After a record year in 2014 with a 20% sales increase the HAIMER Group can also announce a double-digit growth for 2015. The newest shrinking and balancing technology from the European market leader for tool holding technology played a big part in this successful growth. The newly developed carbide milling systems offer a very promising future and are being met with great interest in the area of high performance machining.

In comparison to 2014, the HAIMER Group reported a sales increase of 10.5% for 2015. Andreas Haimer, who amongst other things, is responsible for the international business, explains that “especially the subsidiaries developed very well and within the last years we often noticed that being present in other countries increases the turnover. This way we can offer our dealers on-site support and present ourselves as a global partner to our Key Accounts.” In 2015 HAIMER UK was founded in Manchester and for 2016 establishing a French subsidiary is planned. Furthermore, the new Application Center at the Haimer North America headquarters will celebrate its opening in the middle of May. In the future the biggest subsidiary located near Chicago, can offer application support, live cutting tests, and a high-quality regrinding service for all HAIMER carbide tools.

In each country the shrinking technology has proven to be a growth driver. Especially Safe-Lock, the patented pullout protection system for end-mills, continues to grow rapidly. Due to its constantly increasing distribution, Safe-Lock is said to be the new standard for heavy machining and roughing operations. The system combines highest runout with process reliability and pullout protection and “the results are outstanding” as Andreas Haimer explains. “Even when it comes to new milling strategies such as trochoidal machining, Safe-Lock replaces the outdated Weldon clamping system.”

The Safe-Lock system has evolved from a special solution to an industry standard: Leading tool manufacturers such as Walter, Widia, Sandvik Coromant, Seco Tool, Sumitomo, Kennametal and others have contributed to this fact by acquiring a license and adding more and more Safe-Lock tools to their product portfolio. And the numbers keep increasing. Since 2015 the OSG Group, Japanese market leader in the area of solid carbide end-mills, is offering their high-performance solid carbide cutters with the HAIMER Safe-Lock system. Also another leading American tool manufacturer, SGS Solid Carbide Tools, decided to start selling Safe-Lock tools within the last year. Most recently, in January 2016, Melin Tools and APN, the former is an American tool manufacturer and the latter a French tool manufacturer, got licensed for Safe-Lock. Andreas Haimer emphasizes the global availability of Safe-Lock: “With their range of milling tools our partners already dominate the majority of the global milling tool market. The annual sales of Safe-Lock cutting tools make up for double-digit million dollar turnover and there is even more potential.”

Solid carbide tools with HAIMER quality
Within the last months the Power Mill product portfolio was further expanded. Aluminum geometries and ball nose cutters were added to the selection of carbide milling tools. Furthermore, at EMO 2015 in Milano the Basic Mill, a round shank version and entry level cutter with universal use, was introduced.
With the Duo-Lock system HAIMER is providing a modular carbide milling system which shows an unheard of level of stability. Similar to the Safe-Lock system, Duo-Lock is offered to other tool manufacturers via licensing. But Haimer itself also has a large and ever expanding standard portfolio of Monobloc tool holders, milling heads and extensions with a Duo-Lock interface. The system runout of modular tools is better than 5 µm and has a Z-accuracy of 10 µm, which makes expensive presetting processes or set ups unnecessary.

Exhibitions and the first Open House event
In 2016 everyone who is interested will have the opportunity to experience firsthand, shrinking and balancing machines, tool holders and tools during one of our many global exhibitions. In Germany, HAIMER is going to participate in such events as Metav, Grindtec, AMB and many others. Furthermore, the company is hosting its first Open House event during the 26th and 30th of April. It offers top-class lectures and a sub-exhibitor program in the area of machine tools and tools, as well as guided tours throughout the Haimer facility.

In April 2015 the OSG Corporation, a world leader in round cutting tools, and Haimer GmbH, market leader in tool holding technology, signed a strategic partnership and licensing agreement. The OSG-Group is bringing their round endmill cutting tools to the global market now with the HAIMER Safe-Lock-System.

The OSG-Group, Japanese market leader for solid carbide endmills, has begun offering their high quality cutting tools with the HAIMER Safe-Lock system worldwide.

The unique Safe-Lock design in cutting tools and toolholders combines a high precision press fit clamping with a positive form locking mechanism. This prevents round cutting tools from being rotated or completely pulled out from its tool holder during heavy machining. The combination of symmetrical pull out protection, highest concentricity and excellent balance of the Safe-Lock system, results in a vibration free machining process. This leads to a more efficient metal removal rate, that is superior when compared to conventional Milling chucks or Weldon shanked cutting tools and toolholders.

OSG has been testing various systems for pull out security over the past several months. Only the technology of the Safe-Lock system could convince the high-tech Japanese company. Jiro Osawa, Technical Managing Director at OSG headquarters and CEO for North America, explains: “Our field testing proved that the combination of our endmills with Safe-Lock resulted in higher RPMs and feed rates even with difficult-to-machine materials. This enables our customers to obtain a significant increase in their current metal removal rates, while at the same time having a higher security in their machining processes. Safe-Lock also has a very positive effect on tool wear.”

For the globally oriented corporation that is represented in 29 countries with 52 subsidiaries, over 5,000 employees and annual sales of approx. one billion US dollars, there was one further crucial factor, as Jiro Osawa argues: “In addition to the absolute technical superiority

of Safe-Lock compared to alternative systems, it is the only system that is actually in high demand globally and also available in various clamping methods. Since we are not only in Japan but also well represented in North America and in Europe, we have decided to sign this license agreement and integrate the Safe-Lock design into our tools worldwide.” OSG is headquartered in Toyokawa, south east from Tokyo, where it has its solid carbide endmill production, coating facilities and production halls with the most modern CNC grinding machines. Due to these manufacturing capabilities, the company is able to insure the highest level of quality and availability of their tools. An additional global production network enables the demands of local markets and customer needs to be met with fast delivery and the highest of service and support.

Andreas Haimer, President of the Haimer Group, explains: “We have established Safe-Lock as a standard in roughing and heavy machining for which a variety of tools are available worldwide. We are very proud and happy to have reached a strong partnership with OSG, one of the largest and leading producers of tools in the world.”

Since its launch in 2007, the Safe-Lock System has developed very successfully and excited many international customers. Last year alone, the growth was four times higher compared to previous years. This boom can be attributed to recognizing that the productivity increases resulting from the pull out protection is not restricted to typical aerospace applications but the cost and time savings can also be used in any typical milling application.

You found the sales and service subsidiary at Pune in 2007, how are you planning to expand further in the subcontinent suing IMTEX as a catalyst?
By now the HAIMER standard products made in Germany such as the 3D Sensors, high precision tool holders and shrink or balancing technology have been well accepted and established throughout the Indian subcontinent. However, now it is time for HAIMER India to proceed with high-end products and prove to our customers that HAIMER offers unique solutions in terms of productivity and customer orientation.

Visitors can especially be excited about HAIMER Power Mill solid carbide endmills and the revolutionary Duo-Lock system which will celebrate its Indian premiere during IMTEX.

With the help of IMTEX we will be able to introduce the new hig- end solutions much easier to the Indian market. Since it attracts a large domestic and international participation it is considered an excellent opportunity to form important alliances and partnerships as well as to develop a vast vendor and customer base throughout India and overseas.
What has been your experience since the instating of the new government in India? Please state whether the policies or initiatives have benefitted you so far?
Within the last few years the Indian economic growth has slowed down significantly. Since the Indian government has changed recently, many people believe that the Indian economy will be able to recover soon. I, too, am of the opinion that the prsent administration has some very good ideas and has already introduced some important steps in order to improve the current business conditions. However, it might take some time and effort for India’s economy to fully recover. In the long run, we have a lot of confidence in the huge growth potential of the Indian market.

How will IMTEX contribute towards gaining necessary confidence in today’s uncertain market condition?
An exhibition is always a good indication regarding the market situation. It can be a reflection of the current economy, but at the same time it can also be the initiator for new developments and trends within the market. As we participate at over 50 international exhibitions each year we often see that an important show/ event can be a turning point in a stagnant economy as it initiates investments and establishes confidence among important decision makers. I hope this proves true for IMTEX as well and that the recovery of the economy will be accelerated. By participating at IMTEX 2015 all exhibitors, especially global players are proving that they are committed to the Indian economy and want to expand their businesses.

As a participant what are your expectations from the show?
Of course, we do have high expectations participating in such a global event like IMTEX. Participating in this exhibition is a great opportunity to show new and existing customers what HAIMER has to offer and to establish our latest innovations. Each year we try to give every customer a short, compact overview of our complete product range and at the same time we try to focus on some specific products we think are suitable for Indian demands. This time, for example, we will introduce our latest shrink fit machine for the Indian market, the PC Mini. It is a machine with an outstanding price-performance ratio, 100% Made by HAIMER in Germany. This is a statement we care about very much since Made in Germany and Made by HAIMER are core values of our company philosophy and reasons for our superior quality of our products.

How do exhibitions like IMTEX help identify and solve challenges faced by the metal cutting tools industry?
Events like IMTEX are very important to us. The Haimer Group participates in more than 50 international exhibitions each year, as we want to be close to our customers and listen to their ideas. But, at the same time, exhibitions also give a clear overview about the current market situation and the market’s demands. Exhibitions are the place to meet with customers, exchange ideas and find out more about their individual challenges. For example, the need for our patented cutting tool pullout protection Safe-Lock was customer specific and challenged us to find an appropriate solution. This example shows that direct interaction and dialogue with the customers is still one of the most important source for inspiration and development. IMTEX provides us with the opportunity to talk to industry professionals and find out what their demands are.