History
Milestones in the development of business and product
Tradition, experience and innovation – these are the principles that have shaped the company of Alfred H. Schütte in its 125 year history.
- 1880 - 1936 Alfred Heinrich Schütte
1880 - The import company Schuchardt & Schütte is founded in Berlin.
Company activities concentrate initially on the import of quality steels and later move on to the import of high-quality machine tools.
1905 - Alfred Heinrich Schütte ends the business relationship with his partner and founds a trading company in Cologne. Not only superior machine tools are now marketed from the new head office in Cologne. The guiding concept for the new company is consultation and problem solutions for customers.
1910 - The continuously expanding in-house production program means that Schütte has to build its own plant. The foundation stone is laid for the new works on the meadows along the river Rhine at Köln-Poll.
1915 - The first Schütte four-spindle automatic is built. The V48 series of the 1920s stands for precision in the mass production of turned parts.
1919 - The first universal tool and cutter grinder is built. In accordance with the company philosophy, the objective was to act as a full-line provider that not only supplies the actual lathes but also the machines on which the cutting tools they use are made.
1934 - Schütte introduces the universal tool grinding machine series WU2, WU3 and WU4.
- 1936 - 1958 Alfred Hugo Schütte
1936 - After the death of Alfred Heinrich Schütte, all company shares are passed on to his heirs who continue the company business in its previous form. Alfred Hugo Schütte, the son of Alfred Heinrich Schütte, becomes the new managing director. The Schütte family holds 100% of the company share up to the present day.
From 1937 onwards, four- and six-spindle automatic lathes in the "B" series are produced.
In 1940, the first multi-spindle automatic with an independently controlled longitudinal slide is built – a principle that will later become known as the "SCHÜTTE DESIGN". Due to the turbulent war years, this "D" series not introduced to the market until the war has ended. The Schütte Block with the convex longitudinal slides – basis of the further company success – is patented in 1940.
1945 – the end of the war. The Schütte plant was almost completely destroyed in the 2nd World War. After rebuilding of the factory, the multi-spindle automatics in the "B" series developed before the war become the success model.
1953 - Schütte introduces the body diagonal grinding head, which uses a gimble for simple and fast setting of helix and clearance angles without tables for producing and sharpening cylindrical cutter and registers the patent.
In 1955, the Schütte plant celebrates its 75th anniversary. Rebuilding is almost complete and it was possible to restore most of the old trade relationships.
In 1958, the multi-spindle automatic "E" series is developed according to the same principle for workpieces with smaller diameters. Vertical camshafts in the drive housing characterise the "E" series.
Emil Braun becomes interim managing director because, after the death of Alfred Hugo Schütte, no family-internal managing director was available.
- 1965 - 1993 Dr. Claus Welcker
1965 - Dr. Claus Welcker, the grandson of the company founder, takes over management of the Schütte plants.
The multi-spindle automatics in the "F" series developed in 1970 are particularly successful. A transmission system free of deflexion provides powerful longitudinal slide drives. The sales figures for all frame sizes in the series were high. In many respects, the F series still represents the standard for cam-operated automatics today.
1969 - Schütte introduces the tool grinding machine series WU32, WU50, WU63.
1978 sees the arrival of a closed series of six- and eight-rod and chuck automatics in the new "F" series. For the first time, customers can select a single machine tuned to their tasks.
In 1980, the company celebrates it 100th year of business since company foundation.
In the same year, Schütte introduces the world's first 4-axis path-controlled tool and universal grinding machine WU50CNC4. The following years see further developments in the area of 2-axis and 3-axis path-controlled grinding machines. The design size WU50CNC is replaced by the sizes WU32CNC and WU63 CNC.
1988 - Schütte introduces the tool and universal grinding machine series WU500/750 CNC 4 with path control and the first 6-axis path-controlled tool and universal grinding machine WU500/750CNC6.
1990 - Schütte produces the first tool and universal grinding machine in the series WU400 as 4- and 5-axis machines with path control.
- 1993 - heute Carl Martin Welcker
1993 - The great-grandson of the company founder, Carl Martin Welcker, takes over management of the company.
1993 - Participation in Gosho
1993 - New construction of the production hall on the eastern side for large part machining
1995 - Schütte presents two innovations:
The CNC six-spindle automatic S 32 PC is the first CNC controlled multi-spindle automatic based on the SCHÜTTE DESIGN. Its development goes back to the year 1992. The main characteristics are the modularly upgradable compound slides, longitudinal and/or cross, compact longitudinal slide units. They represent the latest stage of development with regard to precision and make delicate precision-setting possible.
This is followed by the fastest Schütte six-spindle automatic, the SG 18, a completely new development with a maximum working spindle speed of n = 10,000 rpm. The identifying feature of the "G" series is the Hirth coupling. It further increases the precision of the spindle drum positioning in the housing. Greater accuracy and a special work spindle mounting permit faster work.
1996 - Founding of Schütte MSA
1998 - Schütte produces the world's first tool grinding machines with rotation axis with synchronous motor for high-precision parts and cylindrical grinding at speeds of up to 2,500 rpm.
1998 - Founding of Schütte TGA
1999 - The EMO in Paris sees the launch of the new grinding machine in the 305 series. This series is also characterised by a robust and compact design. The grinding spindle is inclined at 30 degrees which permits combination of a very small footprint with a large and clearly arranged machining area. The machine is equipped with five CNC axes, two rotation axes and three linear axes, and is also provided with ultra-modern digital control and drive technology. The method of simultaneous changing of grinding wheels and coolant adapters is patented.
2000 - Founding of Schütte Italia
2000 - Introduction of SAP throughout the company
2003 - Based on the PC machine, Schütte introduced the first fully CNC-controlled six-spindle automatics with digital motor spindles.
2003 - Founding of Schütte Chine
2005 - Schütte celebrates its 125th company anniversary.
In the same year, Schütte introduces the grinding machine 305micro. It is designed for the high-precision grinding of microtools. Drill bits or spherical cutters <1 mm diameter, for example, can be ground precisely on the 305micro.
The design features of the 305micro guarantee the best possible conditions for grinding to a high surface quality at the cutting edges and for achieving precise concentric runout between cutting edge and shank of the tool.
The 305micro also has backlash-free, heat-controlled direct drives not only in all rotation axes but also in the three linear axes. In comparison to the ball bearing spindle drives, this produces significantly higher dynamics and precision in the traverse movements of the axes. Users benefit from higher productivity, higher-precision components and improved surface quality - which also benefits the later 305 macro.
2005 - Patents for concentric runout and drum compensation
2006 - At the AMB-Stuttgart, Schütte introduces a completely new multi-spindle lathe concept. A CNC multi-spindle automatic without Schütte Block and with new machining stations - a multi-machining centre. The main features: six spindles for the front side and 3 spindles for second-side machining (a new type of part transfer to the rear side, a modular machine structure and machining heads for longitudinal and cross machining that are universally deployable in all positions, motor spindles for all spindle positions and slides, which are all designed as compound slides). Multiple patents - drum that cycles through in spite individual drives of spindles.
2008 - Schütte participates together with the trade publication "fertigung" in the "Grinder of the year 2008" competition. In the competition at the GrindTec trade show, five tool grinders determined in a preliminary round compete against each other and program and grind a cutting tool on the 305linear.
Spring 2010 - At GrindTec 2010, the new grinding software SIGSpro developed by Schütte is presented. SIGSpro means that the programming and manufacturing of complicated tool contours – a very demanding task that requires a lot of know-how – has become faster, simpler and safer for the operator. Intelligent Assistants help the operator enter the tool and technology data.
There also new features among the "hidden" elements of the machine: Schütte is now using the latest SIEMENS process and control technology in all grinding machines. SIEMENS Sinumerik 840 sl (Solution Line) is now used.
Autumn 2010 - A further development of the SCX is presented to the public at the AMB for the first time. It meets the requirements of the market for different design forms of the machine – bar, collet or chuck. Adaptable material infeed and workpiece discharge variants are incorporated in the modular concept of the machine and presented for the first time. This expansion concept makes allowance for the characteristic properties of the raw material (e.g. bars, bar sections, forged or cast blanks), workpiece weight, size and material ejection (random, directed or damage-free).
Spring 2012 - The successful 305 series is extended. At GrindTec 2012, Schütte exhibited the first grinding machine of the new 325 series. The new 325linear machine once again increases the performance of the 305 series. The more rigid machine structure permits even deeper grooves, guarantees the best possible, vibration-free surfaces and reduces the cycle times through higher sequence and track speeds. Variable support and tailstock systems can be set up on the two optional workpiece guide slides that move along with the equipment to maintain the centrical position of filigree and also long, heavy workpieces and to provide rigid support for the process forces at the machining point. The slides are program-controlled and either move along with the workpiece or are clamped stationary at the machining point.
2012 - Industrial management assistant trainee honoured at ceremony for the best apprentices
2015 - Industrial mechanic trainee honoured at ceremony for best apprentices
2016 - Mechatronics technician and cutting machine mechanic trainees honoured at ceremony for best apprentices