The “Excellence in Production” contest was staged this year for the fourth time by the Laboratory for Machine Tools (WZL) at RWTH Aachen university and the Fraunhofer Institute of Production Technology IPT, who bestowed the “Tool Shop of the Year 2007” award on the best German-speaking tool making company.

Eight of a total of 316 contestants made it through to the final. WZL and Fraunhofer IPT honored both the overall winner and the best companies in various categories. A high-ranking panel of experts from government, associations, academia and business assessed not only the technological capabilities of the participants but also financial, organizational and strategic aspects.