Those who want to succeed in the market must not stand still. This philosophy has guided Hommel+Keller for 100 years, and the ability to change runs like a red thread through the company’s history. What began in 1926 with the production of measuring tools is now an internationally successful specialist for precision tools around turning operations – from knurling, marking, and smoothing tools to gear and pendulum reaming tools. The uncompromising commitment to precision and quality has remained throughout the decades.
The special thing about Hommel+Keller is that we have continually reinvented ourselves over the decades. That is our recipe for success,” emphasizes Sigmund Grimm, managing director of Hommel+Keller Precision Tools GmbH. “We do not rest on our laurels, but continuously expand our competencies. We do not follow a jack-of-all-trades principle, but strategically develop our product portfolio – with solutions that complement each other sensibly and provide real added value to our customers.”
The beginnings: Courage in difficult times
The success story of Hommel+Keller begins in a time of economic hardship. After the measuring tool factory, where Jakob Keller and Georg Hommel had previously worked as technical employees, went bankrupt, both chose not to resign themselves to despair but to start anew. Together with investors, they founded Hommel+Keller KG from the bankruptcy estate, which was officially registered in the commercial register on November 2, 1926. Not only machines and numerous employees were taken over, but also the trademark zeus, which still stands for precision and quality today.
The first decades were marked by economic crises and the effects of World War II. Repeated conscriptions led to personnel shortages, and production was sometimes carried out in shifts around the clock. The situation became particularly difficult after the war: In the French occupation zone, there was even a threat of complete dismantling and demolition of the factory. Only through Jakob Keller's negotiation skills could the worst be prevented. Instead of complete dismantling, only part of the operating facilities was dismantled, and compensation payments had to be made. The factory itself remained intact – and thus the foundation for the further development of the company.
After the difficult post-war years, Hommel+Keller consistently began to set the course for growth and technological development. In the 1950s, the company building on Uhlandstraße in Aldingen was acquired and expanded. At the same time, knurling technology increasingly became an important part of the company, initially for the production of measuring tools. As early as 1954, a zeus knurling tool was legally protected for the first time – an important milestone for the future development of the company.
From measuring tool manufacturer to specialist for precision tools
With the growth of the company, the product portfolio was continuously expanded. In addition to measuring tools, knurling technology gained increasing importance. At the same time, new competencies were developed in hardening and later also in coating technology. What initially began as a supplement to in-house production gradually developed into independent business areas.
A decisive turning point followed at the end of the 1990s and the beginning of the 2000s. While international competitive pressure in the field of measuring tools steadily increased, Hommel+Keller recognized early on the opportunities of highly specialized precision tools. “I quickly realized that it was becoming increasingly difficult to remain competitive in the long term with measuring tools,” recalls Sigmund Grimm, who joined the company in 1997 as an assistant to the management. “There were more and more importers from Asia who specialized in this. We could no longer be competitive in the long term there.”
The decision to completely abandon the traditional measuring tool division was not easy. After all, it was the original foundation of the company and closely linked to the history of the founding family. “When we cleared out the measuring tools, it was a very emotional moment – especially for Rudolf Keller, the son of the company founder,” Grimm recounts. “That marked the end of the chapter with which his father, Jakob Keller, had begun the success story of Hommel+Keller.”
Despite all the emotion, the strategic realignment proved to be groundbreaking. Hommel+Keller focused on further developing its competencies in knurling technology and became an internationally leading provider in this field. New sales channels were established, international markets were opened up, and the product portfolio was gradually expanded.
“We have never rested on a successful product group,” says Sigmund Grimm. “Our goal was and is to sensibly further develop existing competencies and create new solutions for our customers.”
International expansion and technology development
With the stronger focus on precision tools, a phase of strong growth and international expansion began for Hommel+Keller. As early as the early 1990s, the company first presented itself at international trade fairs in Singapore and later also in Japan. At the same time, a global dealer network was established, with which the zeus brand increasingly established itself as a fixed player in knurling technology.
An important milestone was the acquisition of the knurling tool division QUICK from Swarovski Optik in 2014. The traditional brand QUICK was integrated into the company and has since complemented the existing portfolio of Hommel+Keller. “With our zeus tools, we had already been successful in both knurling milling and knurling forming for many years. QUICK, on the other hand, had particular strengths in the area of milling tools,” explains Sigmund Grimm.
“This is how both companies complemented each other excellently. Our goal was therefore never to merge the two brands and make them the same, but to learn from each other and become stronger together.”
With the introduction of the zeus diamond finishing tools, Hommel+Keller opened up another specialty area in surface processing. In 2017, the new division was presented at EMO in Hannover. The portfolio was also supplemented by gear cutting tools. The necessary expertise had already been available in-house for decades, as the production of zeus knurling tools is traditionally based on extensive know-how in rolling and form milling.
"We have always wondered which technologies and applications fit sensibly with our existing competencies," explains Sigmund Grimm. "As a result, our product range has grown step by step – not by chance, but strategically."
Strategic realignment
With the growth of the company and the increasing specialization of the individual business areas, the previous corporate structure also reached its limits. Therefore, in 2017, the strategic reorganization of the corporate group took place. The business areas of precision tools and hardening and surface technology were organizationally separated. Sigmund Grimm took over the shares of Hommel+Keller Precision Tools GmbH as the sole shareholder.
"Over the years, it has become clear that the requirements, products, and target groups of the individual areas have become very different," explains Sigmund Grimm. "Through the strategic division, we were able to focus even more on our respective competencies and invest more purposefully."
The strategic realignment also formed the basis for another major project: the construction of today's administrative and production site in Aldingen. Hommel+Keller invested more than six million euros in modern production areas, new working environments, and additional development capacities. "At that time, we were literally bursting at the seams," recalls Grimm. "Without larger capacities, further growth would hardly have been possible. With the new building, we wanted to become faster, more flexible, and more efficient."
At the new location, approximately 2,000 square meters of production space and about 1,000 square meters for sales and administration were created, including modern manufacturing and storage areas, additional capacities for process and product development, as well as open communication and meeting spaces. In addition to state-of-the-art manufacturing technology, Hommel+Keller consciously invested in the working atmosphere and sustainable infrastructure.
"Anyone working at Hommel+Keller should feel comfortable," says Sigmund Grimm. "That's why it was important for us to create not only functional production areas but also a modern working environment with space for exchange, ideas, and collaboration."
With the introduction of a segment organization, Hommel+Keller further optimized its manufacturing processes and delivery times in the following years. At the same time, the company consistently invested in sustainability, modern energy concepts, and efficient production processes.
Ready for the next 100 years
Despite all the changes, the core of the company remains the same to this day: "Our tools should not only convince technically but also provide our customers with real process reliability and economic advantages," emphasizes Grimm. "To achieve this, we combine almost 100 years of experience with state-of-the-art technology and the ambition to continuously develop ourselves."
Hommel+Keller will present the next stage of development for the first time at AMB 2026. The focus is on a completely new, modular product program. The new platform is another important step in the company's development. "Our history shows that successful companies must be willing to reinvent themselves repeatedly," emphasizes Sigmund Grimm. "That is exactly why we do not see 100 years of Hommel+Keller as a retrospective on the past, but as motivation for the next 100 years."
Contact:
