"The FORMETA competence network is distinguished by a wide range of industrial metalworking and metal processing expertise and is characterized by a unique regional concentration of enterprises based in and around the cities of Wuppertal, Solingen and Remscheid.

The objectives of the competence network include:

• Networking the key business factor – the concentration of metalworking expertise – in the Remscheid-Solingen-Wuppertal triangle, an economic region with a long tradition of innovation.

• Setting up an integrated network of the expertise existing in the region in order to present this business location to the outside world as a modern, efficient network of individual enterprises (mostly SMEs) with international reputations, operating together as a single unit.

• Joint research, support in the provision of specific industry-related training, cooperation on all levels of the productive value chain in the metalworking and metal-processing business and a unified presentation to the outside world. The synergy of these factors represents an asset to the business location that benefits the network members, helping to secure existing jobs and train up a new generation of specialists in the Remscheid-Solingen-Wuppertal city triangle.

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