The Kock GmbH, based in Northern Germany, supports the wood industry with its sawmill technology and the metal, plastic, and paper industries with its machining technology. In addition to sharpening services and tool sales, the company also offers the production of special tools – for this, two new Vollmer VGrind grinding machines were recently invested in. Furthermore, Kock has around two dozen other Vollmer machines, which are used for grinding circular saws as well as for the maintenance and production of band saws.
A few kilometers northwest of Hamburg, close to the Elbe and already in Schleswig-Holstein, lies the 5000-inhabitant community of Moorrege. The perfect location for Kock GmbH to reach its customers in Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, North Lower Saxony, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern daily, with the company even covering the entire DACH region in the sawmill sector.
Kock is a sharpening service and tool manufacturer in one
"With our highly qualified team of around 45 employees and a modern machine park, we support our customers with all questions regarding machining tools and cutting tools," says Hannes Kock, managing director of Kock GmbH. "That’s why we combine sharpening services, tool manufacturing, and the distribution of leading brands into a comprehensive package tailored to the wood and metal processing industry."
Kock specializes in high-quality tools and accessories related to machining, with the portfolio including various types of tools such as milling cutters, drills, step drills, circular saw blades, block band saws, industrial knives, cutting rotors, and woodworking tools. Customers come from the metal, wood, paper, and plastic industries and are found in sectors such as shipping, aerospace, energy, medicine, mechanical engineering, and automotive. Within its sales program, Kock sells common tools from well-known manufacturers such as Iscar and Wohlhaupter for the metal industry and Aigner and Kanefusa for wood processing.
Kock operates around two dozen Vollmer machines
Founded in the 1950s by Heinrich Kock, the company is now led in the third generation by his grandson Hannes Kock – in between, his father Dieter and uncle Wolfgang managed the company. Since 2017, there has been a distribution partnership with the AGEFA Group for the Northern Germany region. Another pillar is the integration and operation of tool management systems. Solutions are offered that range from dispensing systems to integrated procurement systems for tools. Looking into the machine hall in Moorrege, around 25 machines from the Biberach sharpening specialist Vollmer stand out. Kock has relied on Vollmer technology since its founding and still operates machines that were delivered from Swabia to the Elbmarschen more than 70 years ago.
"One of the first Vollmer machines was our Cana/E for sharpening circular saw blades, and we also use Richtcenter, Stellite, and grinding machines from Vollmer for maintenance and production of band saws," says Hannes Kock. "Recently, we acquired the VGrind argon and VGrind 360 grinding machines, with which we not only resharpen solid carbide tools like drills and milling cutters but also manufacture custom special tools."
One focus is on special tools with small diameters
On both VGrind machines, Kock can process different shank tools in a single clamping – and thanks to the Vollmer automation HC 4, even unmanned and around the clock. The chain magazine HC 4 can hold either 39 HSK-A63 tools or up to 158 shank tools. Due to the linear drives on the X, Y, and Z axes as well as two vertically arranged spindles, the grinding machines enable highly precise multi-level processing. Both spindles can be equipped with different grinding wheel sets. With the new VGrind machines, Kock aims to expand its production of special tools in small batches, focusing on machining tools with smaller diameters.
Processing circular and band saws for the wood industry
"Wood is a part of our everyday life and a sympathetic raw material, which is why we support our customers in processing this material with great passion," says Hannes Kock. "We process our circular and band saws with several Vollmer machines, ranging from straightening benches and Richtcenter to grinding machines."
Among other things, Kock has a Vollmer grinding machine CHD 270 with eight CNC-controlled axes and integrated measuring devices. It is suitable for the automatic processing of carbide-tipped circular saw blades with diameters from 80 to 840 millimeters and various tooth geometries on chip and clearance surfaces. Equipped with an ND robot system, the CHD 270 operates unmanned in 24/7 shifts. Within sawmill technology, Kock offers its sharpening services and the production of band saws for the entire DACH region. Kock manufactures cutting and block band saw blades with its specially developed equipment "Kock Double Cut", with the band steel HK51 used also being a proprietary development. Due to its high flatness and surface quality at higher tensile strength and flexibility, the band steel ensures extremely long service life for band saws.
"Over the past 70 years, Kock has developed into an innovative and reliable partner for the wood and metal industry with Vollmer technology," says Ralf Großhauser, managing director of the Vollmer Group. "And the recent investments in Vollmer machines show that Kock will continue to explore new business areas such as the production of special tools with our technologies."
Contact:
