São Paulo, Brazil – June 2026
"Tooling is the invisible infrastructure of modern industry. Rarely seen by society, yet present in virtually everything that is manufactured."
The Brazilian Tooling Industry Association (ABINFER) successfully hosted the 18th ENAFER – National Tooling Conference on June 1–2, 2026, bringing together approximately 1,200 professionals from across Brazil for two days focused on industrial competitiveness, innovation, technology, workforce development and the future of manufacturing.
Held at the headquarters of the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (FIESP), one of Latin America's most influential industrial organizations, the event reinforced ENAFER's position as Brazil's leading tooling industry forum.
The opening ceremony featured Christian Dihlmann, President of ABINFER and President of ISTMA Americas, Paulo Skaf, representing FIESP, and leaders from SENAI-SP, one of the largest and most respected industrial education and technology institutions in the Americas.
Hosting ENAFER at FIESP carries strong symbolic significance. The State of São Paulo accounts for roughly one-third of Brazil's industrial production and is widely recognized as the country's leading center for manufacturing, engineering, technology and industrial innovation.
Throughout the conference, participants attended technical workshops, executive presentations and strategic panels covering industrial competitiveness, digital transformation, Industry 4.0, automation, advanced manufacturing, workforce development, technology transfer, sustainability and opportunities created by Brazil's MOVER Program and other industrial development initiatives.
The discussions brought together representatives from the automotive, auto parts, electronics, plastics and packaging, construction, machinery and equipment, consumer goods, aerospace, education and research sectors, as well as employer and labor organizations.
One message resonated throughout the event: there is no strong manufacturing industry without a strong tooling industry. Tooling transforms engineering into production, innovation into manufacturing capability and knowledge into economic prosperity.
During the closing session, ABINFER officially announced:
19th ENAFER – National Tooling Conference
May 27–28, 2027
Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil
Recognized as one of Latin America's most important tooling and manufacturing hubs, Joinville will welcome industry leaders, companies and institutions from Brazil and abroad for another edition dedicated to innovation, competitiveness and international cooperation.
No industrialized nation has achieved technological leadership and long-term prosperity without first developing a strong tooling industry.
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