OECHSLER AG wins the Toolmaker of the Year 2024 award

Ansbach, November 20, 2024 – In the Excellence in Production 2024 competition, OECHSLER AG was awarded the title of "Toolmaking of the Year." The competition, organized by RWTH Aachen and the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT, recognizes companies that achieve outstanding performance in toolmaking and production. This year, OECHSLER AG emerged victorious over more than 200 competitors, impressing the jury with a remarkable transformation and innovation.

Successful Transformation through Strategic Realignment

OECHSLER's selection as the overall winner was primarily due to its comprehensive strategic realignment. OECHSLER, a leading company in plastics technology, has broadened its focus through targeted industry diversification, reducing its reliance on individual markets. This transformation has been significantly supported by the internal toolmaking division, which not only provides high flexibility and adaptability but also develops innovative IT tools to optimize production processes.

In-house Software Solutions as the Key to Success

The jury particularly praised OECHSLER AG's proprietary software solutions, specifically designed for toolmaking. The company employs an internal IT development team with strong expertise in toolmaking. These software tools offer extensive support in order processing, capacity planning across multiple sites, and automated error checking of design data. Additionally, OECHSLER uses augmented reality applications to enable cross-location tool support and employee qualification.

OECHSLER Also Wins in the Category "In-house Toolmaking with 50 or More Employees"

In addition to the overall victory in the main category, OECHSLER AG's internal toolmaking was also recognized as the winner in the "In-house Toolmaking with 50 or More Employees" category. At the Ansbach site, where internal toolmaking has been established for over 70 years, approximately 130 employees produce high-performance injection molds for various processes. These include precision molds for small parts, multi-component tools, and special tools for the automotive industry and other sectors. The internal toolmaking division plays a central role as a full-service partner for production within the company.

Excellence in Production: A Significant Competition for Toolmaking

The Excellence in Production competition was launched in 2004 to recognize excellence in the German-speaking tool and mold-making industry and to strengthen the competitiveness of participating companies. The competition is organized by the Machine Tools Laboratory WZL of RWTH Aachen and the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT and is judged by a distinguished panel of industry, political, and academic experts. The awards ceremony for the winners took place on November 13, 2024, in the Coronation Hall of Aachen City Hall.

Launch of the Application Phase for the 2025 Competition

Next year, companies will again have the opportunity to compete in the Excellence in Production competition. The application phase for the next competition begins on December 1, 2024. Interested companies can register on the official competition website and will receive a detailed evaluation of their strengths and areas for improvement. In the first phase of the competition, companies are required to complete a questionnaire with key questions, after which they will receive an initial evaluation of their key performance indicators.

The competition not only offers the chance to showcase oneself as a leading company in the industry but also provides valuable insights to help companies improve their long-term competitiveness.