ISTMA held its World General Assembly online on 24 February 2026, bringing together representatives from member associations across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Chaired by ISTMA President, Bob Williamson, the Assembly reviewed the organization's achievements in 2025, approved the 2026 activity plan, and reinforced ISTMA's commitment to strengthening global collaboration in the tooling industry.
Strong Progress in 2025
The Assembly unanimously approved the 2025 Management Report and Accounts, recognizing a year marked by significant strategic initiatives and expanded industry engagement.
Key achievements included:
- Expansion of the Global Partners Program with new partners such as WBA, TEBIS, IK Office, and KNARR.
- Launch of the European Toolmaking Study and Report, supporting structured dialogue with EU institutions.
- Release of the first Automotive Tooling Forecast, providing forward-looking market intelligence.
- Introduction of Expert Talks, enabling direct exchanges with OEMs and major end-user industries.
- Publication of the ISTMA Mid-Year Industry Snapshot and the Statistics Yearbook covering 35 countries.
2026 Priorities: Expansion, Visibility, and Industry Impact
The Assembly also approved ISTMA's 2026 Plan of Activities and Budget, focused on strengthening global representation and industry recognition.
Main priorities include:
- Membership expansion in key regions.
- Enhanced cooperation across ISTMA regions to promote innovation and competitiveness.
- Expansion of the Global Partners Program and joint industry initiatives.
- Launch of ISTMA Europe's promotion and policy awareness program, including the European Tooling Forum in Brussels.
- Continued growth of the Expert Talks program.
Looking Ahead
Upcoming key meetings within ISTMA activity include:
- ISTMA Europe Meeting – March 2026, Bologna, Italy
- ISTMA World Conference & General Assembly – July 2026, Shanghai, China
- ISTMA Europe Meeting – October 2026, Brno, Czech Republic
- ISTMA Americas Meeting – Canada, second half of 2026
In 2027, the ISTMA World General Assembly will take place in Istanbul, Turkey.
