The Association

CEFAMOL – The Portuguese Association for the Mould Industry, was founded in 1969, through the initiative of seven companies based in Marinha Grande who were manufacturers of mould for plastics.

Cefamol is a non-profit making organisation whose main objective is the development of the moulds industry in Portugal. We represent the industry in negotiations with the Government and other official organisations and our sphere of operation includes the promotion of the moulds industry, technological research, professional work training and the exchange of technical and scientific information with other institutions working in the same area both in Portugal and abroad.

In addition to representing moulds for plastics, Cefamol representation also covers all sub-sectors of the moulds industry.
Our aims include co-operation and technical research in moulds and the technical - professional enhancement of all those who work in the field both with regard to the exchange of expertise gained and methods employed as well as through the promotion of events such as Technical Workshops, Mould Industry Meetings and The Mould Industry Congress.

Since its foundation, Cefamol has contributed significantly to the progress of the moulds industry in Portugal. More specifically, the association has acted as a link for communication between member companies.


More specifically, Cefamol:

Works as a vehicle for the exchange of information between member companies thus permitting faster communication about new technologies and how they are used as well as the implementation of new organisational methods;

Working directly with ICEP (The Portuguese Foreign Trade Office), CEFAMOL plans and promotes the expansion of Portuguese exports through trade missions, by taking part in international conferences and trade fairs, by publishing promotional material, including the Directory of Member Companies, and also through international publicity campaigns in trade magazines and other publications;

CEFAMOL was the driving force behind the creation of an awareness of the moulds industries potential as an institution with subsequent national recognition of this fact. This was achieved through the holding of Congresses for the Moulds Industry and the publication of a book containing the different theses presented, an important contribution to chronicle the development of the industry;

CEFAMOL was involved in the setting up of CENTIMFE and was the main source of much of the dynamism behind this organisation - The Technological Centre for the Moulds and Special Tools Industry, which was founded in January 1991;

More recently, CEFAMOL start to organise international’s publicity campaigns, to promote Portuguese moulds abroad in which the quality and technical capacity of the industry was highlighted;

CEFAMOL represents the Portuguese Moulds Industry at ISTMA - the International Special Tooling and Machining Association, issuing statistics and other relevant information about Portugal for the world mould industry;

Every quarter, CEFAMOL publishes the technical magazine “O Molde”;

Having as an aim the standardisation and systematisation of a set of rules for the different areas in mould manufacturing companies, CEFAMOL has brought out a Manual of Procedures for The Moulds Industry. This document was drawn up by a wide ranging group of professionals made up of businessmen, top managers and technicians from the industry and is intended to be an indispensable guide for all those who work in moulds;

CEFAMOL has also actively sought to develop co-operation between the moulds industry and the plastics transformation industry. The objective is to reinforce a potentially important cluster of companies within Portuguese industry.

Currently CEFAMOL has 130 member companies representing approximately 90% of Portuguese total production. Portugal is a country held in high regard around the world in the sphere of mould manufacturing for the plastics industry.

An ever-growing number of large multinational companies (the automobile, household appliances and electrical material industries, among others) choose Portuguese companies for the manufacture of their moulds, which are used in the production of some of the best products of international brands. This choice is based on the expertise and experience of Portuguese mould manufacturers, our high level of quality and technical support, our competitive prices, delivery times and innovative use of advanced technologies.

This worldwide reputation has also allowed us to establish the presence of Portuguese mould manufacturers in more than 70 countries.

Despite having a relatively small economy, Portugal is one of the biggest manufacturers of moulds in the world, exporting around 90% of production.

The moulds industry in Portugal is made up of approximately 250 companies. The majority are SMEs (small and medium sized enterprises), which are located in Marinha Grande (60%) and Oliveira de Azeméis (35%). Approximately 7500 people are employed in total. The future of this industry is ensured by the close attention paid to technological development, correct production planning and quality control, the constant modernisation of equipment and investment in professional work training.

Portugal is one of the largest suppliers of precision moulds for the plastics industry worldwide. Our main markets are France, the United States, Germany, Spain and United Kingdom.

Recent advances have allowed Portuguese companies to remain ahead of competitors in the production of highly specialised moulds. The industry invests approximately 10% of total sales in new equipment. Portuguese mould manufacturers invest proportionately more in new technologies and equipment than any of our foreign competitors. The transmission and reception of data relating to the design and production of moulds, an advance proportioned by the excellent computer systems installed in.

The challenges to be faced by the Portuguese moulds industry in the near future call for the full commitment of all involved as our future competitiveness on the international market is in their hands.

The fact that Portugal maintains its position as one of the leading producers and exporters of moulds in the world does not mean that we should sit back.

This should serve as a stimulus for the ongoing improvement of this position and the improvement of capacity to meet international competition.