EMO reveals 3 trends for the tooling industry

EMO Hannover will take place from 22 to 26 September. It is the leading trade fair for the global manufacturing industry. For us at GSE Carbide, this is the moment to engage with existing and new partners about the trends we see in the market and how they increasingly shape the tooling industry.

1. Competitive pressure from outside Europe

The European tool market is increasingly confronted with tools from outside Europe. Whereas the difference in quality used to be clearly visible, this difference has become significantly smaller in recent years. This puts many European manufacturers under pressure, because price is becoming the deciding factor in more and more cases.

We have observed that this presents toolmakers with choices. Not every application requires the same level of quality or investment. With our Superior line, we offer carbide for high-quality, critical applications where maximum performance is essential. For applications where price-quality ratio is more important, we have carbide rods from the Essence line. Our Essence carbide is a reliable material that offers the right balance between price and quality for the production of standard tools.

Thanks to our expertise in carbide, we can help partners choose the right carbide grade for each application. This allows them to remain competitive without compromising on performance. We have noticed that the availability of carbide in the market is no longer guaranteed. Thanks to our extensive stock, we can still supply and support our partners.

2. Automotive transition

The automotive sector, which has been the engine of European manufacturing for many years, is under pressure. Electric vehicles are causing a shift that directly impacts suppliers. For toolmakers, this means that demand for tools from this sector is no longer as self-evident as it used to be.

We are seeing some manufacturers broadening their portfolio to include other industries, such as the energy sector, medical applications and wood and plastics processing. This shows how diverse the opportunities are for toolmakers to broaden their portfolio.

Carbide plays a crucial role in this expansion. Other sectors and workpiece materials often require different carbide properties. The combination of carbide rods from our Superior and Essence lines, together with our grinding service, in which we pre-process the rods, enables us to offer a broad portfolio. In addition, we also supply carbide preforms according to drawings on request. All this makes us a full-service carbide supplier.

3. Sustainability

Sustainability is becoming increasingly important throughout the manufacturing industry. European regulations and customer expectations demand concrete action, not just intentions. At GSE Carbide, we approach this practically. For example, we pay attention to efficient packaging when processing orders: shipping as little empty space as possible, fewer transport movements and therefore a lower CO₂ impact. We use recyclable materials for our packaging and work with partners committed to climate-neutral logistics.

For our customers, this not only means access to high-quality carbide, but also have a partner who contributes to sustainability goals. Sustainable production is not just about the end product, but about the entire chain, from material selection to logistics.

Conclusion

These topics are closely linked to conversations we will be having with our partners during EMO Hannover. For tool manufacturers, these issues are often already part of their daily reality and present both challenges and opportunities.

At GSE Carbide, we support our partners as full-service supplier of carbide with both Superior and Essence carbide rods, preforms and grinding services. In addition, we contribute to sustainable processes through efficient and recyclable packaging. GSE Carbide is a partner who thinks along in terms of performance, flexibility and future readiness.

Are you curious about how we can support you? Please contact us or speak to one of our colleagues during EMO 2025.

Let’s connect @ EMO Hannover!