The view from Portugal: The UK's mould tool makers used to eye Portugal warily. Well, now Portugal is feeling the chill wind of competition

摘要

Although Portugal was the world's eighth largest mould and die maker in 2004 - production estimated to be worth some ?335million - some pundits say that there will not be a mould and die industry there at all in 20 years' time! Historically, apart from the manufacture of bottle moulds, there was no mould and die industry in Portugal before the 1950s. The growth of Europe's automotive industry in the 1950s, leading to the boom years in the 1960s, fostered the growth of Portuguese mould and die, Speaking at Portugal's Moulds Event 2004, held in Marinha Grande, Professor Eduardo Beira of Minho University said metalcutting techniques were the main concern of Portugal's mould and die makers during the 1960s and 70s. In his presentation 'The Mouldmaking Industry- A Constructive Economic Activity', Professor Beira said activities extended into prototyping, pre-production and services.