From September 15 to 19, the Simtek Group, represented by the two manufacturers
Simtek Präzisionswerkzeuge GmbH and
Kaestner-Tools GmbH, will be exhibiting at
AMB 2026 in Stuttgart. At Booth C36 in Hall 3, the two tooling specialists will showcase not only their comprehensive tooling ranges and specific application possibilities but also how they have addressed two key industry challenges: the rise in raw material prices - particularly for tungsten - and the growing need for process reliability in automated manufacturing processes. The focus will be on real-life applications, 3D-lasered chip-forming geometries, and the simmill 9W modular milling tool system.
Jeremia Geiger, CEO at Simtek AG said: “We’ll be demonstrating practical solutions to current challenges in metalworking: from reliable chip control to specific machining concepts for real components, all the way to strategies for more efficient use of carbide. As the industry’s leading exhibition, the AMB provides us with the ideal setting for this, and we are once again very much looking forward to many interesting discussions with customers, partners, and other interested parties.”
One of Simtek’s key topics at the exhibition are tools with 3D lasered chip-forming geometries, which they first presented to a broad audience at the AMB 2024. To achieve this, high-precision
circumferential cutting edge geometries are applied to ground carbide cutting tools using a laser. This results in hybrid tool solutions that specifically combine the strengths of both processes,
offering users a wide range of benefits. A key advantage lies in the increased process reliability achieved through optimised chip control.
Mr Geiger explained: “The increase in process reliability achieved with our lasered tools can be a decisive factor, especially for automated machining processes. In addition, lasered tools often offer an expanded range of functions, which can reduce process times or even eliminate the need for additional tools.”
According to the Mr Geiger, close communication with customers is a crucial basis for the efficient design of 3D-lasered geometries. He said: “To ensure an optimal design of a lasered geometry, close collaboration with the customer regarding material and cutting parameter settings, as well as other factors that influence the process, is essential. We therefore intend to make targeted use of our face-to-face discussions with our customers and partners at the AMB to further intensify this close communication by highlighting the resulting benefits for our customers.”
The current cost situation in the raw materials sector continues to be a challenge for the industry. This makes it even more encouraging for Mr Geiger that Simtek can offer a solution in the form of a modular milling tooling system that can come close to matching the performance of material-intensive monoblock tools. He said: “With simmill 9W, we offer a system that, thanks to its modular design, requires significantly less raw material, yet comes very close to the performance of monoblock tools.” The basis for this high-performance capability is a highly advanced toothing technology developed by the sister company Kaestner-Tools. The ground toothing offers very high stability in high-speed applications, along with very high precision in radial and axial runout, and minimal wear at the toolholder/insert interface.
Since the introduction of the system featuring the 12-edged simmill 9W4 variant with a cutting diameter of 50mm and milling depths of up to 16.5mm, new sizes have since been developed. Mr Geiger said: “We now offer additional variants of this high-performance system as standard, including the simmill 9W1 with a cutting circle diameter of 28mm and a maximum milling depth of 9.3mm, as well as the simmill 9W5 with a cutting circle diameter of 63mm and milling depths of up to 21.0mm. At the AMB, we’ll be showcasing all currently available sizes and demonstrating how
they can be used efficiently in production using specific components.” According to Simtek, additional sizes are expected to follow in the future.
The Simtek Group’s tools offer a wide range of possibilities across a variety of industrial sectors. Mr Geiger added: “To give visitors a realistic impression of the tooling solutions from both Simtek and Kaestner, we’re using real components to demonstrate various example applications. In addition, visitors can interactively experience a tool in action through a virtual reality experience.
The company is also using the AMB 2026 to present not only its tooling solutions but also customer-focused processes and services to visitors. For example, visitors can receive information
from experts of both manufacturers about the long-established priotool service - a system-guided express path through all in-house value chains designed to maximise the prioritised production of
special tools. Evstratios Ountzidis, VP sales & marketing at Simtek AG said “With priotool, we offer customers predictable express production of tools that they urgently need in certain situations.”
Also, topics such as tool regrinding and the switch from virgin plastic to recycled materials for tool packaging will be covered at the booth.