Audi is for the fourth time the “Toolmaker of the Year.” That is the result of the renowned industry competition “Excellence in Production” organized by the Toolmaking Laboratory (WZL) of RWTH Aachen University and the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology (IPT). Audi Toolmaking succeeded against more than 290 toolmaking and mold making departments from companies in the German speaking countries. Michael Breme, Head of Toolmaking at AUDI AG, was presented with the winner’s cup at the 15th “Toolmaking with a Future” international colloquium in Aachen on Wednesday evening.
The jury composed of members from the fields of industry, business and research were convinced by the diversity of innovations from Audi Toolmaking ‑ ranging from intelligent tools that independently control themselves to safeguard the precision of sheet-metal parts measured in hundredths of millimeters to 3D printers for the production of metal parts. The jury also praised Audi Toolmaking’s technological capability as well as its financial, organizational and strategic aspects. The result: Audi was voted the winner in the individual category “Internal toolmaking with more than 50 employees” and in the overall competition. This is already the fourth victory for Audi Toolmaking, which means it is the record prizewinner. “Toolmaking has always been one of Audi’s core competences. With our inventive talent, we succeed again and again in pushing the boundaries of what is technically feasible. In this way, we lay the foundation for our high‑quality car bodies and maintain our excellent standing vis‑à‑vis our international competitors,” stated Prof. Dr. Hubert Waltl, Board of Management Member for Production at AUDI AG.
Audi Toolmaking covers the entire process chain of sheet-metal production. The division supplies Audi as as well as other brands of the Volkswagen Group with forming tools and manufacturing equipment. Audi Toolmaking currently employs more than 2,000 people at its current five locations of Ingolstadt, Neckarsulm, Barcelona (Spain), Győr (Hungary) and Beijing (China). “This prize is a great honor and confirmation of our work. As well as factors such as perfection and precision, quality awareness, efficiency and sustainability, our success is due above all to the expertise of our team. It is they who make our Toolmaking so effective,” said Michael Breme, Head of Audi Toolmaking.
The annual award of “Toolmaker of the Year” is an initiative of the Toolmaking Laboratory (WZL) of RWTH Aachen University and the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology (IPT). The prize has now been awarded for the twelfth time; one of its aims is to further strengthen the international competitiveness of German toolmaking and mold making.
