Customers in Lower Bavaria rely on VOLLMER expertise 2024-05-15

Huber GmbH CNC-Präzisions-Werkzeugschleiferei is based in Eggenfelden in Lower Bavaria. For 30 years, the core competency of this medium-sized company has been repair and manufacturing of precision tools for the machining industry, development and production of high-quality special tools as well as circular and band saws. The VOLLMER Group's sharpening machines have been part of the Huber machine park from the very beginning, and last year they completed their ensemble with a VGrind 360S grinding machine. Huber is using the VOLLMER machine, which is equipped with 24/7 automation, to boost production of (semi-)standardised milling tools for the machining industry.

High-performance carbide milling cutter from Huber

"We have come a long way since the foundation of our company in 1994, and we are now a strong German company with 30 highly motivated employees," says Andreas Fröhlich, Operations Manager at Huber GmbH CNC-Präzisions-Werkzeugschleiferei. "It is important to us that we set a good example in the tool manufacturing industry in terms of quality, customer focus and employee satisfaction."

Manufacturing high-quality, durable and cost-effective standard and special tools, resharpening circular and band saws as well as knives, and reliably supporting customers with services – this is how Huber GmbH CNC-PräzisionsWerkzeugschleiferei has made a name for itself in the industry. Its range of carbide tools includes high-performance milling cutters such as end mills, radius and ball end mills, torus cutters, special milling cutters and moulds of all kinds. It also offers personalised advice and services such as a coating service. By coating its tools with temperature-resistant and wear-resistant auxiliary materials, Huber ensures significant improvements in the operating life and cutting performance of carbide tools.

Four out of five tools remain in Germany

The tool manufacturer Huber is based in Eggenfelden, a small town with around 15,000 inhabitants. It is the largest town in the Lower Bavarian district of Rottal-Inn and is situated directly on the connecting line between Munich and Passau. The company supplies around 90 per cent of its tools to customers in Germany; countries such as Austria, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Bulgaria and Slovakia are important international sales markets. Huber generates a profit of around 2.7 million euros a year, with customers primarily based in the metal and woodworking industries as well as the machine, tool and mould making sectors.

"Our guiding principle is that we can only overcome the greatest challenges together. In addition to our employees and customers, our suppliers also play a central role here," says Andreas Fröhlich. "When it comes to sharpening machines, we have relied on the technological expertise of the VOLLMER Group since our company was founded. We currently have five VOLLMER machines in use – our most recent purchase was a VGrind 360S last year."

Fulfilling order volumes with the new VOLLMER machine

Huber uses the VOLLMER CHD 270 machine and the solution K850-T and KBN710 sharpening machines from Loroch – a company of the VOLLMER Group – to machine carbide-tipped circular saws as well as those made of high-speed steel. Thanks to automation solutions, the machines are usually in operation around the clock, grinding carbide-tipped circular saws with diameters of up to 840 millimetres. In order to meet the increasing demand for high-performance carbide milling cutters, Huber opted to purchase a new VOLLMER VGrind 360S tool grinding machine in 2023. This investment has enabled Huber to expand production of standardised cutting tools in particular. Equipped with the VOLLMER HC4 chain magazine, up to 158 shank tools with different sizes and geometries can be automatically produced and machined.

"The VGrind 360S grinding machine with chain loader enables production around the clock, seven days a week, allowing us to fulfil our high order volume quickly and with high quality and precision," says Christoph Ziegler, Production Manager at Huber GmbH CNC-Präzisions-Werkzeugschleiferei. "As such, the VOLLMER machine is a perfect match for our guiding principle and self-imposed goal to deliver the best possible quality and precision 'despite' speed."

The VGrind 360S machines carbide milling cutters quickly and precisely

Alongside automation, the decisive factor for Huber was that the VGrind 360S is suitable for ensuring consistently high-quality tool machining thanks to the wear-free linear induction motors on the X, Y and Z axes, and also reduces maintenance costs. With two grinding spindles situated one above the other and the grinding wheel set positioned at the C axis pivot point, the VGrind 360 tool grinding machine enables efficient multi-level machining. This means that machining times can be reduced thanks to the shorter travel distances of the linear axes, which is also beneficial in terms of the speed promised by Huber. Spindles and motors are cooled by a plate heat exchanger. This increases the thermal stability of the machine to improve both the precision and performance of the grinding processes. Huber is able to minimise axial and radial run-out errors in the grinding wheel packages thanks to the integrated spindle indexing of the VGrind 360S. This means that the grinding machine is equipped with an orientated spindle stop, which always stops the end of spindle at exactly the same position for changing the grinding wheel.

"Huber is a prime example of how we have been working with our customers in a spirit of trust and partnership for decades, and how we can provide ideal technological support for the growth of medium-sized tool manufacturers every step of the way," states Yannick Geisinger, Area Sales Manager Germany South and Switzerland at the VOLLMER Group. "That's why we at VOLLMER are doing everything we can to ensure that Huber can continue to use our machines and services to adapt to new market challenges in the future."