This year's press conference took place live from the studio of Fritz Studer AG in Steffisburg, attended by numerous international media representatives. "Thanks to the high diversification of our portfolio, we look back on a solid business year 2024 with growth in some markets and sectors," said Jens Bleher, who has been leading STUDER as CEO since 2018 and will transition to COO of the UNITED GRINDING Group on January 1, 2000. Bleher hands over the CEO position to long-time CSO Sandro Bottazzo. The challenging economic and geopolitical environment required particularly intensive efforts, as Bleher emphasizes. "In addition to quality, the focus of activities at STUDER is therefore on increasing productivity, intensive cost management, and the introduction of new, innovative technologies. STUDER remains the reliable partner of our customers and is well positioned in global competition," said Bleher.
Worldwide, STUDER was able to maintain its market share and even expand it in certain countries and regions, stated Sandro Bottazzo, the new CEO and Chairman of the Management Board since March 1, 2025. He added: "We are gradually expanding our leading position in the market for universal cylindrical grinding machines." The development of new customers was particularly positive, with their number increasing by around 43 percent compared to the previous year. Strong segments included the Asian automotive and supplier industry, tool and mold making, as well as mechanical engineering. As in the previous year, STUDER was also able to further expand its presence in the aerospace sector and strengthen its strong market position. Overall, order intake was slightly below the previous year's result, as expected.
Record Revenue in Customer Care Again
Especially in North America, the quality manufacturer of cylindrical grinding machines recorded very good developments in order intake. Asia, still the largest sales region, as well as Latin, Northern, and Eastern European countries showed strong results. However, Central Europe, particularly Germany, fell short of expectations.
The Customer Care sector developed very positively, achieving another record revenue in 2024. The consistent expansion of international and multilingual service coverage with customer-oriented and decentralized service professionals has proven to be a complete success, emphasized Bottazzo. The spare parts business, maintenance, as well as machine overhauls and modifications achieved record revenues, and the service business remained at the very high utilization levels of the previous year.
An important pillar of STUDER's success was again the broad portfolio. In particular, the segment of CNC universal cylindrical grinding machines showed strong performance, with the S33 being the best-selling machine, followed by the S31 and the favoritCNC. The sales development of the state-of-the-art S41 in the premium segment was also solid. The second strongest segment was the internal cylindrical grinding machines, which showed robust sales development. However, the sales of production and conventional machines fell short of expectations.
New favoritCNC and Innovative Grinding Technology
Innovation and the development of modern and reliable grinding technologies for the benefit of customers remained at the forefront for STUDER in 2024, said CTO Daniel Huber. A major development project was the new generation of the popular universal cylindrical grinding machine favoritCNC. This now features the latest FANUC controls and a "Conventional Mode." This mode gives customers the option to operate as on a conventional grinding machine, making the transition to CNC particularly easy. Among the many other new features are the possibility for automation and more powerful grinding spindles.
Another development focus is the new universal W-axis, which will be available for the S33 and S31. This is integrated into the Z-slide and allows for automatic grinding of various workpiece lengths without operator intervention. The two main setups - the tailstock with fixed point and the tailstock spindle with driven point, as well as other setups like measuring devices - offer innovative grinding technical advantages: As an absolute novelty, direct force measurement allows for a true force-controlled clamping process, ensuring maximum precision, repeatability, and enabling low clamping forces for fragile parts.
New Applications for SmartJet and WireDress
Huber expressed satisfaction with the industry-wide success of the coolant concept SmartJet developed by STUDER. In the past year, the application field of this particularly efficient and sustainable system was further expanded, including optimizations for thread grinding and plug-in coolant nozzles for different grinding wheel profiles. There are also news regarding the innovative dressing process WireDress developed by STUDER for metal-bonded CBN and diamond grinding wheels. "We have further developed WireDress for dressing internal grinding wheels," said Huber. Thus, the innovative contactless dressing system can now be used for both external and internal grinding wheels in the same setup.
Furthermore, the CTO emphasized that the transition of all relevant CNC platforms to C.O.R.E. has now been successfully completed. The modern and uniform hardware and software architecture of the UNITED GRINDING Group revolutionizes the operation and capabilities of grinding and tool machines. Based on C.O.R.E., the group will continue to develop state-of-the-art software and features for the benefit of customers in the future.
Expanded Spindle Competence
Subsequently, Stephan Stoll, COO of STUDER, provided an overview of the Operations area. Despite the generally tense market situation, the manufacturing and assembly resources were largely utilized with the STUDER machine business, extensive intercompany activities within the UNITED GRINDING Group, and the establishment of future-oriented prototype facilities.
Several relevant optimization projects were successfully implemented, such as the strategically important expansion of internal spindle competence. In addition to the commissioning of an automated, highly efficient spindle shaft manufacturing process, all assembly processes were consolidated and enhanced with state-of-the-art testing and inspection equipment. Highly specialized professionals, as well as powerful assembly, data analysis, and diagnostic tools, allow STUDER, as a group-wide competence center, to produce and further develop drive spindles with the highest standards.
The internal electrical pre-assembly has also been completely renewed. "We are now able to produce highly efficiently, order-specific, and just-in-time from individual cable sets to fully wired, complex electrical control cabinets," said Stoll.
In addition, intensive planning work for the comprehensive redesign and automation of the internal logistics infrastructure was completed last year. The implementation of this major STUDER project is already in full swing - commissioning is scheduled for December 2025.
LED Lighting Converted
STUDER also committed to increasing sustainability and efficiency in its operations in 2024. The transition to LED lighting has been largely implemented, and various operational supply systems have been replaced with energy-efficient devices of the latest generation. Furthermore, the new logistics facility will significantly contribute to reducing energy consumption at STUDER.
Additionally, various digitization projects are being advanced to unlock further efficiency potentials in all operations areas, emphasized Stoll.
In conclusion, Jens Bleher emphasized the great importance of highly trained and motivated employees for the long-term success of STUDER as a technology company. "We firmly believe in vocational training. More than 11 percent of our workforce are apprentices," said Bleher.
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