At 10 a.m. on the first day of the trade fair, the covers came off to reveal a mobile transport robot that shuttled autonomously between the Helitronic Vision 400 L high-end tool grinding machine and the fully automated Helicheck Plus measuring machine. This automation solution is called "Automated Tool Production" (ATP) and enables the automatic loading and unloading of cylindrical precision tools. The system consists of at least one robot cell accessible from the front and a mobile transport robot that transports workpiece pallets and individual parts between the storage and processing stations. ATP can be easily integrated into existing systems and can be connected not only to Walter machines, but also to machines from third-party suppliers.

Walter also showcased another innovation: the introduction of laser technology based on the new Vision Laser machine. The main area of application for the new machine is the machining of plate-covered cutting tools. According to the company, the use of a reliable and industry-proven laser system paired with encapsulated optical modules enables very high machine availability in everyday operation.

Numerous machine innovations

In addition to these innovations, interested visitors were able to find out about the Group's new technologies on a total of 12 exhibited machines from the areas of grinding, eroding, lasering, measuring and additive manufacturing. In the area of surface and profile grinding, Blohm presented the tool changer for the Planomat XT, a unique and cost-efficient solution for the automatic change of grinding wheels in this market segment.

Studer also presented its new automation system, insertLoad, which combines the advantages of standardization and great flexibility and enables automatic loading and unloading of the S31, S33 and S36 cylindrical grinding machines.

Irpd also presented its machine development in the field of additive manufacturing: the Impact 4530, the first industrial additive machine tool to be characterized in particular by high repeatability and user-friendliness in the production of metal parts.

The trade fair presentation was held under the motto "Stay Connected" and trade visitors were also able to find out about numerous connectivity solutions. These included various digital customer care solutions, the digital assistance systems from United Grinding Digital Solutions and the universal manufacturer-independent umati data interface, which can be used to connect the Group's machines with each other, with third-party machines and with their production environment.

Business performance of the Group

The Group also held a press conference at GrindingHub, at which Stephan Nell, CEO of the United Grinding Group, provided insights into the course of business. "The past year was one of the three best in the history of our Group," said Nell. Despite the difficult economic and geopolitical environment, the Group not only held its own in 2023, but also expanded its leading market position. However, the outlook for 2024 is less rosy for the industry: "Like the entire machine tool industry, we also have to expect a decline in sales in the current year," explains Nell.

However, forecasts are difficult due to the unpredictability of global events. "We have little or no influence on the external factors that are currently shaping the market. There are different dynamics depending on the region and customer industry, which makes forecasting even more difficult. Overall, we are hoping for an increase in incoming orders towards the end of the year," concludes Nell, giving a cautiously optimistic outlook for the future.