Leuthold Mechanik AG: Minimized downtime and increased overall efficiency
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
Successful cooperation: Blaser application engineer Marco Frey and Benjamin Schroth, Head of Hard Machining at Leuthold Mechanik AG
The company has established itself as a global leader in the manufacture of machines for the production of thin-walled aluminum packaging (Picture courtesy of HLM)
The partners worked together on an in-depth analysis in order to identify specific weaknesses. Clear goals were defined that went beyond mere technical solutions: an environment that smells pleasant, allowing employees to work comfortably, efficient foaming behavior, good human compatibility, and universal application of the new coolant.
The experts at Blaser Swisslube not only had these specific challenges on their to-do list, but also wanted to implement further optimizations besides. Concrete goals were set, including reducing coolant consumption, extending coolant service life, and thereby increasing the efficiency and sustainability of production processes.
After conducting the analyses on site and in the Blaser laboratory, the Blaser experts decided to use Vasco 6000, a universally applicable, ester-based, water-miscible, mineral oil-, boron- and chlorine-free coolant. Blaser Application Engineer, Marco Frey explains the reasons behind this: “We recommend Vasco 6000 for general to difficult heavy-duty metal removal of cast iron, steel, cast aluminum alloys, titanium, and nickel-based alloys. The coolant is characterized by high cutting performance, high stability in hard water, a remarkably long coolant service life and good rinsing behavior, and is also particularly suitable for high-pressure applications. For these reasons, we chose Vasco 6000.”
After a successful test phase, the entire department was able to make a smooth transition to Vasco 6000. In addition, a comprehensive service concept was developed that includes continuous monitoring of the coolant. Benjamin Schroth: “This makes it possible to identify potential problems at an early stage still and to resolve these effectively. This proactive approach leads to further optimization of our production processes by minimizing machine down time and increasing overall efficiency.”
View into production
The next project – a collaboration between Leuthold Mechanik AG, GF Machining Solutions, and Blaser Swisslube – is already underway
The next project – a collaboration between Leuthold Mechanik AG, GF Machining Solutions and Blaser Swisslube
After this first successful cooperation, a second, highly interesting project was also started in 2021 – a collaboration between Leuthold Mechanik AG, GF Machining Solutions, and Blaser Swisslube. In the course of acquiring a new GF Machining Solutions machine, the experts from Blaser were brought on board as a coolant partner. The aim here was to implement an ideal coolant solution for a demanding mixed production process involving grinding and milling. Following detailed analysis of the process, the versatile grinding oil Blasogrind GTM 10 was trialed in a four-month test phase.
“A true all-rounder,” says Blaser Application Engineer, Marco Frey. “In addition to its ability to precisely machine a wide range of common tool materials, Blasogrind GTM 10 delivers remarkable performance by successfully combining two different operations without compromising on the desired results.” The results were indeed impressive: increased productivity, a significant reduction in cycle times and costs, more efficient processes, and maximized product quality.
![IMG_4878[51]-3024×3548-1091×1280](https://blaserdev.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/IMG_487851-3024x3548-1091x1280-1.jpg "Vasco 3000 maximizes tool life and productivity of automotive manufacturer")
