WinTool 助中小企业实现刀具管理数字化：HAIMER 对刀仪与 Toolbase 出库系统集成案例

Automation and digitalization are crucial for the long term success of medium-sized CNC contract manufacturers in Germany. One example of how this can work is Maschinenbau Strunk GmbH from Langenbach in the Westerwald region. The company has fully digitized its tool management using a HAIMER Microset Presetter, 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 begin where other contractors hold back. Accordingly, our production is equipped with state-of-the-art machines for 5-axis milling and mill-turning applications. Most of them are automated, allowing us to be very flexible and to run an unattended third shift production.”

The state-of-the-art machine park consists of over 30 CNC turning, milling, drilling, and grinding machines. With these, the DIN ISO 9001–certified company produces components made of aluminum, steel, titanium, and other difficult-to-machine materials—ranging from prototypes to large series. “The quality of our components plays an important role,” Patrick Panthel stresses. “We ensure this through our in-house quality inspection with high-quality 3D measuring machines. However, to achieve this quality, we depend on the performance of the machines as well as the tools.”

Moritz Panthel, the son of Patrick Panthel, is responsible for tool purchasing and management. He explains how Strunk has comprehensively restructured and digitized its tool management. “This has taken us a major step toward Industry 4.0,” he says. “We have full transparency over tool locations, save setup time, and significantly increase process reliability.”

Moritz Panthel, Tool Room Manager: “With the Digitization of our tool management, we have made significant progress on the path to Industry 4.0 and are benefiting in many ways from this project, which we implemented together with HAIMER.”

A New Structure for Tool Management

The process began around ten years ago with the introduction of the Toolbase tool dispensing system, which Strunk uses to manage tool inventory, check stock levels, and initiate reorders. In light of the company’s growth, a capacity expansion in the tool room became necessary in 2024. Moritz Panthel explains: “We now have around 2,200 tools in the tool magazines on the machines. In addition, there are approximately 3,000 items stored in the Toolbase vending 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 completely restructure our entire tool management system as part of the expansion of the dispensing system.“

When searching for a suitable partner, it quickly became clear to Moritz Panthel that he wanted to work with HAIMER. “On the one hand, we are familiar with the company and the quality of its products from the many tool holders already in use here. On the other hand, we definitely wanted a HAIMER Microset tool presetter, as we consider Haimer to be a leader in that technology.”

Another key decision factor was that HAIMER also offers the WinTool data and tool management software for the Microset presetting device UNO 20/40. “This system is exactly what we need,” says Moritz Panthel. “It allows us to simply create the digital twins of our tools, and clearly manage fixtures, machine programs, processes as well as master data, and much more.” The fact that HAIMER holds a 25 percent stake in WinTool AG was an additional plus for the tool manager: “That gives us confidence that HAIMER is also driving development in the software sector.” Finally, it was also an advantage that the existing Toolbase dispensing system is part of HAIMER’s product portfolio. “This means we get the complete digitalization package for the tool area from a single source,” Moritz Panthel says with satisfaction.

The tool data measured on the HAIMER Microset UNO automatic drive can be imported directly from WinTool into the CAD/CAM system, allowing programmers to work with actual measured data.

WinTool – The Central Element of the Production

WinTool has now become the hub of tool management at Strunk and a central software system in their production, primarily due to its strong connectivity. The software provides interfaces to the Microset Tool Presetter, the Toolbase system, as well as to CAD/CAM and ERP software, which Strunk implemented in mid-2025.

“We have completely restructured our production processes, starting with the tool room,” emphasizes Moritz Panthel. The process begins with entering the production order into the ERP system. If it relates to the “Milling” cost center, it is transferred to the WinTool software, which runs on the computers in the CAD/CAM office and is able to exchange data with the CAD/CAM system.

“When we open a digital tool in WinTool, we can see the actual projection lengths, interference contours, and more. This data can be imported directly into the CAD/CAM system, allowing us to program with the tools exactly as they will ultimately be set up on the machine. This prevents mix-ups and, ultimately, collisions.”

Finally, a digital data sheet is created in WinTool that contains all the tools required on the machine. This is forwarded to production together with the order.

For machine setups, the operator generates a net loading list out of WinTool that includes all tools to be newly loaded into the magazine. This is particularly helpful because WinTool can uniquely identify each physical complete tool assembly by its storage location. If the tools first need to be assembled, the operator receives the required data from WinTool, including the permissible tolerances.

Finally, the operator compares these values using the HAIMER Microset UNO Presetter and prints the exact dimensions on a label that accompanies the tool on its way to the machine. “The measured data is also fed into the WinTool database, where it can be accessed at any time,” says Moritz Panthel.

“We are currently still entering the tool data into the machine manually, as the transition process has not yet been fully completed,” explains manager of the tool room. He is fully aware that the Microset UNO automatic drive Presetter could write the data directly to the machine via a postprocessor. “But first we need to complete the other tasks. Then we will implement such measures as the finishing touch.”

Initially, all tools and toolholders must be digitized and clearly identified with a laser-engraved data matrix code. “We have already completed part of this,” says Moritz Panthel. “However, we have large inventories that will still take some time to process.”

Benjamin Dombrowe, the Technical Sales Representative at HAIMER responsible for Strunk, explains that HAIMER helps reduce the effort required for digitalization: “By now, we have prepared all parameters as well as STEP and DXF data for our toolholders in accordance with DIN 4000 and ISO 13399. The data is available for all customers to access and download on our website and on the Tooltracer data platform. In addition, since the beginning of 2025, all toolholders ship with a unique ID—in the form of a laser-engraved, unmistakable data matrix code that eliminates any possibility of mix-ups.”

Paperless Production: At Strunk, every production employee is equipped with a tablet that allows them, among other functions, to book all tools to storage locations, tool carts, or machines using the WinTool web app.

Digitization takes time but pays off

“Our restructuring process is not yet complete. However, we are already seeing very positive developments,” reports Moritz Panthel. “By investing in the HAIMER Microset UNO automatic drive 20/40 Presetter, we can not only measure our tools with precision. We can also read the target values for length and diameter directly from WinTool and compare them with the actual measured values. This ensures that the tools have been assembled correctly and that there is no risk of collisions on the machine.”

Another advantage of WinTool, it enables those responsible to manage assembled tools as digital twins and handle them as inventory items. At Strunk, this process is now completely paperless. Every production employee is equipped with a tablet that, in addition to the ERP system and item-specific document folders, also includes the WinTool web app. Using a scanning process with the laser-engraved data matrix code, employees can book tools to storage locations, tool carts, or machines. “This has the advantage that we know at any time where a tool is located and what its remaining service life is,” Moritz Panthel explains.

Do the investments and the effort required for digitalization pay off? At Strunk, those responsible are convinced they do. “We cannot calculate a precise break-even point, as too many factors are involved that cannot be quantified in monetary terms,” Moritz Panthel summarizes. “Process improvements such as faster setup times, reduced errors and machine downtime, and precise control over available tools ultimately save money and contribute to the return on investment. However, this cannot be expressed in exact figures or timeframes.”

Moritz Panthel (right), Tool Room Manager, feels confirmed in the partnership with HAIMER (represented by the responsible Technical Sales Representative Benjamin Dombrowe): “For a project of this scale, you need reliable partners like HAIMER. Whether for the Microset UNO automatic drive Presetter, the WinTool software, or the Toolbase dispensing system, we have always received fast and effective support.”