A cutting process is used in almost every process chain for the production of components by forming technology. Shear cutting is the most frequently used process due to its high productivity. Due to the increasingly complex design of components and in some cases very high sheet material strength, the demands on cutting tools and presses are increasing. The demand for improved product quality and production at the highest possible stroke rates for the benefit of high cost-efficiency also form the basis for current issues in the field of shear cutting. Furthermore, due to the ever-increasing cost pressure, increasing the service life of the cutting tools to be used for materials with the highest tensile strengths is a very challenging problem. These complex, overlapping demands in the field of shear cutting technology are addressed by the IFUM within the framework of basic and industrial joint research. The activities in the field of shear cutting include research into the influences of machines, tools and materials on the process.