Contact us today:
(847) 934-4500
tdaro@bernardandcompany.com
Contact us today:
(847) 934-4500
tdaro@bernardandcompany.com
Australian Technology Pioneers Share Their Inspiring Story in a Heartfelt Video Retrospective
ANCA, an Australian advanced manufacturing leader, proudly announces that its co-founders, Patrick Boland and Patrick McCluskey, have been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2025 Australia Day Honors List. Known as “The Two Pats,” their visionary leadership has propelled ANCA to the forefront of global technology, demonstrating that advanced manufacturing can not only thrive in Australia but also contribute to high-value products, international competitiveness, meaningful careers, and sovereign industrial capabilities.
The dynamic partnership of Boland and McCluskey, combining academic expertise and practical ingenuity, has driven ANCA’s success for over 50 years. Their passion for innovation and engineering excellence has led to the development of world-first technologies that have revolutionized the cutting-tool industry. Notable innovations include groundbreaking in-machine measurement that disrupted and shaped the market, setting new standards in precision manufacturing.
Success didn’t come overnight. By targeting a niche global market, adopting robotics, and applying innovative solutions to the machine world—long before the internet era—they brought their ambitious vision to life. Today, ANCA continues to lead the industry, driven by a culture of innovation, talent investment, and a commitment to “dreaming and having fun.”
Patrick Boland OAM, who holds a Master’s in Electrical Engineering from Melbourne University, is one of a handful of life members of the Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Limited (AMTIL). He served as AMTIL’s President from 2010 to 2016 and was a founding member of the Future Manufacturing Industry Innovation Council from 2008 to 2014.
Patrick McCluskey OAM, the practical and design-focused counterpart, began his career as an apprentice working on fuses and radios. Today, he leads the mechanical design of ANCA’s advanced machines and mentors the engineering team, fostering the next generation of innovation. He also spearheads ANCA’s apprenticeship program, emphasizing the company’s commitment to skill development. In his spare time Pat wrote and self-published a memoir ‘Trust’* detailing his early beginnings growing up in a Ballarat orphanage to his move to Melbourne with a Diocesan Scholarship through to starting his apprenticeship with Department of Supply.
“This is an incredible honor,” said Patrick Boland. “I see it as recognition of the work ANCA has done over 50 years to sustain an advanced manufacturing business in Australia. By competing on smarts and riding the wave of technology, we’ve achieved an incredible journey filled with immense fun.”
Patrick McCluskey added, “ANCA is my life, and this award validates the countless hours, challenges, and triumphs that have shaped our journey. I’m thrilled to have built a company of over 1,300 people recognized globally for its technology solutions. From apprentices to seasoned professionals, I’m grateful to have them as part of our team.”
The awards coincide with ANCA’s 50th anniversary and the co-founders’ 75th birthdays. With 13 registered patents and three pending, including a recent patent for a Motor Temperature Control algorithm in the U.S. and China, ANCA continues to lead the field in advanced technology. Headquartered in Melbourne, ANCA’s offerings include CNC tool and cutter grinding machines, laser markers, automation solutions, motion controls, and manufacturing services. These technologies are critical to industries such as automotive, aerospace, electronics, medical devices, and cutting-tool manufacturing.
Investing 10% of profits into research and development, ANCA is committed to fostering STEM talent through partnerships with RMIT, Melbourne, and Monash universities. Its robust apprenticeship programs further strengthen Australia’s skilled workforce, ensuring groundbreaking innovations continue to emerge from this “hidden gem” of Australian manufacturing.
Hear directly from Patrick Boland and Patrick McCluskey about their journey and legacy: Watch the video
* Catherine Butterfield ghost wrote the memoir Trust with Patrick McCluskey
ANCA is a world-leading manufacturer of CNC grinding machines, motion controls, and advanced manufacturing solutions, employing over 1,300 staff globally. With a legacy of 50 years of innovation, ANCA designs and manufactures cutting-edge products in Melbourne, Australia, exporting 99% of its products to over 50 countries. The company has offices worldwide, including the UK, Germany, China, Thailand, India, Japan, Brazil, Korea, and the USA, supported by a comprehensive network of representatives and agents.
The competition to win ANCA’s annual Tool of the Year contest is fierce. So it’s no surprise that last year’s top contenders were team efforts. You could say the same thing about the entry from ARCH Cutting Tools in Cornish, Maine. It’s a platoon of cutting features they called “The Utilitarian.” Like many of the tools the outfit produces for their demanding client base, The Utilitarian can eliminate a host of what would otherwise be separate cutting tools. It can accomplish both plunge and side milling, plus multi-directional milling. It can cut a groove, thanks to a back trepan feature. It can add a back chamfer. And it’s concave end can create a convex ball. With an eye toward real-world practicality, the tool also features chip breakers to aid chip evacuation, corner radii to prevent chipping, and cylindrical margins to enable the various milling functions.
How do you build such a beast? It started with 30-year veteran, Pete Chapman, in engineering. Chapman has spent most of his career programming WALTER machines, and only recently got involved with ANCA machines. “I’d never seen this version of ANCA’s iGrind software until a year ago,“ he explained, “and I wanted to see what it was capable of. I poked around to find things I hadn’t used before, thinking someday someone is going to want to have a tool that does X, and we are going to have to figure it out. We’re better off learning in advance.” So, Chapman piled on feature after feature, testing each with ANCA’s 3D simulation to confirm that the machine could actually move the wheels through the carbide to grind the desired geometries.
From there, Steve Hutchins, a 28-year vet, used ANCA ToolDraft software to convert Chapman’s simulation into tool prints for the production floor. Hutchins praised the software, saying it’s easy to import multiple views of the tool and then add tolerances to each feature to guide the operators. Ordinarily, he’d also use ToolDraft to add images of the required wheels, along with their specifications. But he didn’t do that in this case because they planned to make just a few tools for the contest.
The tool has a 1” shank diameter and multiple steps ranging down to ¼” in diameter. So they opted to grind the OD on their new ANCA CPX pinch/peel grinder, operated by new team member, Jacob Hart. As Hutchins put it, “Jake’s only been here one year, and he can grind the most complex profiles there are, with tight tolerances and excellent finishes.” Hart modestly credited the CPX, saying it’s “very user friendly, and the repeatability is better than anything else I’ve heard about from more experienced grinders.” It was also the first time the facility used the machine for tools larger than ⅞” in diameter, Hutchins added.
After this prep work, Jake’s younger brother Josh Hart took over. Josh Hart has been with the company for 4 years, and used an ANCA MX7 Linear for the final 5-axis grind, including some spin grinding of the margins and the face of the trepan areas. In fact, with the exception of the major ODs ground on the CPX, all the complex geometries of The Utilitarian were ground on the MX in one shot, said Hart. “I used six different wheel packs to make the tool. Fluting alone was two wheels. A 30 degree for the smaller diameter and a 10 degree for the bigger back-lobe. There were two different profiles in the center section, so I needed a front facing and a back facing 12V9. I used the front facing 12V9 to get into back concave profile. Plus, there’s an 11V9, a chip breaker wheel, a cup wheel, and a gash wheel.”
Hart confesses that he broke the trepan off during the first grind, because he hadn’t yet dialed in the wheel speeds. “But it was perfect from there out.” He ground 4 tools, which Hutchins then inspected on a Zoller Genius using a program written by Seth Tillson, who’s been with the company about 7 years. All tools met the design tolerances of 0.0002” (5 µm) on the diameters and ±0.0005 to 0.001” (12.7-25.4 µm) on the profile sections, reported Hutchins. “The fact that the second tool was nearly perfect shows how good the simulation software is now.” He added that going from a simulation to a real tool accurate within 2 tenths is now routine at ARCH Cutting Tools.
Interestingly, they neither balanced the wheels nor used particularly fine grits to achieve the desired surface finish. Hutchins explained that customers have been demanding ever better surface finishes for about 5 years. “At first we were buying finer finish wheels and slowing programs way down. But ANCA’s new linear motor technology instantly makes it twice as easy to maintain fine finishes, due to the absence of lead screws and ball nuts. I’m not saying it’s easy. But you don’t have to buy polishing wheels and go back through your flutes, and so forth. You get a cherry finish out of the gate with the new machinery.”
The Maine team won the inaugural Tool of the Year competition back in 2018 (when they were Contour360). That tool made a splash in the market, recounted General Manager Chris Karcher. Naturally, they take the amazing 2023 Utilitarian on sales calls as well, he adds. “But it’s not the big wow factor you might expect, because we now make many such special tools, including staggered dovetail cutters and chamber reamers for the firearms industry.” In short, the “village” at ARCH Cutting Tools in Cornish, Maine has learned how to make the extraordinary, ordinary.
For further information, please contact:
Amanda Bakun
Marketing & Communications Manager – Americas
248-497-1168
amanda.bakun@anca.com
ANCA is a market leading manufacturer of CNC grinding machines. It was founded in 1974 in Melbourne, Australia where the company still has its global headquarters. ANCA has offices in the UK, Germany, China, Thailand, India, Japan, Brazil, Korea and the USA as well as a comprehensive network of representatives and agents worldwide.
ANCA CNC grinders are used for manufacturing precision cutting tools and components across a diverse range of competitive industries including cutting tool manufacture, automotive, aerospace, electronics and medical.
Pat McCluskey’s machine design and build experience at ANCA has fuelled manufacturing exports for Australia for half a century
For a half-century, ANCA has made the machines that make the tools that make the world go around.
One half of its founding pair, Pat McCluskey, has designed many grinding machine tools in that time.
He says that two things have remained focal when designing a machine: the customer and their expectations, and the manufactured cost.
It is never the result of a whim. It always follows information fed back through a two-way communication process on customer challenges, and meticulous market research, which is then presented to Pat’s team. Then the design gets underway.
If it sounds straightforward, it never is.
“To design a completely new machine that nobody has seen before is a complex task,” explains McCluskey.
ANCA tool and cutter grinding machines are underpinned by world-leading engineering and skills so specialized they often have to be fostered in-house. Their approach to innovation includes machines, controls, software and related accessories such as robots, and their vertical alignment has kept them ahead in a challenging field where there are few serious rivals.
A selection of world firsts over 50 years includes a probe for digitizing tools, first modem for support and diagnostics in a machine, and the first full and true 3D simulation of the grinding process.
Progress from top to bottom
“For some reason we seem to be the only grinding machine manufacturer for tool grinding that uses a polymer concrete base on their machine,” says McCluskey of one thing done differently.
First introduced in the TG7 machine, released in 1990, polymer concrete provides a very stable base for machines, damping out any vibrations. The ability to absorb heat minimizes any expansion and contraction which might sacrifice grinding accuracy.
McCluskey looked into what’s now called ANCAcrete in the 1980s as an alternative to cast iron, and a way to avoid dependency on foundry providers.
Self-reliance is crucial to the company’s dominance of its market, according to McCluskey.
Perhaps most important is development of its CNC and servo systems, as well as software, in-house. Competitors are dependent on pre-packaged CNC controls, and ANCA is the only tool grinding machine builder that makes its own control.
“So the Germans and the Swiss tend to buy the Japanese or the German CNC and try their best to adapt it to their machine,” explains McCluskey.
“And it’s a clumsy fit and they don’t do the in-depth development in the software that we do because they can’t get access to the software… it’s all locked off to them.”
Notable recent innovations are credited to Dr. Kotler Tee, Technical Leader – Servo Control at ANCA.
One innovation has enabled servo system resolution of a single nanometre and is being rolled out to new machines in the ULTRA platform
“He rewrote the servo algorithms in the servo drives in the CNC to increase the resolution,” says McCluskey.
“To explain this achievement in layman’s terms, take a 300 millimeter ruler and look at a pair of the smallest lines; the distance is 1 millimeter.
“Now divide that distance by 1,000, now you have a distance of 1 micron. In your mind, now divide that micron by 1,000, the result is now equal to 1 nanometre.”
“Designing the ULTRA platform has been a design process from the ground up bringing sophisticated elements to the art of grinding.”
Others include breakthrough features available on the newly released MicroX ULTRA, a six-axis tool grinder that premiered at EMO in 2023.
Through the years
The first four years of ANCA involved retrofitting CNC controls to other people’s equipment, such as special purpose machinery, lathes and mills.
What McCluskey estimates was the most significant non-technical development came in 1978.
Their major OEM at the time, Laser Lab, set up in Detroit, with ANCA sending young engineer John Roberts to work at the facility.
Roberts took it upon himself to book a booth at a trade show and display an ANCA CNC. According to Roberts, there was a crowd at the booth and significant interest, and the suggestion that ANCA make a CNC tool grinder to improve on the less-than-spectacular machines available at the time.
“The die was cast,” McCluskey says.
A further important non-technical development was the Australian recession in 1982.
“We didn’t want to continue to sell in Australia because of the ups and downs of the markets; we wanted to cover ourselves,” he adds.
“And the American market seemed to be the market for us, and we only needed a small percentage of that market and that was enough – more than what we could handle. And we got it.”
“So if we hadn’t made that decision, we’d have gone bust.”
50 years later, 98% of revenues are from exports, with customers in over 45 countries.
ANCA employs over 1,200 worldwide, with offices in the UK, Germany, China, Thailand, India, Japan, Korea, Brazil, Mexico, Italy, Türkiye, and the USA.
While some production occurs in Thailand and Taiwan, the heart of the company, its headquarters and innovation and manufacturing base – remains in the Melbourne suburb of Bayswater North.
Nearly a tenth of revenues are spent on R&D.
“ANCA is my life and I’m proud to be celebrating its 50th anniversary and that we have been able to build the company to the size that it is and with world recognition,” adds McCluskey.
The opportunity for engineers to work hard on complicated, world-leading, meaningful problems goes back to the company’s roots.
“I think it’s because Pat (Boland – ANCA co-founder) and I had to work so bloody hard in the beginning when we almost went broke and we’ve continued to do nothing but work hard like that ever since,” he says.
“And the people who work with us get a hell of a buzz out of working hard too.”
Staying sharp and skilled up
There is something of an “open university” nature to ANCA, believes McCluskey.
It attracts a lot of bright young people who are motivated by technical challenges more than money, and in seeing their work embodied in a physical product (which they can’t always do at a university.)
“At university they can study theory as long as they want, but at the end of that theory, they move on to something else,” suggests McCluskey.
“Whereas here at the end of their theory, they’ve got a new machine sitting on the floor and they’ve written the software for it, or they’ve written the code for the display unit.”
Attracting clever engineering graduates has not been a problem, he adds,
“It doesn’t take long for a group of students at a technical university to learn about ANCA. We don’t have to tell them, they learn by talking amongst themselves and it’s a great place for them to work,” McCluskey says.
“They get great pay, they get well looked after, and above all, they get respected by their peers, they get respected by the company owners. They don’t get that working for a big corporate.”
As the only organization in Australia that manufactures machine tools, and with a demand for very high-level assembly workers, the only real option for finding suitably skilled tradespeople is to train them in-house.
Another feature of ANCA is upward mobility for those who have apprenticed, with many going on to senior roles. When they move up or out, they must be replaced.
“So you train these guys to work in the high-precision assembly shop, but a few years later you find that they’re overseas somewhere, then they’ve got to be replaced. So there’s a continuous need for them,” McCluskey explains.
“We can’t send them to the technical colleges because they don’t have a program to train machine tool fitting. And you can go and look at other companies, but there isn’t any other company like ANCA.”
ANCA has been taking on apprentices and formalized its program in 2011. McCluskey wrote the original course material.
“I was reasonably happy when I found out that we’d have to create our own apprentice training school,” he recalls.
“Because it was something in the back of my mind that I had always wanted to do anyway.”
McCluskey began his career with an apprenticeship at the Commonwealth Department of Supply, where he met ANCA co-founder Pat Boland (then a cadet engineer at University of Melbourne) in 1968.
He is happy with the results of the company’s program and its ability to both create niche skillsets at ANCA as well as interesting futures for young employees.
“People say that the young kids of today are pretty useless. Well, I’d say they’re not. I’d say if you’re given the right kind of training, the right kind of opportunity, you’ll get the best out of them,” McCluskey says.
“One guy this year finished his time, got his indentures released at the last presentation night, and two nights later he was on a plane to America. He’s going to work in the American office in Detroit. What an opportunity for a kid!”
For media inquiries or more information, please contact:
Sepideh Zandieh
Acting Group Communications Manager
sepideh.zandieh@anca.com
ANCA is a market leading manufacturer of CNC grinding machines. It was founded in 1974 in Melbourne, Australia where the company still has its global headquarters. ANCA has offices in the UK, Germany, China, Thailand, India, Japan, Brazil, Korea, Türkiye and Italy and the USA as well as a comprehensive network of representatives and agents worldwide.
ANCA CNC grinders are used for manufacturing precision cutting tools and components across a diverse range of competitive industries including cutting tool manufacture, automotive, aerospace, electronics and medical.
This innovative feature enables the production of consistently high-quality taps by addressing a key challenge – thermal growth.
Introducing a breakthrough in tap manufacturing: ANCA’s patented Motor Temperature Control (MTC) technology. This innovative feature enables the production of consistently high-quality taps by addressing a key challenge – thermal growth.
True to ANCA’s commitment to solving real-world manufacturing issues, MTC tackles the problem of inaccuracy and variation caused by thermal expansion. Traditionally, manufacturers rely on measurement and compensation to control these variations, adjusting for thermal and mechanical changes during grinding. But what if there was a way to eliminate a major source of inaccuracy altogether?
ANCA’s MTC does exactly that. This patented technology allows operators to set the spindle temperature for production, and the machine automatically monitors and maintains that temperature. By stabilizing the spindle’s thermal environment, MTC removes fluctuations caused by thermal growth, ensuring greater precision and consistency in tap production.
Let’s apply this unique and innovative solution to the TapX, using the cresting operation as an example.
Thread cresting is one of the most important tap features to get right. The relief of the thread typically involves a drop of 10-20 microns over the thread. The quality and shape of the thread crest are critical to the performance of the final (cut or formed) thread.
Threading is often the final operation in the manufacturing of parts, so taps play a crucial role. We do not want to scrap parts due to a tapped thread when all other value has already been added to the part. For example, the cresting affects:
Load Distribution and Thread Strength: Different crest types offer varying load distributions. High-load applications rely on high surface contact from a particular crest shape, such as a flat crest. The tap needs to form this large area without jamming or breaking.
Leak Tightness: Certain crest shapes, like rounded crests, can be more challenging to manufacture but are essential for creating effective seals in gas or fluid environments.
Thread Engagement: V-shaped threads provide high precision with increased thread engagement, while a tapered crest offers a more forgiving environment for quick or easy assembly, as well as being more durable with reduced wear.
Many tap manufacturers also have their own unique or specialized crest designs to achieve specific characteristics for a particular customer or industry. This is where ANCA’s TapX shines.
As mentioned in our previous article, reducing coolant pressure is one key to creating conditions for a more controlled operation. However, MTC takes a leap forward by regulating and maintaining a controlled manufacturing environment.
ANCA’s extensive experience has shown that thermal variation in the spindle contributes to variation in tool dimensional accuracy. OD finish operations are particularly sensitive to this. Using MTC significantly improves OD consistency over a batch.
Controlling the production environment with MTC enhances the accuracy, quality, and finish of the tap, leading to several benefits:
For more information, visit www.anca.com or contact your local ANCA representative.
ANCA is a market leading manufacturer of CNC grinding machines. It was founded in 1974 in Melbourne, Australia where the company still has its global headquarters. ANCA has offices in the UK, Germany, China, Thailand, India, Japan, Brazil, Korea and the USA as well as a comprehensive network of representatives and agents worldwide.
ANCA CNC grinders are used for manufacturing precision cutting tools and components across a diverse range of competitive industries including cutting tool manufacture, automotive, aerospace, electronics and medical.
ANCA‘s advanced grinding solutions offer seamless finished tool grinding in a single setup, including blank preparation. This setup features the P-axis Arobotech, which supports blanks at the grind point, enabling the efficient production of various tools with a surface finish below 0.2 Ra. This process significantly reduces cycle time while boosting productivity. The 3000 RPM headstock on the MX7 platform further enhances performance, allowing the tool to spin at optimal speeds for this application.
The MX7 platform, equipped with six wheel packs as recommended by ANCA’s application team, supports the grinding of various tool shapes in a single setup, eliminating the need for wheel changes. Depending on the tool’s shape and geometry, grinding can be performed at either the 3 or 12 o’clock position. Additionally, a specially designed hydraulic pump controls the clamping pressure based on diameter, including up/down pressure, to achieve faster cycle times.
Key benefits include:
This application is versatile, working not only with sized blanks but also with bar stock loading.
Bar stock loading, commonly known as “blanket grinding,” involves the automatic loading and grinding of multiple tools from a single blank. This process is ideal for batch production of endmills, drill heads, and similar tools. Its uniqueness lies in the ability to part off completed tools from the blank and then extend the blank from the collet to grind subsequent tools.
ANCA’s LoaderMate software is designed to manage the number, location, and length of blanks in the pickup pallet, allowing for varying blank diameters per row. It also features a used bar report, detailing the number of tools ground and the total length of bar to be scrapped for each blank.
For more information, visit www.anca.com or contact your local ANCA representative.
For further information, please contact:
Amanda Bakun
Marketing & Communications Manager – Americas
248-497-1168
amanda.bakun@anca.com
ANCA is a market leading manufacturer of CNC grinding machines. It was founded in 1974 in Melbourne, Australia where the company still has its global headquarters. ANCA has offices in the UK, Germany, China, Thailand, India, Japan, Brazil, Korea and the USA as well as a comprehensive network of representatives and agents worldwide.
ANCA CNC grinders are used for manufacturing precision cutting tools and components across a diverse range of competitive industries including cutting tool manufacture, automotive, aerospace, electronics and medical.
It began with an accident. Dr. Salah Huwais, a renowned periodontist with several offices in Michigan, USA, started to drill a hole in a patient’s jaw, but an assistant had mistakenly set the hand tool to rotate counterclockwise. Although Dr. Huwais found it hard to push the burr into the bone, he also noticed that trying to do so had the effect of hardening the bone a bit. This gave him the idea that the right tool geometry might be able to both make the required hole and compact the cut bone back into the jaw. If so, this would revolutionize dental implant procedures by greatly reducing the required time to heal.
That was back in early 2014. By April of that year, Dr. Huwais, who had no manufacturing experience, formed the company Versah, LLC, in Jackson, Michigan, and partnered with engineers to turn his idea into reality. It wasn’t easy. Aaron Beach, director of manufacturing and product development, recounted that they went through more than 60 prototypes over 6 months before settling on a design. The resulting dental burr, which is protected by numerous patents, returns all the bone back into the jaw as the periodontist cuts the hole needed for the planned implant. According to Beach, this usually enables the surgeon to immediately place the permanent implant, versus waiting 6 to 12 months for the bone to heal, as is required when using a traditional burr.
ANCA machines are key
Naturally, Versah does not want to publicize all the secrets that go into making these stainless-steel tools, except to say that they are ground to “extremely tight tolerances” on ANCA MX and FX machines, where the biggest challenge is accounting for wear in the steadyrest and the grinding wheels, said Beach. But the CBN wheels hold up well enough that they don’t require in-process dressing, he reported. In terms of workholding and part handling, all jobs are fully automated, with a typical batch size of 1,000 burrs.
Beach did reveal that the tools have “multiple geometries” that change throughout the flute, which the ANCA software and machines handle well. Likewise, measuring the geometry is a challenge, the details of which can’t be shared. But Beach said they “inspect parts with a vision system every 30 minutes, and document the inspections every 2 hours, to maintain quality.”
Another important point Beach made is that although he had manufacturing knowledge when starting this project in 2014, he had no grinding experience. Versah jumped in with a fully equipped ANCA MX5 and then a number of FX machines. As Beach recalled, “I did some Solidworks programming in the past that helped. But I didn’t know anything about ANCA’s iGrind software or anything related to grinding. The fact that you’re able to watch the part unfold in the software, to watch the changes happen right in front of you on the machine, makes it very, very user friendly.
“The software is also educational. New people coming in, or even our team in the offices with no manufacturing background, can click on different items, leave some highlighted, and it walks them through how that part’s being ground, and shows how each part of the program is connected with each tool feature. It’s really simple. I have hired a few people on these grinders that had zero experience with them, and they’ve picked it up quickly.” Beach also lauded ANCA’s customer service and reliability. “We run these machines around the clock, six to seven days a week. So, they’ve gotten a lot of use, which obviously calls for maintenance and support. But we find them to be very low maintenance.”
Production details
Versah makes their burrs in two lengths and a variety of cutting diameters, but with a single shank diameter that meets the relevant ISO standard. This simplifies their setups, said Beach, such that they use only two collet types. For the longer burrs, the collet swallows more of the shank, providing more rigidity for the grind. They also use a fixed steadyrest on each tool, changing its position based on the tool length. But given Versah’s lot sizes, these adjustments are infrequent.
Versah electro-polishes the tools coming off the ANCA grinder, added Beach, “to remove any free iron. Then they are coated with titanium nitride.” Beach explained that heat reduction is the main coating benefit, since heating the bone typically damages it. “We found that adding this coating, along with the appropriate irrigation, keeps our burrs a little cooler than they otherwise would be. We think the coating also helps prevent the bone from sticking to the burr, and therefore helps transfer the bone back to the jaw.”
On the other hand, the unique geometry is clearly the critical factor, because Versah only added the coating in 2019. By then, the burrs had become a worldwide success. A gratifying success story in improving thousands of lives.
For further information, please contact:
Amanda Bakun
Marketing & Communications Manager – Americas
248-497-1168
amanda.bakun@anca.com
ANCA is a market leading manufacturer of CNC grinding machines. It was founded in 1974 in Melbourne, Australia where the company still has its global headquarters. ANCA has offices in the UK, Germany, China, Thailand, India, Japan, Brazil, Korea and the USA as well as a comprehensive network of representatives and agents worldwide.
ANCA CNC grinders are used for manufacturing precision cutting tools and components across a diverse range of competitive industries including cutting tool manufacture, automotive, aerospace, electronics and medical.
ANCA’s innovative job management and production control software improves quality and reduces cost for tool manufacturers
ANCA CNC Machines, a world leader in CNC grinding technology, announces the launch of AIMS Connect, a job management and production control software designed to benefit tool manufacturing by optimizing processes, enhancing quality, and reducing costs.
In a highly competitive industry where efficiency is key, AIMS Connect addresses the growing demand for smarter, more streamlined operations. As a smart solution to integrated manufacturing, AIMS Connect has the potential to boost productivity by 20% or more, setting a new standard for excellence in the sector.
“AIMS Connect offers a flexible and customizable solution for tool manufacturers looking to increase efficiency, improve quality, and reduce costs,” said Steffen Kluth, ANCA Product Manager.
“Our goal is to make digital manufacturing accessible to everyone, and with AIMS Connect, we are helping our customers embark on a journey toward a fully integrated smart factory, step by step.”
Key features and benefits of AIMS Connect:
AIMS Connect is an accessible entry point into digital manufacturing, emphasizing the logical connection of machines and systems. It delivers transparent and verifiable processes, featuring a worker guidance system that informs employees about production stages and task schedules. This system frees skilled workers from repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on areas where their expertise is most valuable. Each tool is meticulously described in a job order process, ensuring consistent quality through defined compensation strategies and logical frameworks.
Building on the foundation laid by AIMS Connect, ANCA’s AIMS Automate transforms tool manufacturing into a fully integrated smart factory. AIMS Automate autonomously adapts to production changes, ensuring smooth operations even during disruptions. With the mobile robot, AutoFetch, it effortlessly manages tool pallet transfers, from raw materials to finished products, maximizing efficiency and minimizing downtime.
To learn more about AIMS Connect, visit www.anca.com/AIMS-Connect
For further information, please contact:
Amanda Bakun
Marketing & Communications Manager – Americas
248-497-1168
amanda.bakun@anca.com
ANCA CNC Machines is a global leader in the design, manufacture, and service of advanced CNC grinding machines. With an illustrious history spanning over 50 years, ANCA is renowned for its cutting-edge technology, innovative solutions, and exceptional customer support. ANCA’s comprehensive range of products includes tool grinders, CNC grinding machines, software, and automation solutions, catering to diverse industries such as aerospace, automotive, medical, and general manufacturing.
Stephanie Chrystal from Sandvik Coromant USA takes first place in the ANCA Female Machinist of the Year award
The 2024 ANCA Tool of the Year Awards, now in its seventh year, celebrated excellence in the cutting tool industry at an awards ceremony during IMTS in Chicago. This year’s event, coinciding with ANCA’s 50th anniversary, highlighted the continued creative design and manufacturing prowess that continues to wow judges in ANCA’s prestigious awards.
Werkzeugschleiferei Krämer GmbH earned the top honor in the “Made on ANCA” category with their groundbreaking tool. Their innovative design makes exceptional use of iGrind operations and advanced profile software features, such as layers, pivot editor, and 3D hook compensation. This results in outstanding accuracy, with the tool closely aligning with its intended specifications and delivering exceptional profile precision. The contest has highlighted the ability for a smaller company to gain recognition on a global stage and experience a dream come true moment.
In the Virtual Tool Category, XGE impressed the judges with a creative and technically sophisticated entry inspired by the renowned attractions of the Garden Expo Park in Xiamen, China, including the Moonlight Ring and Xinglin Pavilion. Their design integrates iGrind software with profile and end-face operations, and is brought to life by importing 3D models into CIM3D software.
This year also saw Stephanie Chrystal from Sandvik Coromant USA honored with the Female Machinist of the Year award. Launched in 2023 to promote diversity and provide role models for women in the cutting tool industry, this award reflects ANCA’s commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment. Stephanie was recognized for her exceptional problem-solving, leadership in expanding and training her team, and her ability to deliver outstanding results under pressure.
Pat Boland, ANCA Co-Founder, remarked, “For 50 years, ANCA’s software has set industry standards, enabling Tool of the Year entrants to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Our technology not only meets the highest precision demands but also showcases the creativity and capability of our customers, highlighting truly innovative designs.”
Torsten Mende, Managing Director at Werkzeugschleiferei Krämer GmbH said, “This tool is used by one of our customers to create a profile in a gripper for molded parts. Previously, this contour was produced using a 3D milling process. The customer’s tolerance specification is +- 0.01mm. The program was created in ToolRoom RN32/33 and ground using RN34.1 on an FX7.”
“As a smaller company, it is a great honor to participate in this competition. We have been grinding tools on ANCA machines since 1999. The sophisticated software enables us to grind complex geometries and to monitor them during the process, giving our customers a competitive advantage. For this reason, we extend our heartfelt thanks to ANCA for the excellent symbiosis of software and machines.”
Chen Jianming, R&D Engineer at XGE expressed his gratitude for winning the Most Innovative Award, saying, “This award is a high recognition of our team’s innovative capabilities. Our design was inspired by the ‘Moonlight Ring’ and ‘Xinglin Pavilion’ of Xiamen Yuanboyuan, symbolizing the harmony of nature and humanity. The egret in the design, replaced by our company logo, represents both a tribute to our brand and a leap in tool innovation.”
“Competing with industry elites worldwide has been an honor. This recognition reflects XGE’s innovative strength in the global tool industry, and we will continue to deepen R&D efforts, driving progress alongside our global peers for a brighter future.”
ANCA Female Machinist Award winner Stephanie Chrystal said: “It is a privilege to be a part of Sandvik Coromant who is paving the way for women to be recognized for their contributions to the industry. I am honored to have been chosen out of all of the extraordinary women in this field as the Female Machinist of the year for ANCA. I hope to be an encouragement to women looking for guidance on their journey for meaningful careers. I am excited to see ANCA continue to honor women in this industry and inspire other companies with this award.”
The ANCA Tool of the Year Awards 2024 celebrate the passion, creativity, and expertise driving the cutting tool industry forward. ANCA remains dedicated to supporting innovation, excellence, and diversity, ensuring a bright future for precision tool manufacturing.
Made on ANCA
Winner: Werkzeugschleiferei Krämer GmbH
Their tool demonstrates the innovative use of iGrind operations, advanced profile software features, and achieves exceptional accuracy.
Second Place: ARCH Cutting Tools
Their “Master Mill Combo Tool” continues to lead in multifunction cutting tools with exceptional accuracy, utilizing iGrind software’s advanced profile operation features.
Third Place: Precision Tool Company
A versatile tool combining a drill, reamer, and chamfer, optimized using iGrind software for performance and functionality.
Virtual Tool Category
Winner: XGE
Their simulation, inspired by the Garden Expo Park attractions, creatively uses iGrind software and 3D modelling for a striking design.
Second Place: Zakłady Mechaniczne Kazimieruk
Their simulation of the Olympic flame represents the enduring spirit of the Olympic movement, created with extensive iGrind software use.
Third Place: SST Cutting Tools
Their “LINGAM” simulation symbolizes the Hindu God Shiva, showcasing creative use of iGrind software for profile, cross-section profile, and ripper form relief operations.
ANCA Female Machinist of the Year – 2024
Stephanie Chrystal – Sandvik Coromant, USA
ANCA Female Machinist of the Year Finalists
Roksana Grodowska – CNC Progresja Sp. z o.o., Poland
Jessica Sennott – Gorilla Mill, USA
For further information, please contact:
Amanda Bakun
Marketing & Communications Manager – Americas
248-497-1168
amanda.bakun@anca.com
ANCA is a market leading manufacturer of CNC grinding machines. It was founded in 1974 in Melbourne, Australia where the company still has its global headquarters. ANCA has offices in the UK, Germany, China, Thailand, India, Japan, Brazil, Korea and the USA as well as a comprehensive network of representatives and agents worldwide.
ANCA CNC grinders are used for manufacturing precision cutting tools and components across a diverse range of competitive industries including cutting tool manufacture, automotive, aerospace, electronics and medical.
ANCA’s legacy of innovation is shaping the future of technology for lower cost, higher quality cutting tool production
ANCA at IMTS not only celebrated five decades of innovation but 35 years of successful operations in the USA and exhibiting the first machine ever bought in the U.S., a refurbished TG4, was a nostalgic nod to ANCA’s technological journey. Against ANCA’s latest solutions, this was a striking visual display of the company’s journey – from early innovation to being a future-ready leader in the tool and cutter grinding industry.
The North American debut of the EPX-SF, ANCA’s advanced stream finishing machine, became the centerpiece of attention. The EPX-SF’s technology offers consistent micro-cutting-edge preparation, controllable nano-smooth surface finishing, and seamless automation and it sparked widespread interest. Its unmatched ability to increase tool life, precision, workpiece quality and cost-effectiveness redefined expectations for the future of tool finishing.
Producing the highest performance cutting tools for lower cost with ANCA technology
ANCA CNC Machines General Manager, Edmund Boland said: “Given the competitive world that we are living in and the global market that we are challenged with…it is important that we allow our customers to get the best value out of our machines. So, our focus on lowest cost tools is critical and we have a number of technologies for this, AIMS being one of them.”
The manufacturing industry is embracing smarter, more connected solutions and seeking solutions partners. Revealed to the market in the Americas for the first time was AIMS Connect which is the production control of the ANCA Integrated Manufacturing System (AIMS) and enables the integration of different machines, offering full control over all processes and workflows. AIMS Connect’s smart job management and production control solves common challenges to increase productivity, reduce errors, and tackle labor challenges while increasing machine utilization and reducing the cost per tool.
Along with ANCA’s emerging technologies for reducing set up times of machines, software solutions to analyze the production output of machines, and how to optimize this to bring down the overall cost of production – smarter ways to produce quality tools for lower cost are meeting the industry demands for data-driven decision making, cost reduction and efficiency. ANCA is also formulating solutions for reducing the air consumption of machines which not only has a significant impact on machine running costs but also contributes to more sustainable manufacturing processes.
ANCA’s latest range of ULTRA machines are engineered with nanometer feedback resolution to dramatically improve surface finish and accuracy of cutting tools. With software developments, such as the new features of ToolRoom RN35 enabling complex geometries, customers have the flexibility to design high performance, higher accuracy and, if needed, custom cutting tools with specific applications. High performance tools produced with ANCA ULTRA technology deliver batch consistency from tool number one to one thousand.
A celebration of industry
ANCA’s 50 years in the grinding industry is thanks to the partnerships and loyal customers that have accompanied its journey. The 50th anniversary milestone was celebrated with partners, customers, and industry at a gala dinner during IMTS.
IMTS also provided the stage for the announcement of the winners of the ANCA Tool of the Year and Female Machinist awards which are consistently supported by industry and partners. The 2024 winners Werkzeugschleiferei Krämer GmbH (Made on ANCA) and XGE (Virtual Tool) once again demonstrated the possibilities of creative design, precision and craftmanship with today’s technologies. Witnessing Krämer, a smaller company take out a competition at a global level was a dream come true for taking precision to the world stage.
Stephanie Chrystal from Sandvik Coromant USA was awarded the ANCA Female Machinist of the Year for her exceptional problem-solving, leadership in expanding and training her team, and her ability to deliver outstanding results under pressure.
Industry collaboration is pushing innovation further and offering unique solutions to customer challenges. ANCA’s new partnership with Tetralytix introduces sophisticated digital interface solutions that reduce tool design and development time with Toolyzer. This partnership empowers manufacturers with the most advanced and powerful software tools available.
For further information, please contact:
Amanda Bakun
Marketing & Communications Manager – Americas
248-497-1168
amanda.bakun@anca.com
ANCA is a market leading manufacturer of CNC grinding machines. It was founded in 1974 in Melbourne, Australia where the company still has its global headquarters. ANCA has offices in the UK, Germany, China, Thailand, India, Japan, Brazil, Korea and the USA as well as a comprehensive network of representatives and agents worldwide.
ANCA CNC grinders are used for manufacturing precision cutting tools and components across a diverse range of competitive industries including cutting tool manufacture, automotive, aerospace, electronics and medical.
Introducing sophisticated digital interface solutions that reduce development time and cost
ANCA, a market leader in CNC grinding machines who is this year celebrating 50 years of innovation, and Tetralytix, a developer of simulation software for superior metal cutting technology, are pleased to announce their strategic collaboration in the field of virtual design for cutting tools.
This partnership leverages the combined expertise of both companies to offer unique capabilities for the development of superior precision cutting tools and enhancing metal cutting technology.
The collaboration integrates ANCA’s expertise in virtual modelling of tool geometries and industry-revolutionizing CIM3D tool verification software with Tetralytix’s expertise in technological analysis through Toolyzer, a simulation tool for designing and optimizing cutting tools. An interface between CIM3D and Toolyzer will enable cutting tools to be developed faster and more cost-effectively, providing significant benefits to tool manufacturers.
“ANCA welcomes this partnership as it signals our commitment to empowering our customers with the most advanced and powerful software tools available. By working together, we’re ensuring that cutting tool manufacturers have everything they need to innovate, optimize, and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry,” said Martin U. Ripple CEO at ANCA.
Dr.-Ing. Arne Mücke, Managing Director, Tetralytix, added, “The partnership with ANCA is a significant step towards creating added value and competitive advantages for our customers. The cooperation will make the benefits of digital cutting tool development visible in an unprecedented way.”
“ANCA understands the constant challenges for tool designers for achieving longer tool life and the demands to cut newer materials. With this partnership, our customers can seamlessly design a tool and access cutting analyses even before the first test cut. When ANCA first introduced CIM3D, customers couldn’t believe the sophistication of the solution and this is now the next revolutionary step in reducing tool development time and cost,” said Santosh Plakkat, Product Manager, ANCA.
This strategic cooperation is a significant step forward for the development of cutting tools, offering considerable cost advantages for both standard and special tools. The reduction in time-consuming, manual work to prepare digital tool models for simulation also significantly shortens development times.
Untapping development potential to optimize tool design
Testing multiple tool prototypes is time-consuming and cost-intensive, ANCA and Tetralytix recognize that the time has come to leverage this potential with the help of a continuous interface from tool modelling to simulation.
The tool is designed using ANCA’s iGrind software and can then be used seamlessly in Toolyzer for analysis.
Within a brief time, performance conclusions can be drawn, and recommendations for improving the tool geometry can be derived. This enables users to determine whether a tool prototype meets the requirements even before it is produced for the first time.
About ANCA
ANCA is a market-leading manufacturer of CNC grinding machines. The company was founded in 1974 in Melbourne, Australia, where it still has its global headquarters. ANCA CNC grinding machines are used for the manufacture of precision cutting tools and components in a wide range of demanding industries including cutting tool manufacturers, power generation, woodworking, automotive, aerospace, electronics and medical.
About Tetralytix
Tetralytix is a leading provider of simulation solutions for the machining industry. Tetralytix develops practical software solutions based on in-depth knowledge of production engineering and computer science as well as practical experience in machining. With Toolyzer, users can optimize both cutting tools and entire machining processes quickly and easily. In addition to complicated multi-axis processes, special processes and procedures such as gear skiving and gear hobbing are also supported.
For further information, please contact:
Amanda Bakun
Marketing & Communications Manager – Americas
248-497-1168
amanda.bakun@anca.com
