The founder of Toolplace, Christian Götze, earned his degree in mechanical engineering and business administration and then gained ten years of experience in product development and sales at GKTool, a Swiss high-tech toolmaker. Today, the 36-year-old wants to put his experience to good use: "Both suppliers and customers of injection moulding tools often don’t manage to get in contact with one another. Both industries are very close to my heart and I want to support them with what I do best. That's the reason why I founded Toolplace."

Toolplace is an online platform that connects plastics processors and toolmakers. Among other things, technological know-how, component size, experience with injection moulding materials or the certifications required play an important role. But vicinity can also be a key factor for toolmakers looking for component manufacturers and vice versa. "The digitalization of the search for a supplier is a logical step in view of the current trend towards more and more virtual networking solutions," says Götze. "But that doesn't mean that the entire process must be necessarily digital. Of course, the individual parties still have to discuss technical specifications with each other in person."

"Toolplace can save companies a lot of work", explains Götze. "Not only are the suitable partners already pre-selected, but also the specific inquiry process for an injection moulder, for example, can be completely structured and automatically mapped on the platform." The creation or expansion of a supplier network is thus immensely simplified.

But according to Götze, saving time is not even the most decisive factor: "Some companies have to reject orders because they lack the right provider of services. And the toolmakers would need more visibility in order to win them." Toolplace can generate this visibility. "Then it will also be possible to position the toolmaker on a broader base, open up new industry sectors and get into OEM budgets", assures Götze.

To register as a toolmaker on Toolplace, it is necessary first of all to fill out a checklist. The registration is then validated. "When Toolplace proposes a supplier, the plastics processor must also be able to rely on the fact that the potential partner can really do what he claims. That's why we plan audits in advance", explains Götze. An engineer visits the company and interviews the technical specialists responsible.

Toolplace can already be used by the interested parties, as the platform is already officially online and will then be launched at the K fair next October. Götze will present his startup in Düsseldorf with its own booth. "I had the idea of founding Toolplace for a long time and I am very happy that the time has finally come", says Götze. He already has plans to further develop the platform: In the future, for example, Toolplace will also open up to manufacturers of die-casting, punching, bending and forming tools.