Automating and digitizing – this is also the means for medium-sized CNC contract manufacturers to be successful in the future at the location of Germany. An example of how this can work is the Maschinenbau Strunk GmbH from Langenbach in the Westerwald. They have fully digitized their tool management with a HAIMER Microset presetting device, the Power Clamp shrink fitting device, the WinTool tool management software, and the Toolbase dispensing system – including data exchange with CAD/CAM and ERP systems.
Strunk GmbH is a CNC contract manufacturer with around 45 employees, specializing in difficult-to-machine materials and complex components. Managing Director Patrick Panthel emphasizes: "Our orders often start where other machinists hold back. Accordingly, our production is equipped with the latest machines for 5-axis milling and turning-milling. Most of them are automated, allowing us to be very flexible and operate unmanned in the third shift."
The high-tech machine park consists of over 30 CNC turning, milling, drilling, and grinding machines, with which the DIN ISO 9001 certified company produces components made of aluminum, steel, titanium, and other difficult-to-machine materials – in quantities ranging from prototypes to large series. "The quality of our components plays an important role," emphasizes Patrick Panthel. "We ensure this through our own quality assurance with high-quality 3D measuring machines. However, the machines and, not least, the tools are crucial for their production."
Moritz Panthel, son of the managing director, is responsible for tool procurement and management. He enthusiastically reports how Strunk has completely reorganized the tool management and nearly fully digitized it: "We have made significant progress on our way to Industry 4.0 and are benefiting in many ways from this project."
"We now know exactly where each tool is located, save setup times, and have significantly increased process reliability."
A new structure for tool management
The beginning was made around ten years ago with the introduction of the tool dispensing system Toolbase, which Strunk uses to manage its tools in stock, check inventories, and initiate reorders. Given the company's growth, a capacity expansion in the tool area was planned for 2024. Moritz Panthel explains: "We currently have about 2,200 tools in the magazines at the machines. Additionally, there are approximately 3,000 items in the Toolbase machines."
"Without digital support, it is difficult to keep track of where each tool is located and when it is needed on which machine. Therefore, it made sense to restructure the entire tool management system with the expansion of the dispensing system."
In the search for a suitable partner, Moritz Panthel quickly realized that he wanted to collaborate with HAIMER. "On the one hand, we know the company and the quality of its products from numerous tool holders that are in circulation with us."
"On the other hand, we definitely wanted a Microset tool presetting device from HAIMER, as we consider this manufacturer to be technically leading."
Another decision criterion was that HAIMER also offers the data and tool management software WinTool for the Microset presetting device UNO 20/40. "This system is exactly what we need," says Moritz Panthel. "With it, we can manage the digital twins of our tools, as well as operating resources, machine programs, processes, master data, etc. in a clear manner." The fact that HAIMER holds a 25 percent stake in WinTool AG was an additional advantage for the tool manager: "This gives us the assurance that HAIMER is also driving developments in the software sector."
Last but not least, it is advantageous that the existing output system Toolbase is also part of the HAIMER product range. "Thus, we have the complete digitalization package for the tool sector from a single source," says Moritz Panthel.
WinTool – central element of manufacturing
In the meantime, WinTool has become the focal point of tool management at Strunk and a central software in production, primarily due to its good connectivity. The software offers interfaces to the Microset presetting device, the Toolbase system, CAD/CAM, and also to the ERP software, which Strunk started operating in mid-2025.
"We have completely restructured the processes in manufacturing, starting from the tool area," emphasizes Moritz Panthel. The starting point is the entry of the production order into the ERP system. If it concerns the cost center "Milling," it is passed on to the WinTool software, which runs on computers in the CAD/CAM office and can exchange data with the CAD/CAM system. "When we open a digital tool in WinTool, we see the actual clamping lengths, interference contours, etc. The data can be directly imported into the CAD/CAM system, allowing us to program the tools exactly as they are ultimately on the machine. This avoids confusion and ultimately collisions." Finally, a digital data sheet is created in WinTool that contains all the tools needed at the machine. It is passed on to production along with the order.
To set up the machine, the operator generates a net loading list from WinTool that contains all the tools to be loaded into the magazine. It is helpful that WinTool can uniquely identify each physical complete tool with its storage location. If the tools need to be assembled first, the operator receives the required data from WinTool, including the allowed tolerances. Finally, he compares these with the HAIMER Microset UNO presetting device and prints the exact measurements on a sticker that accompanies the tool on its way to the machine. 'The measured data is also entered into the WinTool database, where it can be accessed at any time,' says Moritz Panthel.
'We have currently left the input of tool data into the machine manual, as the transition process is not yet fully completed,' explains the tool manager. He is well aware that the Microset UNO automatic drive presetting device could write the data directly to the machine via a post-processor. 'But first, we need to complete the other tasks.'
'Then we will implement such measures as the icing on the cake.' First, all tools and holders must be digitized and uniquely marked with a laser-engraved data matrix code. 'We have completed part of that. But we have large stocks that will take some time,' says Moritz Panthel.
Benjamin Dombrowe, the technical sales representative responsible for Strunk at HAIMER, explains that HAIMER helps reduce the effort of digitization: 'In the meantime, we have prepared all parameters, step, and DXF data for our tool holders according to DIN 4000 and ISO 13399. The data is accessible and downloadable for every customer on our website and the data platform Tooltracer. Additionally, since the beginning of 2025, we have been supplying all tool holders with a unique ID - in the form of a laser-engraved, unique data matrix code that eliminates any confusion.'
Digitization takes time but pays off
'Our restructuring process is still not complete. But we are already seeing very positive developments,' reports Moritz Panthel. 'Through the investment in the HAIMER presetting device Microset UNO automatic drive 20/40, we can not only measure our tools precisely. We can also read the target values for length and diameter from WinTool and compare them with the actual values. This ensures that the tools are assembled correctly and that there is no risk of collision on the machine.'
Another advantage: Through WinTool, the responsible parties are able to manage the assembled tools as digital twins and manage them in stock. This is now done paperlessly at Strunk.
Every production employee has a tablet that contains the ERP system and item-related document folders, as well as the WinTool web app. Through a scanning process with the laser-engraved data matrix code, they can book all tools in stock locations, tool carts, or machines. 'The advantage is that we know at all times where the tool is and what its idle time is,' argues Moritz Panthel.
Are the investments and the effort of digitization worth it? The responsible parties at Strunk are convinced. 'We cannot calculate a break-even point, as too many factors play a role that cannot be determined monetarily,' summarizes Moritz Panthel. 'The process improvements, for example, faster setups, reduced errors and machine downtimes, the precise control over the available tools, all of this ultimately saves money and contributes to the return on investment. However, it cannot be expressed in numbers and times.'
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