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Leuthold Mechanik AG: Minimized downtime and increased overall efficiency

Leuthold Mechanik AG: Minimized downtime and increased overall efficiency

by | May 19, 2025 | Customer Cases

Leuthold Mechanik AG: Minimized downtime and increased overall efficiency Productivity Trophy Switzerland – 2025 winner in the category Metalworking fluid optimization Leuthold Mechanik AG first cooperated with Blaser Swisslube in 2021, following a discussion of the problems the company was experiencing in hard machining, namely clogged coolant filters hindering overall productivity. Blaser’s holistic approach proved to be successful: following joint analyses, the company switched to Vasco 6000, which resolved the problems. In addition, a comprehensive service concept was developed to minimize machine down time and increase efficiency. Another interesting project was started soon after, when the two companies, in collaboration with GF Machining Solutions, found Blasogrind GTM 10 to be the ideal grinding oil for a complex grinding and milling process. Leuthold Mechanik AG at its Einsiedeln site in the canton of Schwyz (Picture courtesy of HLM) In the 1970s, during his apprenticeship as a toolmaker, Heinz Leuthold developed and manufactured special parts for the machine industry in his father’s basement after work. Since 2012, Leuthold Mechanik AG (HLM), which has around 175 employees, has been manufacturing for customers from all over the world at its Einsiedeln site in the heart of Central Switzerland. The company has established itself as a global leader in the manufacture of machines for the production of thin-walled aluminum packaging and delivers top precision in the fields of mechanical, equipment and tool engineering. Production is carried out for companies in the automotive and aircraft industries as well as the medical sector and the food and packaging industries   Establishing contact at the right time In 2021, following initial discussions during an event and Blaser then reaching out again, the first collaboration took place. Leuthold Mechanik AG complained about coolant problems in hard machining that could not be brought under control. Clogged coolant filters were leading to a rise in maintenance efforts and costs. This problem affected production processes and hampered efficiency and productivity. “Blaser contacted us just at the right time. We were having acute coolant problems. In this situation, it was essential for us to work with a partner who not only has technical expertise but also understands our individual needs,” explains Benjamin Schroth, Head of Hard Machining at Leuthold Mechanik AG. Successful cooperation: Blaser...
ITT Bornemann & Blaser Swisslube – Co-operation increases productivity and process security

ITT Bornemann & Blaser Swisslube – Co-operation increases productivity and process security

by | Jun 18, 2024 | Customer Cases

ITT Bornemann & Blaser Swisslube – Co-operation increases productivity and process security International company ITT Bornemann tailors its high-tech pump systems to satisfy individual customer requirements. The pumps produced by the innovative company are primarily used in the oil and gas industry, as well as in the food, chemical and pharmaceutical sectors. The broad diversity in production means that the demands placed on coolants are also very high. The company managed to increase coolant sump life eightfold in co-operation with Blaser Swisslube by using B-Cool 9665. Machine cleanliness, human compatibility and consumption have all been optimized.  The Bornemann Locksmith’s store company was founded no less than 170 years ago, in 1853. Headquartered in Obernkirchen near Hanover, ITT Bornemann is now an internationally active manufacturer of high-tech pump systems. The company employs 250 people and has been part of the ITT Group since 2012, with its parent company located in the US. Bornemann has been delivering continuous innovation to market in the pump segment for a whole century. The twin-spindle screw pump with external bearing was patented in 1934. Three-spindle screw pumps and progressive cavity pumps followed in the 1960s. In the 1980s, Bornemann’s multiphase pumps tapped into previously unknown economic opportunities. Multiphase technology avoids the so-called “flaring” of gas during oil production, allowing the gas to be recovered and utilized. In the food sector, Bornemann has developed self-cleaning pumps that have no dead legs. The stainless-steel pumps transport food with care and meet the highest quality standards. ITT Bornemann produces a wide variety of pumps. One of the larger models is currently being worked on. High coolant demands ITT Bornemann’s pumps are used in the oil and gas industry, as well as in the food, chemical and pharmaceutical sectors. Each year, around 2,500 pumps are produced and individually adapted to customer requirements. In particular, the gradient and conveying capacity are tailored to customer specifications in line with the particular application. Due to this very high level of variance, the production processes at ITT Bornemann are also very diverse. “We use a wide range of machine types. These include numerous turning machines for producing screw profiles, but also grinding and milling machines,” ITT Bornemann explains. “This means that the demands placed on the coolant...
Less machining time and increased productivity due to better cutting performance

Less machining time and increased productivity due to better cutting performance

by | Nov 27, 2023 | Customer Cases

Less machining time and increased productivity due to better cutting performance Micro-Cut, based in Kirishima City, Kagoshima Prefecture, specializes in high-precision machining of difficult-to-machine materials and complex shapes. With its strengths in advanced professional technology and thorough quality control, the company aims to become a world-class, cutting-edge manufacturing group. Micro-Cut’s management policy is to establish the world’s most advanced standardized machining technology and manufacture products that contribute to the development of its customers. Mr. Mitsuhiro Nishibeppu’s decision to change cutting fluids was motivated by the goal of extending tool life and fluid life. Mr. Nishibeppu, who is General Manager at the Development Department Group 2 in the Development Division of Micro-Cut, was also prompted to review the cutting fluid situation after receiving reports from workers that the cutting fluid emitted a bad smell and caused skin problems on their hands. Micro-Cut had been using a different company’s product, but a representative from a trusted trading company introduced them to Blaser Swisslube’s Synergy 735 and Blasomill GT 15. In cooperation with the team of Blaser Swisslube Japan, Mr. Nishibeppu conducted a one-month test of these two products. After seeing the overall positive test results, he decided to use Synergy 735 on two NC lathes that process parts for medical-related equipment and Blasomill GT15 on five NC automatic lathes that process parts for semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Since Micro-Cut started using Synergy 735, tool life has increased by 10%, and metalworking fluid life has increased to eight months from an average of six months previously. As for Blasomill GT15, Mr. Nishibeppu said: “We have seen a 15% reduction in machining time and increased productivity due to better cutting performance. Both products have been reported by operators to have eliminated the odor and hand irritation problems that existed in the past.” This whole initiative, led by Mr. Nishibeppu, has been well received within the company as it has contributed to improved profit margins and sales. Micro-Cut has an established internal award system that recognizes departments that have improved their operations and achieved positive results. “Development Department Group 2, which I belong to, was recognized and awarded for top performance,” explains Mr. Nishibeppu with a smile. Hizima Seiki...
Thanks to Blaser, hand irritation and bad smell are a thing of the past

Thanks to Blaser, hand irritation and bad smell are a thing of the past

by | Nov 15, 2023 | Customer Cases

Thanks to Blaser, hand irritation and bad smell are a thing of the past Hizima Seiki, whose main factory is located in Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture, is engaged in the design, manufacture, and maintenance of plastic injection molds. Since its establishment more than 70 years ago, the company has been manufacturing molds mainly for round products and has accumulated a unique technological know-how. Hizima Seiki specializes in multiple-cavity cap molds for products in the pharmaceutical industry, medical devices, and food. The company is constantly striving to improve the three levels of its operations: high-specification machines, operators who are proficient in using the machines, and the technical skills of the mold finishing craftsmen. The innovative company’s strength lies in the thorough dimensional control and fast delivery speed achieved through integrated production at its own factory. “Some workers’ hands became chronically rough due to unstable cutting fluid, and we suffered from a bad smell that spread throughout the entire factory. Especially in the summer and during the rainy season, the putrid smell was pervasive,” said Mr. Takaaki Kawai, Director and General Manager of the Production Department at Hizima Seiki. In order to improve the working environment at the factory, he decided to switch from the metalworking fluids they had been using for more than ten years to Blaser Swisslube products, which they had heard were less susceptible to deterioration. When Mr. Kawai shared the issues with Mr. Naohiro Shimaura, a Blaser Swisslube sales representative, he was recommended Synergy 735, which has a very low odor and minimal skin impact, and Vascomill 10, which has excellent lubricity and is gentler on the skin than mineral oil. Since the switch was made three years ago, the coolant has not caused hand irritation and odor. Synergy 735 was also beneficial in that it is clear and unobtrusive, making it easier to clean the machines. The improvement in the factory environment was made possible in large part by the cooperation of Mr. Shimaura. The study sessions held during the introduction of the system enabled a deeper understanding of the causes that lead to spoilage and enabled the company to manage the coolant more efficiently. During his in-depth monthly monitoring, Mr. Shimaura checked the condition of the cutting fluid one machine at a time. His advice on how to manage each machine has led to considerable improvements...
RCM Estech & Blaser: “We’ve come further than we originally intended”

RCM Estech & Blaser: “We’ve come further than we originally intended”

by | Aug 24, 2023 | Customer Cases

RCM Estech & Blaser: “We’ve come further than we originally intended.” Sticky residue on parts and machines as well as a suboptimal coolant service life were problems that precision manufacturer RCM Estech AG in Burgdorf, Switzerland, reported when it contacted the metalworking fluid specialists at Blaser Swisslube. After a detailed analysis and a successful test phase, the company switched to the versatile metalworking fluid B-Cool 610. The results are impressive: The coolant life has more than doubled, stickiness is a thing of the past, and human compatibility has been improved on a lasting basis. In the future, RCM Estech, working together with Blaser, plans to introduce automated refilling and dosing of the metalworking fluid. RCM Estech AG became part of Estech Industries in 2008. The company is known for high-performance machining of high-strength materials on modern metal-cutting machines. Components for cars and engines, thin-walled parts with high shape and position tolerances, gears, and other precision parts are manufactured in the precision manufacturer’s shop buildings. On the one hand, this versatility is a real asset for RCM Estech, but also a particular challenge when it comes to choosing metalworking fluid. “From machining aluminum at high speeds to high-strength, forged steel, we face a massive range of materials to be machined. Likewise, the demands on the metalworking fluid are equally high,” emphasizes Dominik Böhlen, Safety Officer and Maintenance Manager at RCM Estech. The previous metalworking fluid used was unable to meet these high requirements. There was sticky residue on parts and machines, especially on the filters of engines and electrical installations. “The greater the evaporation, the greater the susceptibility to stickiness. Maintaining the service life of the metalworking fluid became a real problem,” explains Dominik. “This dragged on for a long time. We were forced to change our metalworking fluid at least once a year and, on some machines, even every six months.” Local expertise It was hardly surprising that those in charge at RCM Estech went looking for alternatives. They found the solution right on their doorstep: The headquarters of global metalworking fluid experts, Blaser Swisslube is less than a 15 minutes’ drive away. Dominik Böhlen: “We have a leading metalworking fluid specialist just around the corner, so it was obvious that we...
Wittenstein scores a success with bactericide-free Blaser metalworking fluid

Wittenstein scores a success with bactericide-free Blaser metalworking fluid

by | Aug 16, 2023 | Customer Cases

Wittenstein scores a success with bactericide-free Blaser metalworking fluid Precise analysis of the manufacturing processes, constructive, solution-oriented discussions, and dedicated teamwork enabled Swiss precision manufacturer Wittenstein AG to increase productivity step-by-step, in cooperation with the metalworking fluid specialists at Blaser Swisslube. The bactericide-free metalworking fluid B-Cool GR 620 put an end to the skin problems experienced by employees in rack and pinion production. Vasco 6000 succeeded in putting aside the previously prevailing stability problems in the production of circulating beams. The future is constructive: Wittenstein aims to digitize metalworking fluid management in cooperation with Blaser Swisslube. Located in Grüsch, Switzerland, Wittenstein AG has been offering high-precision drives, controllers, regulators, and complete mechatronic systems from WITTENSTEIN SE for areas where maximum precision is key. The products are highly innovative and have an assured future. Employing more than 2,700 people, WITTENSTEIN SE is a global technology and quality leader that keeps setting new standards in terms of technical and economic efficiency. Rack and pinions for international use and planetary gear carriers for gearbox assembly in Germany are manufactured at the Grüsch plant in the canton of Graubünden. In 2019, those responsible at Wittenstein AG sought discussions with the metalworking fluid experts from Blaser Swisslube at Prodex in Basel, the leading Swiss trade show for machine tools. They discussed specific problems in the production of rack and pinion. “After we struggled with foam problems over a number of years, leading us to switch the metalworking fluid, the new product from a Blaser competitor caused severe skin irritations among employees. We consulted Swiss accident insurance company SUVA, which recommended that we use a bactericide-free metalworking fluid,” recalls Wittenstein’s Head of Technology Aldin Banovi. Focus on problem-solving Oliver Kössel, Managing Director of WITTENSTEIN AG, adds: “Our talks with Blaser centered on bactericide-free alternatives, which marked the start of an intensive exchange with Blaser’s sales department and laboratory staff. This resulted in an excellent, constructive process in which Blaser also involved the machine manufacturers, discussing ingredients and offering concrete suggestions. The focus was always on solving the problem.” A...