Spreyer Werkzeugtechnik GmbH, based in Limburg an der Lahn, Germany, is a family-owned manufacturer of precision and special cutting tools. For more than 50 years, the company has served demanding industries such as automotive, mould-and-die, and woodworking, offering new-tool manufacturing, tool regrinding, and tool management services.
“Our customers expect the highest precision and short lead times,” says Florian Baldus, Managing Director of Spreyer Werkzeugtechnik. “To achieve this, we combine craftsmanship with automation and continuously invest in advanced technology.”
Over the past three years, Spreyer partnered with ANCA, a leading supplier of CNC tool grinding solutions. The collaboration introduced a system built around ANCA’s FX7 Linear, CPX Linear, and MX7 Linear machines, supported by LaserULTRA, iView, RFID tool identification, and scripting automation. The objective was to improve precision, throughput, and process efficiency.
Reliable Automation From Setup To Production
The collaboration began with the FX7 Linear grinding machine. Integrated with iView and LaserULTRA, the system allows tool geometry to be measured directly in the machine.
“With iView and LaserULTRA, geometry verification happens automatically, eliminating external gauging and enabling micrometer-level compensation,” explains Dimitri Stepanow, Sales Engineer at ANCA Europe. This automation reduced setup times by more than 20%, virtually eliminated scrap, and ensured consistent tolerances even during multi-shift unattended production. “We can now run complex tools overnight and on weekends with full confidence in quality,” says Baldus.
Higher Throughput With Cpx Linear
To strengthen its process chain, Spreyer added the CPX Linear blank-preparation grinder. Using ANCA’s pinch-peel grinding method, the machine grinds blanks between roughing and finishing wheels simultaneously, ensuring high rigidity and efficient material removal.
“The CPX Linear allows us to produce carbide blanks quickly and independently,” says Baldus. “It improves flexibility and shortens delivery times.”
Driven by a 43 kW spindle, the machine achieves high removal rates while maintaining surface finishes below 0.2 Ra and runout under 2 µm. Its BlankX software simplifies programming through geometry-based workflows, simulation, and automatic wheel-wear compensation.
RFID Automation Boosts Output By 35%
To expand automation in regrinding, Spreyer installed RFID-enabled Dynamic Tool Loading on the MX7 Linear, combined with ANCA’s RoboMate loader. Each tool carrier contains an RFID chip, allowing the system to automatically identify tools and retrieve the correct grinding program.
“Mixed tools can be loaded in any order, and urgent jobs can be inserted without reprogramming,” explains Stepanow. For Spreyer, the benefits were significant. “We replaced two older machines with the MX7 and increased output by around 35%,” says Baldus. “The system allows completely unattended production, even during nights and weekends.”
Proven Results
After three years, the partnership delivered measurable improvements:
- 35% increase in tool output
- Over 20% reduction in setup time
- Virtually zero scrap with micrometer precision
- Surface finish below 0.2 Ra and runout under 2 µm
- Reduced programming time through scripting automation
“These technologies allow us to run production continuously with minimal manual involvement,” says Baldus. By integrating automation, measurement, and digital workflow systems, Spreyer Werkzeugtechnik has created a highly efficient grinding environment—demonstrating how modern CNC automation can deliver both flexibility and precision in cutting tool manufacturing.
