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Effective coolant changes: Völlm now benefits from stable processes thanks to Blaser Swisslube
Karl Völlm GmbH & Co. KG, a long-established manufacturing company that specializes in complex small series for commercial vehicles, rail vehicles, and mechanical engineering, has been successfully relying on Blaser Swisslube coolant for the last two years. The results: a highly stable process, significantly reduced maintenance efforts, and greatly improved cost-effectiveness in manufacturing.
In 1945, Karl Völlm founded a company specializing in the production of special cast iron and aluminum pistons. The manufacturing focus of the Krefeld-based company, which has around 30 employees, changed over the decades. Today, state-of-the-art CNC machines are used to turn, mill, drill, and in some cases even grind a wide variety of precision parts, primarily in small series with batch sizes of up to 100 units: These range from wheel rims for light rail systems and hinges for trucks to high-precision parts for mechanical engineering.

About two years ago, Völlm experts decided to change their coolant due to recurring problems. “We needed to regularly add additives such as defoamers and corrosion protection, in addition to dealing with constant flocculation and corrosion in the machine. This was not sustainable in the long run,” reports Managing Director, Ralf Baur. The main objectives: a stable process that did not require pre-treated water, greater cleanliness in cast iron machining, optimized machining quality without corrosion problems, and a longer coolant service life.

Following a detailed on-site analysis, Blaser Sales Engineer Sascha Schafhausen recommended the use of Blaser B-Cool Motec 501, a water-miscible, mineral oil-based coolant specifically developed for machining applications in the automotive industry. Versatile Motec 501 is suitable for machining cast iron, steel, stainless steel, soft and hard aluminum alloys. Blaser Grindex S 35 grinding oil was introduced for grinding operations. This product is gentle on people and the environment, low-foaming, and ensures clean machines and workpieces.

The specialists from Völlm and Blaser agreed on a three-month trial period using B-Cool Motec 501 on a DMG machine. “However, we were able to complete the test phase ahead of schedule with resounding success,” explains Baur.

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Significantly extended coolant service life
The results of the coolant changeover were remarkable: “We have not needed to add a single additive in the two years since we started to use Blaser coolant—the system simply runs smoothly,” said Baur. The performance of Blaser’s coolant is particularly impressive in demanding three-shift operation with steel and cast iron machining. Despite suboptimal feed water, a service life of over two years was achieved without replacement—many times longer than the previous product.

The list of improvements achieved is long: The new coolant eliminates the need for post-treatment or the addition of additives. Greater cleanliness was achieved in the machining of cast iron. Residue in machines or on tools is a thing of the past. Reduced machine downtime and lower maintenance costs have a positive financial impact. Finally, the coolant has impressively superior drainage properties, thus creating a more pleasant working environment. “The coolant still looks as fresh as the day it was filled—just the kind of quality we need,” Baur emphasizes.

System solution from Blaser
In addition to changing its coolant, Völlm also invested in additional equipment such as skimmers and received appropriate training from the Blaser Swisslube team. This led to sustainable process stability and high employee satisfaction. “In the past, we regularly had to deal with unpleasant smells and sticky machine components. These days, everything runs smoothly, efficiently, and quietly—you can feel it throughout the entire company,” Baur continued.
Looking to the future
With investments in new automated machines, the planned testing of Blaser B-Cool MC 640 CI specialized coolant for casting machining, and an interest in coolant automation from Blaser’s sister company Liquidtool, Völlm is consistently pursuing a strategy of technological advancement. The integration of AI in programming is another topic that the company is addressing. “Blaser has set new standards for us, giving us the confidence that we can continue to manufacture stably and economically in the future,” summarizes Ralf Baur.

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