Fakuma 2026: 8 Questions Buyers Asked Fesp Mold About Injection Mold Manufacturing

Day one at Fakuma 2026 in Friedrichshafen gave us a clear picture of what injection molders and OEM buyers want to know before choosing a mold maker. At our stand in Hall A3, Stand 3113, the questions were practical and specific. Visitors asked about machining equipment, testing, cooling technology, capacity, mold size, metrology, location, and factory access.

None of them asked for slogans. They asked how we work.

This article answers the eight questions we heard most often on the opening day. If you are evaluating an injection mold manufacturer for high-volume, precision-critical production, these are the questions to put on your own checklist.

Key Takeaways

• Machining: we build precision multi-cavity molds with in-house machining, including six 5-axis machining centers.

• Beyond the mold: our in-house process covers technical consulting, design, construction, testing, and sampling.

• Cooling: we select the cooling strategy based on part geometry, cycle targets, and material behavior, including conformal cooling where the part requires it.

• Verification: we inspect tools and molded parts with in-house metrology, and our customers can attend mold trials in our factory.

• Origin: every mold is designed and built in Italy, backed by over 30 years of experience.

1. Are you equipped for 5-axis machining?

Yes. Our tool room runs six 5-axis machining from DMG Mori and United machining solutions. We use them for cavity and core inserts and complex parting lines that would otherwise need multiple setups.

Fewer setups mean fewer repositioning errors. That matters most in high precision tooling, where every insert must match its neighbors to within hundredths of a millimeter.

What this means for you: consistent inserts give you balanced filling, stable part weights, and less scrap from the first production cycle.

2. Do you manufacture only molds, or can you also provide validation, testing, sampling, and pre-series?

We do more than build the mold. Our process runs fully in-house: technical consulting, design, mold construction, and testing. We test every mold before delivery and supply samples for your dimensional and functional approval. We are equipped with a Millutensil die spotted machine for assembling test and two injection molding machine, Engel and BMB, with full auxiliaries: Piovan dryers, Gunther hot runner controllers, NovaFrigo temperature controllers ans Star automation robot. That lets us build, test and validate the mold under one roof, then run prototypes and small to medium series.

What this means for you: you receive a tool with documented performance, not a tool you have to debug on your own press.

3. Have you ever used conformal cooling for your molds?

Yes, where the part justifies it. Conformal cooling channels follow the shape of the cavity, so they remove heat evenly from areas that straight drilled channels cannot reach.

We choose the cooling strategy with discipline, not by default. And we choose time by time the best supplier, and technology, for reach the the target.

What this means for you: you pay for the cooling technology your part needs, and you get the cycle time your business case depends on.

4. How many molds are you able to manufacture per year?

We manufacture from 40 to 50 molds per year. The figure varies with complexity: a 48-cavity mold for glass-filled material requires far more engineering and machining hours than a single-cavity tool.

We plan capacity around delivery commitments, not around volume alone. Because design, machining, and testing all happen under one roof, we control the schedule from first drawing to final sample. No subcontractor sits on the critical path.

What this means for you: clear lead times and one partner responsible for meeting them.

5. What is the maximum size of your molds?

We build molds up to 800x1000mm and 4 tons, suitable for presses up to 500 tons. Our core expertise lies in high-cavitation, high-precision tooling for food packaging, medical devices, automotive components, technical plastic parts, and home automation.

Size is only one variable. A compact multi-cavity mold for abrasive materials can be more demanding than a large single-cavity tool. We ask about part geometry, material, cavity count, and target cycle time first. Then we size the mold around those requirements.

The 80% of our yearly revenue are made with molds that fit under 200tons injection machine.

What this means for you: a mold matched to your press and your output targets, without oversizing.

6. Are you equipped with metrology machines for inspection of tools and molded parts?

Yes. We inspect mold components during construction and verify molded parts after testing with Zeiss CMM. Measurement is not a final step. It runs through the entire build.

Inspection data is what allows us to state results with confidence. And every stage dimensional report will be available on request.

What this means for you: dimensional reports you can rely on, and fewer surprises during your PPAP or internal approval.

7. Where are you located in Italy?

Fesp Mold is based in Sandrigo, Veneto, in the heart of an Italian manufacturing district with a long tradition in toolmaking and plastics processing. We are in a strategical area close to Venice Airport (2h), Bergamo airport (2.5h) and easily reach by car (3h from Austria border)

Every mold we deliver is designed and built here, 100% in Italy. The district also gives us direct access to specialized suppliers for steel and heat treatment. We work with customers across Europe and North America, including a growing base of manufacturers in Mexico.

What this means for you: Italian craftsmanship with the logistics to support international production.

8. Can customers assist at mold tests in your factory?

Yes, and we encourage it. Customers can attend mold trials at our facility, watch the tool run, review first samples, and discuss process parameters directly with our engineers.

Attending the trial shortens approval cycles. You see filling behavior, cycle stability, and part quality with your own eyes, and any adjustment is agreed on the spot. For customers who cannot travel, we share trial data, measurement reports, and samples. And of course, we can make video or live videocall directly from injection molding machine!

What this means for you: full transparency before the mold ships, and a shared understanding of how it will perform in your plant.

Bring Your Questions to Fakuma, or to Our Factory

These eight questions share one thread: buyers want proof, not promises. Equipment, testing, metrology, and open access to our factory are how we provide that proof.

If you are planning a new project in food packaging, medical, automotive, or technical parts, come and discuss it with our team. Visit Fesp Mold at Hall A3, Stand 3113 for the rest of Fakuma 2026. Bring your part drawings, your material, and your cycle-time targets. If you cannot visit us at the show, contact our team to arrange a technical meeting or a visit to our factory in Italy.