Excellence in Production: Oechsler AG from Ansbach is Tool Manufacturer of the Year 2024

The ongoing economic uncertainty and the transformation of many traditional sales markets in toolmaking are challenging the industry. It is therefore all the more important for companies to scrutinize their future viability and gain clarity about their position in the competition. With the competition "Excellence in Production," the WZL Tool Machine Laboratory of RWTH Aachen, in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT, has been awarding the "Toolmaker of the Year" title for over 20 years. This year's winner is the internal toolmaking department of Oechsler AG from Ansbach in Franconia. The company distinguished itself from its competitors in the competition and demonstrates how a successful transformation can be achieved.

The Oechsler toolmaking proved itself among more than 200 companies, from which twelve finalists emerged across four categories. On November 13th, the toolmaking team of Oechsler AG received the coveted award during a ceremonial presentation at Aachen City Hall in front of around 300 guests. The speech honoring the overall winner was traditionally given by the previous year's winner: Jürgen Strohmeier, head of toolmaking at BMW AG at the Munich and Dingolfing sites.

Oechsler AG: Reoriented Toolmaking with In-House Developed Software Systems

The jury cited the comprehensive strategic realignment of the entire company as decisive for the overall victory in the competition: Through targeted industry diversification, Oechsler reduces dependence on a single sector — a transformation supported and enabled by its internal toolmaking department. The company employs its own IT development team with strong toolmaking expertise, which provides tailored software tools for processes and needs of toolmaking and continuously adapts them to new requirements. The extensive system support along order processing particularly impressed the judges. It enables the toolmaking department to plan capacities efficiently across all locations and ensures automated error checking of design data. Additionally, Oechsler's toolmaking uses augmented reality applications for cross-site tool support and employee qualification.

Since its founding in 1864, Oechsler AG has developed into a leading company in plastics technology, supplying customers worldwide in the automotive, healthcare, and sports and consumer goods sectors with industrial solutions. It relies on the latest technologies and a high degree of automation and digitalization. With nearly 2,700 employees, the company generated approximately 389 million euros in revenue in 2023.

The internal toolmaking at Ansbach has been in operation for over 70 years. It produces high-performance injection molds for standard or special processes with around 130 employees. These include precision molds for small parts and multi-component molds, as well as tools with special gearings and screw-in tools for screws or parts with threads. The toolmaking department acts as a full-service partner within the overall company for internal production.

Also the Best Internal Toolmaking Department with More Than 50 Employees

In addition to the overall victory, the jury also awarded the internal toolmaking department of Oechsler AG as the winner in the category "Internal Toolmaking from 50 Employees." Other finalists in this category included Craemer GmbH from Herzebrock-Clarholz near Gütersloh, Gerresheimer Regensburg GmbH from Wackersdorf in Bavaria, and Ypsomed AG from Burgdorf in Switzerland, who received certificates.

Victory in the "Internal Toolmaking Under 50 Employees" Category Goes to Hilti AG

This year's winner in the "Internal Toolmaking Under 50 Employees" category is Hilti AG from Schaan in Liechtenstein.

Hilti's toolmaking department convinced the jury as a globally operating tool supplier with particular focus on employees and the tool lifecycle. By digitally supporting tools throughout their entire lifecycle, the department continuously optimizes its tools. Hilti achieves this by attaching data matrix codes to components, from which lifecycle data can be read. The company also emphasizes systematic employee development based on individual development plans.

Hilti AG develops and markets solutions that improve productivity, safety, and sustainability in the construction industry, with around 34,000 employees in more than 120 countries. The company invests about seven percent of its annual revenue in research and development for continuous innovation. The in-house toolmaking department in Schaan has been operating since 1999, ensuring international supply of tools for ongoing production. In conjunction with corporate research and product development, highly innovative tools and manufacturing technologies are created, enabling close collaboration with production and ongoing development of the status quo.

Other finalists this year included Böllhoff Produktion GmbH from Bielefeld and ifm electronic GmbH from Tettnang on Lake Constance.

Winner of the "External Toolmaking from 50 Employees" Category is Braunform GmbH

The best "External Toolmaking from 50 Employees" in 2024 is Braunform GmbH from Bahlingen near Freiburg.

Braunform impressed the jury with its comprehensive standardization of toolmaking through the in-house developed and parameterized MEDMold standard for the safe use of injection molds in cleanrooms. The company operates in a climate-controlled manufacturing area with a high degree of automation in eroding and milling. Braunform explicitly emphasizes a high proportion of trainees and trains them in a large apprenticeship workshop using modern CNC machines.

Founded in 1977 as a family business, Braunform today employs 380 people and is one of the world's leading companies in plastics mold manufacturing for medical technology. Braunform specializes in manufacturing injection molds for products where plastics are an indispensable or resource-efficient alternative to other materials. The company offers full-service engineering, focusing on multi-component molds, multi-cavity tools, multi-shot injection molds, and molds for medical technology. The fully climate-controlled precision mold manufacturing serves the pharmaceutical, precision farming, and personal care sectors. For the pharmaceutical industry, manufacturing processes including automated assembly in cleanrooms are implemented.

Another finalist in this category was Fischer GmbH from Geringswalde in Saxony.

Best "External Toolmaking Under 50 Employees" is Fassnacht Werkzeug-Formenbau

The winner in the "External Toolmaking Under 50 Employees" category is Fassnacht Werkzeug-Formenbau from Bobingen near Augsburg.

The jury highly appreciated Fassnacht's targeted investments in machinery to ensure long-term competitiveness. The state-of-the-art manufacturing hall, with continuous climate control, many crane systems, and modern network technology, provides excellent working conditions. Employees benefit from long-standing, family-like collaboration and enjoy a high degree of personal responsibility.

Founded in 1990, Fassnacht positions itself as a problem solver for complex challenges in injection mold making and supplies customers worldwide across various industries — from automotive to power tools, medical technology, and toys. The company has a modern, highly automated machine park with a broad technology spectrum and a solid team with many years of professional experience. Fassnacht has been a multiple winner and finalist of the Excellence in Production competition for many years and places high importance on research and development. The owner-managed family business consciously avoids aggressive growth, instead offering its employees a family-like working environment with long-term secure jobs.

Other finalists in the "External Toolmaking Under 50 Employees" category included Formotion GmbH from Wilnsdorf near Siegen and Klaucke & Meigies Formenbau GmbH from Lüdenscheid in the Sauerland region.

Excellence in Production: Selection of the Best Toolmaking Companies in the German-speaking Region

Researchers from Aachen, together with an expert jury, also identified the best tool and moldmaking companies in the German-speaking region this year, across four categories. The basis for this detailed comparison was a comprehensive questionnaire and on-site visits to the top-ranked companies during the summer months. Based on this, the ten judges from industry, politics, associations, and science selected twelve finalists, category winners, and the overall winner. In 2024, more than 200 tool and moldmaking companies participated in the competition, with 50 making it to the shortlist.

The "Excellence in Production" competition took place for the 21st time this year. The day after the awards ceremony, selected finalists and partners from Aachen's institutes presented their success strategies during the International Colloquium "Toolmaking with a Future." Under the motto "Toolmaking powered by AI – efficient, precise, innovative & sustainable?!", the organizers and selected speakers discussed ways to increase productivity, applications of artificial intelligence in toolmaking, and potential future scenarios for the industry to ensure long-term success.

New Opportunities Next Year

Next year, the best German-speaking tool and moldmaking companies will again compete against each other. Interested parties can already find detailed information about the competition and register in advance at www.excellence-in-production.de. All participants will receive an individual evaluation of their strengths and areas for improvement.

Starting December 1st, companies can fill out the first part of the questionnaire with a few key questions. Based on this, they will receive an initial assessment of their key figures. In the second phase of the competition, more detailed questions must be answered, and participants will receive a more comprehensive key figure analysis. Additionally, two on-site visits by Aachen's toolmaking experts will be raffled among all second-phase participants.

This year's competition is supported by main sponsor Hasco Hasenclever GmbH & Co. KG, the KC Kunststoffcluster Austria, the Swiss Toolmaking Association Swissmem, the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association (VDMA), the German Association of Tool and Mold Makers, and the WBA Aachen Toolmaking Academy GmbH. Media partners Form + Werkzeug, VDI Nachrichten, and Werkzeug & Formenbau promote the competition through extensive coverage of the winners and finalists. Another partner is the trade fair "formnext".