About us

Strong together
The VDWF’s main objective is to strengthen the German tool and mold making industry. Since its founding in 1992, the VDWF has been supporting mainly small and medium-sized companies, and has worked to strengthen them for joint future tasks. To this end, the VDWF combines and advocates for the interests of its member companies. Among the topics on which members receive competent advice and practical support are:

Promotion of young talent
Education and training
Marketing and joint fairs
Management and corporate management
DIN standards committee
CE conformity
Expert assessments
Press and public relations
Lobbying

VDWF Active Meeting Space

In addition to the operational tasks, the association’s work is determined by strategic goals shared by its members. The VDWF works to continuously increase the positive public visibility of the industry. It also creates event formats which not only help members to stay ‘ahead by a nose’ organizationally and technologically, but which also promote exchanges within the association network. For example, the VDWF organizes:

Segment-specific trade events
Training courses, seminars, working groups, and workshops
Joint stands at trade fairs and exhibitions in Germany and abroad
Delegations and study trips
Newsletters with technical information
Active network appointments such as the tool making management meeting «voll wild» (“Totally Wild”), or the VDWF working groups «Additive Fertigung» (Additive Manufacturing), «Meister-Treff» (Master’s Meeting), «QM» (Quality Management), «Marketingleiter-Treff» (Marketing Leader’s Meeting), «Vertragsrecht» (Contract Law), «Werkzeugbau 4.0» (Tool Making 4.0) and the Punch and Die Maker’s Meeting «Hart auf Hart»
Online events such as the «11-Uhr-Loch» (“11 o'clock gap”) seminar series or the «Spätschicht» (Late Shift) digital round table
Regular appointments such as the annual general meeting and event the night before, applied forums, as well as barbecues and ski weekends
The VDWF is self-financed. Around one third of total expenses are paid for through membership fees, income from training and further education, and through trade fair offers and income from the magazine respectively. No public funds are used.

With its association work, the VDWF pursues four overarching goals:

Visibility of German tool and mold making
in the world and in Europe
in Germany and its individual regions
in public, also for young people
Training and further education within the industry
Inter-company trainee programs
Application-oriented courses of study
Seminars, working groups, and delegation trips
Maintaining and expanding technological leadership
Exchange of experience
Research projects
Transfer of technology
Provide a culture of and opportunities for open interaction within the VDWF
Nationwide presence
Diverse range of appointments and meetings
Open communication among members