The present invention is directed to a process for the production of moldings from plastic forming materials in metal molds comprising coating at least a portion of the internal walls of the mold with an external mold release agent, introducing the plastic forming material into the mold, closing the mold, and removing the product from the mold, the improvement wherein the external mold release agent comprises one or more organic compounds the molecules of contain on a statistical average A) from 0.5 to 1.2 polar groups selected from the group consisting of --CN, --NC, --NCO, --CNO, --OCN, --SCN and --NCS and B) at least one non-polar hydrocarbon chain with at least 12 carbon atoms, which chain may be at least partially fluorinated, and which may be interrupted by heteroatoms and/or carbonyl groups.