Excellence in precision tool manufacturing Werkzeugschleiferei Krämer wins top prize at 2024 Anca Tool of the Year Awards

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The 2024 Anca Tool of the Year Awards, held at IMTS in Chicago, showcased cutting-edge innovation in the cutting tool industry. With categories celebrating both virtual and physical tools, the awards continue to honor excellence and push the boundaries of what's possible in tool manufacturing. This year also featured the Female Machinist of the Year award.

The 2024 Anca Tool of the Year Awards, now in its seventh year, celebrated excellence in the cutting tool industry at an awards ceremony during IMTS in Chicago. This year’s event, coinciding with Anca’s 50th anniversary, highlighted the continued creative design and manufacturing prowess that continues to wow judges in Anca’s prestigious awards.

Werkzeugschleiferei Krämer earned the top honor in the “Made on Anca” category with their groundbreaking tool. Their innovative design makes exceptional use of iGrind operations and advanced profile software features, such as layers, pivot editor, and 3D hook compensation. This results in outstanding accuracy, with the tool closely aligning with its intended specifications and delivering exceptional profile precision. The contest has highlighted the ability for a smaller company to gain recognition on a global stage and experience a dream come true moment.

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In the Virtual Tool Category, XGE impressed the judges with a creative and technically sophisticated entry inspired by the renowned attractions of the Garden Expo Park in Xiamen, China, including the Moonlight Ring and Xinglin Pavilion. Their design integrates iGrind software with profile and end-face operations, and is brought to life by importing 3D models into CIM3D software.

This year also saw Stephanie Chrystal from Sandvik Coromant USA honored with the Female Machinist of the Year award. Launched in 2023 to promote diversity and provide role models for women in the cutting tool industry, this award reflects Anca’s commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment. Stephanie was recognized for her exceptional problem-solving, leadership in expanding and training her team, and her ability to deliver outstanding results under pressure.

Pat Boland, Anca Co-Founder, remarked: “For 50 years, Anca’s software has set industry standards, enabling Tool of the Year entrants to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Our technology not only meets the highest precision demands but also showcases the creativity and capability of our customers, highlighting truly innovative designs.”

Torsten Mende, Managing Director at Werkzeugschleiferei Krämer said: “This tool is used by one of our customers to create a profile in a gripper for molded parts. Previously, this contour was produced using a 3D milling process. The customer's tolerance specification is +- 0.01 mm. The program was created in ToolRoom RN32/33 and ground using RN34.1 on an FX7.”

“As a smaller company, it is a great honor to participate in this competition. We have been grinding tools on Anca machines since 1999. The sophisticated software enables us to grind complex geometries and to monitor them during the process, giving our customers a competitive advantage. For this reason, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Anca for the excellent symbiosis of software and machines.”

Chen Jianming, R&D Engineer at XGE expressed his gratitude for winning the Most Innovative Award, saying: “This award is a high recognition of our team's innovative capabilities. Our design was inspired by the ‘Moonlight Ring’ and ‘Xinglin Pavilion’ of Xiamen Yuanboyuan, symbolizing the harmony of nature and humanity. The egret in the design, replaced by our company logo, represents both a tribute to our brand and a leap in tool innovation.”

“Competing with industry elites worldwide has been an honor. This recognition reflects XGE's innovative strength in the global tool industry, and we will continue to deepen R&D efforts, driving progress alongside our global peers for a brighter future.”

Anca Female Machinist Award winner Stephanie Chrystal said: “It is a privilege to be a part of Sandvik Coromant who is paving the way for women to be recognized for their contributions to the industry. I am honored to have been chosen out of all of the extraordinary women in this field as the Female Machinist of the year for Anca. I hope to be an encouragement to women looking for guidance on their journey for meaningful careers. I am excited to see Anca continue to honor women in this industry and inspire other companies with this award.”

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