When it comes to cutting tools, Guhring says its brand is synonymous with innovation and pushing the boundaries of convention. Driving this culture is a management structure that provides its 48 worldwide subsidiaries with complete autonomy. Guhring UK has led the charge on several fronts, from powering its Birmingham facility with solar panels to investing in a Vollmer VHybrid 260 grinding and erosion machine.

Guhring UK’s PCD supervisor Alan Pearce says: “We sent Vollmer some PCD step drills to trial on the VHybrid, followed by ball-nose tools for a prestigious customer. The results were exceptional.”

Production manager Gary Field adds: “Last year, my job role changed to production manager, giving me oversight of our PCD department. I spoke with Alan about our future direction and what we needed to keep moving forward. With the new VHybrid, we can immediately target several areas, with micro-drills being a priority for the electronics, medical and miniature industry sectors.”

Installed in late 2024, the Vollmer VHybrid 260 has already proven transformative to shop-floor operations.

“The VHybrid enables us to combine multiple operations into a single machine,” says Pearce. “Rather than grinding a tool diameter, wire eroding and grinding drill points, we can combine all three operations on one platform.”

As early examples of savings derived from transferring tools to the VHybrid, a PCD Drill Relap tool has moved from a two-machine 1-hour 25-minute process to a 29-minute process on the VHybrid, a 70% cycle time saving with additional set-up savings. The production time of another PCD Drill Relap tool has fallen from 1 hour 30 minutes to 21 minutes.

More information www.vollmer-group.com