Kennametal and Haimer Announce New Technology Agreement

In an agreement signed earlier this year, Kennametal Inc. (Latrobe, PA) and Haimer GmbH (Igenhausen, Germany) have agreed to a revolutionary joint technology partnership and development cooperation for modular cutting tool systems. The agreement involves a significant cross-license model and long-term partnership. “This agreement is a perfect fit because it illustrates both companies as leaders in high-end innovative technologies for world manufacturing,” states Carlos Cardoso, the chairman, president and chief executive officer of Kennametal.

For the very first time at IMTS 2014, both companies together introduced the new modular interface DUO-LOCK^TM for carbide cutting tool heads. The companies are combining their toolholding and carbide knowledge to provide solutions for high-performance milling applications with this revolutionary modular system. Like SAFE-LOCK^TM, DUO-LOCK will be offered as a license to leading high-end cutting tool companies to establish a compatible, high-performance modular endmill system.

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John Jacko, the vice president and chief marketing officer of Kennametal, explains, “Working with world-class partners like Haimer demonstrates our commitment to Different Thinking.” Andreas Haimer, the president of Haimer Group, adds, “This is a full-system partnership between companies with identical philosophies, highest innovation strength, and passion for precision.”

For the past few years, the cost of carbide has been consistently increasing. Following this trend, Haimer and Kennametal have developed DUO-LOCK, which is the most rigid and most precise interface in the marketplace and virtually unbreakable. Oliver Sax, the director of product management at Haimer, says, “The current existing modular tool systems have their weakness in the interface. Due to this fact, the full potential of the cutting heads can`t be used because of tool breakage.”

“Both companies have been able to create a modular interface based on maximum stability that allows the user to make full use of the carbide tool potential!” notes Colleen Cordova, the vice president of industrial marketing at Kennametal.

The DUO-LOCK technology provides maximum stability, load capacity, and high runout precision based on an innovative thread design with a proprietary double-cone connection and additional third supporting area in the back of the interface.

During IMTS, both companies introduced a new portfolio of cutting heads and mono-block screw fit tool holders with DUO-LOCK technology in all relevant spindle interfaces and extensions. Also new modular cutting tool heads with longer length than currently available in the market place will be added to their product portfolio in order to take aggressive cuts also in the aerospace and energy industry.

Doug Ewald, the director of product management system tooling at Kennametal says, “The system provides 5 µm runout accuracy and a Z accuracy of 10 µm that will eliminate most of the expensive presetting processes.” The superior features of the DUO-LOCK technology will provide significantly increased metal removal rates at milling applications and longer tool life. For the first time, a modular milling system can achieve similar high performance of a latest-generation solid carbide endmill.

Celebrating more than 75 years as an industrial technology leader, Kennametal provides innovative wear-resistant products, application engineering and services backed by advanced material science, serving customers in 60 countries across diverse sectors of aerospace, earthworks, energy, industrial production, transportation and infrastructure. With approximately 14,000 employees and nearly $3 billion in sales, the company realizes half of its revenue from outside North America, and 40 percent globally from innovations introduced in the past five years.

Recognized among the “World’s Most Ethical Companies” (Ethisphere); “Outstanding Corporate Innovator” (Product Development Management Association); and “America’s Safest Companies” (EHS Today) with a focus on 100 percent safety, Kennametal and its foundation invest in technical education, industrial technologies and material science to deliver the promise of progress and economic prosperity to people everywhere.

www.kennametal.com