The original idea has long since turned into a lively network through which the companies form strategic partnerships in order to jointly handle orders and exploit synergies. The VDWF organizes a large number of seminars and events, is a co-initiator of the Moulding Expo, has launched its own courses of study, founded a research community and engages in dialog with politicians. "It is our task to combine the strengths and knowledge of our companies in order to maintain the top international position of moldmaking and tooling in German-speaking countries," explains VDWF President Prof. Thomas Seul.
Core events include the first delegation trip to the USA in 1996, the first issue of the association magazine in 2001 and regular networking events since 2005. In 2010, a separate VDWF guideline on the subject of CE marking of tools was published. The VDWF is also involved in science: In order to promote pre-competitive research and thus strengthen the industry, which is mainly characterized by SMEs, the Research Association of German Moldmakers and Toolmakers (FDWF) was founded in 2021 - the FDWF was accepted as the hundredth member of the German Federation of Industrial Research Associations (AiF) in the same year.