The invention relates to a production system (1) for free-form bending. It includes a bending press (3) with bending tools (4) which are interchangeably held in tool holders (19, 20), a manipulator (28) with gripping tongs (30) having gripping fingers (31, 32), and a recess (35, 36) disposed in the bending tool (4) with stop regions (49, 50) disposed at a distance apart from one another for manipulating the bending tool (4). Additional contact surfaces (40) are provided on ends (38, 39) of the gripping fingers (31, 32) on sides of the gripping fingers (31, 32) facing away from one another. The ends (38, 39) of the gripping fingers (31, 32) are inserted in the recess (35, 36) in order to hold the bending tool (4). The contact surfaces (40) are pressed against the stop regions (49, 50) in the direction opposite the clamping force for holding the workpiece (2) to be produced.