A new co-operation between two German companies — tool manufacturer Horn and lathe tool-holder producer W&F Werkzeug-technik (www.wf-werkzeugtechnik.de) — aims to offer customers complete solutions covering everything from the spindle to the tool’s cutting edge.

Initially, the collaboration will focus on quick-tool-change systems for sliding-head lathes and internally cooled whirling units.

Under the arrangement, W&F tool solutions will be sold by Horn through its subsidiaries and sales partners in more than 70 countries.

The UK subsidiary, Horn Cutting Tools Ltd (www.phorn.co.uk), is located in Ringwood, Hampshire.

The decision by Horn and W&F to combine their expertise was originally taken in the autumn of 2017, although the two companies had already been working in the area of special solutions for several years.

Horn had been helping W&F with customer enquiries by undertaking development and producing special inserts.

Lothar Horn, managing director of Paul Horn GmbH, said: “By entering into this co-operation, we are filling a gap in our offering. It will allow us to respond rapidly to enquiries from customers and optimise their machining processes.”

The first jointly developed technology to have come out of the co-operation is the internally cooled thread-whirling tool JET-Whirling.

Having the coolant supplied directly to the cutting edge results in higher surface quality, improves the flushing action for removing chips and extends the life of the inserts.

The tooling system, comprising the W&F whirling unit and Horn’s whirling head, was officially unveiled at the AMB 2018 show in Stuttgart during September.