During the General Assembly held at Shanghai, China, Christian Dihlmann, President of the Brazilian National Die & Tooling Association (ABINFER), was officially elected as the new President of ISTMA World for the period 2026-29. He succeeds Bob Williamson, who concluded his tenure heading the global organization.
This election marks a historic milestone for the South American tooling industry, as Dihlmann becomes the first Brazilian leader to head the international association.
Having previously served as President of ISTMA Americas and leading ABINFER for over a decade, Christian Dihlmann brings extensive experience in sectoral strategic alignment and technical training to the global presidency.
In his acceptance address, the newly elected President highlighted the strategic importance of the tooling and machining sector to the global manufacturing ecosystem, outlining his core vision for the upcoming term:
"The tooling industry is strategic for the industrial development of any nation. Through international cooperation, innovation, and a strong focus on people and talent development, we will build an even stronger future for our global segment."
Priorities for the New Term
Under Dihlmann's leadership, the ISTMA World will focus on expanding international membership and synergy, bridging the gap between emerging markets and advanced industrial tech trends, and fostering professional qualification. Among the targeted global initiatives is the adaptation of successful regional vocational programs to a broader international scale.
ISTMA World expresses its highest appreciation to Bob Williamson for his dedication and outstanding leadership during his presidency, and warmly welcomes Christian Dihlmann as he takes the helm to drive the global special tooling and machining industry forward.
