BENZ is a leading manufacturer and provider of components and systems for tool and machine technology worldwide. The company counts about 300 employees and is represented by branch offices and trade partners around the world in over 30 countries.
Its product portfolio includes development and production of trend-setting tool systems for lathes and machining centers used for working with metal, wood and composites. As the trendsetter of the industry, BENZ stands for high-quality tooling and machine tooling solutions – according to the customer’s requirements.
The core business of Benz will continue to exist in the future as a leader in technology with innovative tool systems and units, decisively shaping the machining process for companies working in metal, wood and composites.
Easy Engineering: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
BENZ: BENZ solutions are applied in every sector, whether for engine block machining in the automobile industry, bore holes in airplane engines or in furniture manufacturing. Machining solutions from BENZ for the woodworking, composite material and metalworking industries provide you with technical solutions of the highest quality for any industrial sector.
E.E: What’s the news for 2021 about new products?
BENZ: Special slim line angle head with Duo-lock interface: The automobile manufacturer Bugatti has realized an absolutely prestigious project together with BENZ and HAIMER: Together, they succeeded in producing an additively manufactured brake caliper for the Bugatti Chiron ready for series production. This is the largest additively printed titanium component of its kind that is traditionally machined.
E.E: What are the ranges of products?
BENZ: The product portfolio includes the development and manufacture of pioneering metal, wood and composite material processing tool systems for turning machines, machining centers and transfer lines including static and live tools, exchangeable units, such as angle heads, multi spindle heads, the modular quick change systems BENZ Solidfix®, BENZ CAPTO™ und BENZ Nanofix® and large drilling heads, as well as 2-axis NC heads.
E.E: At what stage is the market where you are currently active?
BENZ: Metal machining markets: At the end of 2020, the metalworking market was subdued, partly due to the Corona pandemic. In 2021, we were able to observe a slight market recovery again. No one can probably predict exactly how the market will continue to develop under the current conditions.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
BENZ: In the future, the entire system will be represented without gaps, starting with the machine, through the tool carrier systems, to the cutting tools.
The challenge for products such as angle heads and driven tools is to provide reliable measured values in real time to the machine control without having an energy source available on the machine side. This is the basis for a control loop, the output of which is increased machine availability.
We see a trend towards automatic tool change, especially in the machining of complex components. In the area of these project-specific angle heads, we offer significant added value for our customers, as we can provide them with an increased degree of automation with a reduced number of aggregates.
To drive automation forward, more and more control systems are being integrated into our tool carrier systems. The permanent interrogation of the control values guarantees seamless process monitoring and component quality.
E.E: What are the most innovative products marketed?
BENZ: BENZ LinA 4.0 – a broaching unit designed for complete machining on turning centers.
BENZ Hybrix – BENZ Hybrix is a rotating tool carrier system (magazine) with a fixed housing. The main components of the magazine are one or more stationary motor spindles with an automatic tool exchange system.
More than a turret – BENZ Hybrix is more than just a tool turret. BENZ Hybrix combines the product characteristics of a magazine and a turret.
E.E: What estimations do you have for 2021?
BENZ: The year 2021 is clearly again overshadowed by the Corona crisis, which is currently keeping the world in suspense. That’s why we as a company are becoming more and more digitally oriented. Stationary trade show visits are being scaled back, while the share of digital product marketing is increasing. This will also permanently change the way we work. Digitization is picking up speed.