The
ANCA Tool of the Year Awards, now in its seventh year, celebrated excellence in the cutting tool industry at an awards ceremony during the recent
IMTS show in Chicago. This year’s event, which coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Australian grinding machine manufacturer
ANCA, saw Werkzeugschleiferei Krämer GmbH earn the top honour in the ‘Made on ANCA’ category.
ANCA said: “This company’s tool made exceptional use of iGrind operations and advanced profile software features, such as layers, pivot editor, and 3-D hook compensation. This resulted in outstanding accuracy, with the tool closely aligning with its intended specifications and delivering exceptional profile precision. The contest also highlighted the ability for a smaller company to gain recognition on a global stage.”
Torsten Mende, Werkzeugschleiferei Krämer’s managing director, said: “This tool is used by one of our customers to create a profile in a gripper for moulded parts. Previously, this contour was produced using a 3-D milling process, and the customer’s tolerance specification is ±0.01mm. The program was created in ToolRoom RN32/33 and ground using RN34.1 on an FX7. We have been grinding tools on ANCA machines since 1999. The company’s advanced software enables us to grind complex geometries and to monitor them during the process, giving our customers a competitive advantage.”
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 integrated iGrind software with profile and end-face operations and was brought to life by importing 3-D models into CIM3D software.”
Meanwhile, Stephanie Chrystal from Sandvik Coromant USA, won 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 recognised for her exceptional problem-solving, leadership in expanding and training her team, and her ability to deliver outstanding results under pressure.”
Pat Boland, ANCA’s co-founder, concluded: “For 50 years, ANCA’s software has set industry standards, enabling
Tool of the Year entrants to push the boundaries of what is possible. Our technology not only meets the highest precision demands but also showcases the creativity and capability of our customers, highlighting truly innovative designs.”