The production of Plastic Moulds Industry is a high technological added sector and it is highly developed in Portugal playing an international leading role with overseas
customers accounting for 80 per cent of total sales. The country is among the world’s largest mould makers, particularly when it comes to moulds for plastics.
Portuguese companies are among the first to understand that the current international market is in need of, not just plain moulds, but of complete, integrated solutions. They offer to their customers a complete service and new, innovative products, from conception and design to manufacture. Companies are fully equipped to cut the most demanding precision moulds to the highest standards, mostly tools involving multiple cavities, inserts and interchangeable parts. Portuguese firms are also pioneers in using technology that enables, for example, the injection of products with moving parts from a single mould, the use of in-mould labeling and decoration and the moulding of products combining different materials, such as hard and rubberised plastic, from a single tool.
Portuguese mould making industry had an estimated total output value of 350 million euros in 2010. Portugal exports most of its production to international markets such as Germany, France, Spain, Poland, United Kingdom and the US. In 2010, exports accounted for 318 million euro.
Portuguese moulding expertise is mostly used in the automotive industry. Almost all major carmakers like BMW, Mercedes, Volvo, Renault, Honda, Peugeot, Citroen, Volkswagen or Opel incorporate Portuguese moulds in their car models. Some cars incorporate more then 36 moulds manufactured in Portugal from bumpers, to spoilers, instrument panels or glove compartments, etc. Hence, it doesn’t come as a surprise that in 2008 about 72% of total Portuguese Moulding Industry output was absorbed by the automotive industry.
The Portuguese Plastic Mould Sector has, undoubtedly, a very high international reputation due to its technological innovation, quality, competitive prices and delivery time frames. Moreover, the expertise goes far beyond the automotive sector. Some products of daily use, like mobile phones, or suitcases, are made with Portuguese moulds. Some Nokia mobile phones or Samsonite suitcases are a few examples.
This sector is now targeting fields like aeronautics, electronics, energy and environment, healthcare and packaging, consequently, expanding its activity.