The production of injection moulds, sheetmetal and massive forming tools is globally dominated by six tooling markets. Followed by the USA and Japan, China produces the highest value of tools and moulds. The USA are the only net importer within the leading tooling markets, while the exports of the other five markets exceed their imports. The proportion between injection moulds, sheetmetal and massive forming tools in this group is comparable. In Europe, France, Portugal and Spain follow Germany and Italy, with each producing a value of tools of less than €1bn. The largest trade partners for importing injection moulds are China, Italy and Switzerland, with injection moulds being mostly exported to the USA and Czech Republic. The largest trade partners for importing sheetmetal and massive forming tools are Italy and Switzerland, while these are exported mainly to Great Britain, Spain and the USA.

 

 

China to play a key role in the future world of tooling

China - Over the course of the entire year 2016, WBA Aachener Werkzeugbau Akademie, Germany presents spotlights of the most important international tool and mould markets. This edition focuses on China, the world’s largest and most complex tooling market.

 

 

China's tool and die industry

According to official statistics, China’s tool and die industry comprises of more than 40,000 enterprises with overall more than 1m employees. Compared to Germany, China has a significantly larger number of tool and die manufacturers with more than 100 employees. In 2012, China produced tools and dies worth €15,720.87m. Since 2010, this value increased from €11,999.30m. In 2013 (Fig. 3), 301,644 tons of tools and dies with a value of €3,573.53m were exported. The number consists of solid and sheet metal forming tools worth €532.73m, injections moulds worth €2,733.68m and die-casting moulds worth €307.11m. In the same year, China imported tools worth €2,128.16m which comprised of €725.63m of solid and sheet metal forming tools, €1,214.35m of injection moulds and €188.19m of die casting moulds.

 

The Chinese trade of tools with foreign markets is illustrated in Fig. 4. The largest trade partners for importing injection moulds are South Korea, Japan and Germany. Injection moulds are mostly exported to the USA, Japan and Germany. The largest trade partners for importing sheet metal and massive forming tools are South Korea, Japan and Germany, while they are exported mainly to the USA, India and Germany.

 

The rise of the tool and die industry and the rise of the Chinese economy occurred simultaneously. The sales development of the tool and die industry was in line with the development of the economy as a whole. Barring the years of crisis, 2008 and 2009, the tooling industry grew in double-digits thanks to massive governmental aids within a 5-year plan. The tool and die industry is present all over the Chinese mainland. In the East Chinese coast, the tool and die industry has developed into a core industry. The coast provinces of Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu and the city Shanghai collectively cover 80% of the total tool and die production. 

 

Internationally competitive companies likely to evolve

Chinese tool and die manufacturers distinguish themselves by a very high availability of manpower and resources, which enables them to accomplish low lead times – comparable with Germany.