Portuguese Engineering & Tooling Cluster Origin

Portuguese mouldmaking industry was born in 1945 by the hand of Mr. Aníbal H. Abrantes. Mouldmaking industry birth was a consequence of the skills and know-how developed after 1929 in the manufacturing of moulds for glass industry to supply the growing mould needs of Marinha Grande and Oliveira de Azeméis glass industry.

Since then, our mouldmaking industry development has a strong focus on exporting abroad, winning worldwide reputation and at the same time has created strong technical skills and know-how, (competences necessary for its expansion), setting up a wide network of suppliers, customers and training and technological centers and universities. 

To the set of mouldmaking companies and the technical institutions that cooperate together, we call Portuguese Engineering and Tooling Cluster. This private association represents an industrial value chain with specialized skills & competences, from Design & Engineering to Tooling and Plastic Products. This industrial and scientific Cluster is responsible for setting up a national strategy for the development and sustainability of this important economic sector.

Pool-net – Portuguese Tooling Network is the entity responsible for the management of the Portuguese Engineering and Tooling Cluster, making the connection between institutions that support Portuguese mouldmaking industry (CEFAMOL and CENTIMFE), educational and scientific institutions and mouldmaking companies around a common strategy.