USER REPORT A Report by
USER REPORT A Report by REGO-FIX AG A Peaceful Night’s Sleep – with 95 Percent Relief Mold-Tecnic is a mold and tool manufacturer near Barcelona whose customers primarily come from the automotive industry and medical technology. Based on the premise of high product quality with a broad range of services, the contract manufacturer has permanently incorporated the powRgrip toolholder by REGO- FIX into its production. For years, the Spanish economy in general – just like the machining industry in particular – has had to contend with huge difficulties. In regional terms, the industry is based on three main pillars. While the Basque region represents a share of about 30 to 35 percent, with Catalonia following at 20 to 25 percent, Madrid accounts for a share of around 15 to 20 percent of the total industry. And while construction of large tools and molds – for the automotive industry, for example – is focused in the Basque region, the region of Catalonia is characterized more by tool and mold construction for smaller automotive components such as valves, switches, or headlight parts. Here in Catalonia, the corporate landscape in the last few years has changed dramatically, of course. Large companies in particular have almost completely disappeared from the region, meaning that of 400 operations in days gone by, there are now fewer than 200 on the market. “To this day, tool and mold manufacturing in Catalonia is in crisis,” says Rubén Pleguezuelos, Managing Director of tool and mold manufacturer Mold-Tecnic. “But I believe we are past the worst.” However, the Spanish tool and mold manufacturer must still contend delicately with competition from China and Portugal, where the industry is supported by the state. Clear Premises One of the smaller companies now shaping the Catalan market is Mold-Tecnic, whose headquarters are located in Les Franqueses des Vallès. Like other businesses that were able to adjust their cost structure to the market conditions and survive, Mold- Tecnic is gradually receiving more work today. “Large jobs, however, are still rare and stability in incoming orders is lacking,” reports Pleguezuelos. In any case, it needed to find its own strategy long ago to survive the crisis. “From the outset, this consisted of Mold_Tecnic_Anwenderbericht_EN Page 1 of 7
offering the customer the highest quality and broadest range of services possible,” says the Managing Director. “In addition to the manufacture of generally small molds and tools, we also take care of their modification and repair, assist customers in development and construction, print 3-D parts, or perform service activities. Here, the focus is always on the quality and precision of the products.” These are the conditions under which its ten-person team serves primarily regional customers from the automotive industry. This includes prototype construction – for Seat, for example. A smaller portion of its clientele comes from the medical technology sector, which is also located in the surrounding area. “Here we are working with a company in the field of orthopedics, for example, that is currently developing another new product,” says Pleguezuelos. “We are conducting development and construction work for this company and manufacturing various products in 3-D.” Important Partner Pleguezuelos launched Mold-Tecnic about three years ago after leaving a large tool and mold manufacturer. At the time, with two men and a used three-axis machine from that company. “Of course, we needed more machines. So I bought two used eroding machines. A few months later – the order scope had increased and precision necessitated it – a new milling machine was added. After a year and a half, we had all our machines.” Currently these are three three-axis milling machines, two eroding machines, and, more recently, a laser welding machine. The next step for the company is of course the planned purchase of a five-axis machine. GerSwiss has been an important partner for Mold-Tecnic from the beginning. “We are a retailer of tools, tool technology, and tool clamping technology that acts exclusively for German and Swiss manufacturers in Spain. Generally exclusively, we offer the complete range here,” says Managing Director Oscar Velilla about his company. The two men have had a trusting relationship that goes back to before Mold-Tecnic was founded. “But the cooperation became even closer. Because as company founders, you have to take care of a lot of things,” says Pleguezuelos. “Support in selecting the right tools and clamping technology was therefore very important to us.” To this day, the cooperation has been characterized by trust and honesty; Pleguezuelos is presented with new systems along with all their advantages and drawbacks, meaning that he is always able to select the best price/performance ratio for him. “On this basis, we today primarily supply Mold-Tecnic with microcutters and clamping devices, as well as rotating Mold_Tecnic_Anwenderbericht_EN Page 2 of 7
