Epoxy tooling: Technologies, developments, sustainability and future interest to industry 4.0

The technology of epoxy tooling, at present under continuous development, is used for the rapid manufacture cost-effective tools small batch production. It a valid alternative with no need expensive investment in metallic moulds development new products. Current investigations are focused on improvements to production system, improved tool performance, cost reduction and manufacturing sustainability. In this paper, both advantages disadvantages tooling injection moulding, wax injection, metal stamping hot embossing compared conventional techniques. Following brief introduction technologies, latest advances their implementation different processes all analysed. These developments refer ad-hoc composites, increased productivity using conformal cooling channels, costs through waste reuse emerging industry 4.0 technologies smart tooling. main objective identify challenges facing techniques future research directions.