramics, compos-ites, compounds, and more, will be shown, together with use possibilities from the points of view of both designers and construction engineers. In both professions, a high competence level for materials use is now required -especially in consideration of the „green“ movement and sustainability. A major part of Rapid-Prototyping, is now the choice of suitable materials for the prototypes.

Host Country India

With India as the Host Nation this year, EuroMold 2008 continues to stress the burgeoning importance of Asian industry. 25 Indian exhibitors are present, at the TAGMA (Tool and Gauge Manufacturers`Association of India) joint-stand in Hall 9.0, and separately in the other halls.
The India Moldmaking and Tooling Synergy Bourse offers a wide range of the latest market information and insider knowledge. The “Forum India” will aid to connect Western and Indian companies. Several companies already doing business in Asia for many years will share their knowledge and expertise to help exhibition visitors in making important decisions related to new business, investment opportunities, and challenges.
Also, at EuroMold, the Associations of Moldmaking and Tooling from China (CDMIA) and India (TAGMA) will provide detailed information about their domestic markets, too.

 

Additional Creative Highlights and New Topics

An additional highlight in „creative Hall“ 6.1 is the special topic boat building, with the presentation of various possibilities for CAD / CAE / CAX. With the exhibition of a prototype of a completely new sailboat concept there, the exhibitor and developer wants to awake investor interest and make series producvtion later possible.
Hydroforming for small production runs is also new there. With this manufacturing process, very complex components can be produced, and, the associated tooling costs are reduced.
Another new item shown will be the Metal Injection-Process, also producing complex metal components. Here metal powder is mixed with a binding element, as the feedstock for injection-molding (Hall 6.1, E 131).

Rapid Prototyping + Terry Wohlers Conference

In the Rapid-Prototyping area, all major suppliers are at EuroMold. It is notable, that individual exhibitors have taken more space again this year, particularly service providers both national and international. EuroMold is now the largest Rapid Prototyping market-place in Europe. The internat-ionally well-known Terry Wohlers Conference, now celebrating its 10th anniversary at EuroMold, this year takes place under the motto „Factory of the Future: Manufacturing by Additive Fabrication”. At this conference, EuroMold 2008 will present an overview of state-of-the-art new production methods, and present companies with their diverse corporate structures, products, and production and sales strategies.

SPE-Conference

An additional conference already famous in the professional world is the Symposium of Society of Plastic Engineers, Brookfield / USA, on December 4th. Among other items, this Symposium will present the latest information and technologies involving raw materials and production processes and technologies in the automobile sector, based on examples, and, directed toward develop engineers, product managers, injection-molders, mold-makers.

Career Platform

 The career platform „careers4engineers“ in Hall 6.1 offers on December 5 and 6 multifarious chances for students, engineers, and other professionals, to meet with companies there. Both new-comers and established professionals can check out the job market and make valuable contacts there.

Success of EuroMold

“The past years EuroMold has become an international communication platform, on which first-class exhibitors and qualified trade visitors, and, the exhibitors among each other, can discuss challenges and obtain concrete solutions”, states Dr. Eberhard Döring, CEO of DEMAT GmbH, organizer of EuroMold. “EuroMold as the international meeting point for moldmaking and tooling, design and application development, creates networks for qualified contacts both old and new.
International Trade Concept
EuroMold organizer DEMAT GmbH now exports their successful trade concept to attractive foreign market-places. DEMAT will arrange Asiamold (September 24-26, 2008) in Guangzhou, China, for the second time in cooperation with Messe Frankfurt. DEMAT GmbH also organizes EuroMold Pavilions at both the RosMould and DieMould India in Bangalore.