Looking to the Past
Evolution of Mould Making in Portugal

Sometime later in 1944, we see the initial signs of the manufacturing industry transforming. Recognizing the potential, the glassware artisans were encouraged to apply their natural skillsets and know-how to mould making for injection moulds. And the first plastic injection mould that was produced was for toys and consequently, dolls and playing pieces were the entrance point into the mould making industry for Portugal.
Portugal Exports Its First Mould
As the decades have progressed, so has the know-how and experience. Although there is a big concentration of mould making companies in Marinha Grande and Oliveira de Azemeis, the key to the industry’s success is not the competition amongst them, but the trust and camaraderie. In the 1970s, although Portugal was going through a turbulent time, the mould making industry was still exporting high quality moulds and continued to gain momentum.
Today, the mould making industry in Portugal exports 90% of its business and mostly to the automotive industry. Portugal is known for delivering high quality moulds to a prime market. There is an unmatched level of care in mould making in Portugal. It is in the DNA that comes from the early days of the glassware industry and this translates into the quality and innovation that has been consistently shown throughout the evolution of the industry. This makes Portugal home to one of the biggest and most transversal cluster of mould making in the world!