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The Alfred H. Schütte company was founded in 1880 as an import firm by Privy Councilor Alfred Heinrich Schütte. As early as 1915, we began manufacturing machine tools in addition to our trading activities. This marked the beginning of a success story in machine tool manufacturing, characterized by numerous innovative product developments and patents. The family-owned company is now in its fourth generation of owner-management; managing partner Carl Martin Welcker is the great-grandson of the company’s founder.
1880–1936
1880
Founding of the import firm Schuchardt & Schütte in Berlin.
Initially, the company’s activities focused on importing high-quality steel; later, it shifted its focus to importing high-quality machine tools.
1903
Schütte Spain is founded.
1905
Alfred Heinrich Schütte dissolves his business partnership and establishes a trading company in Cologne. From the new headquarters in Cologne, the company sells more than just outstanding machine tools. The guiding principle for the new company is providing consulting and solutions for customers.
1910
The company’s constantly expanding production program requires its own factory. The cornerstone for this new factory is laid on a suitable site on the Rhine meadows in Cologne-Poll.
1915
Construction of the first Schütte four-spindle automatic lathe. The V48 series from the 1920s stands for precision in the mass production of turned parts.
1919
Construction of the first tool and universal grinding machine. True to the company’s philosophy of serving all customers as a full-service provider, Schütte builds a tool grinding machine capable of manufacturing and resharpening cutting tools for multi-spindle automatic lathes.
1934
Schütte introduces the WU2, WU3, and WU4 series of universal tool grinding machines.
1936–1965
1936
Following the death of Alfred Heinrich Schütte, all shares in the company pass to his heirs, who continue to operate the business in its existing form. Alfred Hugo Schütte, the son of Alfred Heinrich Schütte, becomes the new managing director. To this day, the Schütte family holds 100% of the shares.
1937
Starting in 1937, four- and six-spindle automatic lathes of the “B” series are manufactured.
1940
In 1940, the first multi-spindle automatic lathe with independently controlled longitudinal slides is built—a principle that would later become known as the “SCHÜTTE DESIGN.” Due to the turbulent war years, this “D” series does not enter the market until after the war ends. The Schütte Block with its curved longitudinal slides—the foundation of the company’s continued success—is patented in 1940.
1945
The end of the war. The Schütte factory had been almost completely destroyed during World War II. After the factory was rebuilt, the “D” series of multi-spindle machines—developed before the war—became a best-selling model.
1953
Schütte introduces the spatial diagonal grinding head, which, via a gimbal suspension, enables the simple and rapid adjustment of helix and clearance angles without reference tables for the machining and sharpening of cylindrical cutters, and files a patent application for it.
1955
Schütte celebrates its 75th anniversary. Reconstruction is nearly complete, and most of the old business relationships have been reestablished.
1958
In 1958, the “E” series of multi-spindle machines is developed based on the same principle for workpieces with smaller diameters. Vertical cam shafts in the drive housing are a hallmark of the “E” series.
1965–1993
1965
Dr. Claus Welcker, the grandson of the company’s founder, takes over the management of Schütte-Werke.
1969
Three new types of tool grinding machines (WU32, WU50, and WU63) are launched on the market.
1970
Development of the cam-controlled multi-spindle automatic lathe F series—which is still considered the benchmark for cam-controlled multi-spindle automatic lathes today.
1978
Schütte offers a complete series of six- and eight-spindle bar and chuck automatic lathes in the “F” series.
1980
100th company anniversary
Introduction of the world’s first 4-axis path-controlled tool and universal grinding machine, the WU50CNC4.
1988
Introduction of the first 6-axis path-controlled tool and universal grinding machine, the WU500/750CNC6.
1993 – present
1993
The great-grandson of the company’s founder, Carl Martin Welcker, takes over as CEO of the company.
1993
Acquisition of a stake in Gosho, Japan.
Construction of the new East Production Hall for large-part machining.
1995
Schütte presents the SC32 PC CNC six-spindle automatic lathe—the first CNC-controlled multi-spindle machine based on the SCHÜTTE DESIGN—as well as the fastest Schütte six-spindle automatic lathe, the SG18, from the “G” series.
1996–1998
Founding of Schütte MSA USA.
Founding of Schütte France.
1999
The new 305 series of grinding machines is presented to the public at the EMO in Paris.
Patent granted for tool grinding machines based on the method of simultaneously changing the grinding wheel and coolant adapter.
2000–2003
Schütte Italia is founded.
Schütte China is founded.
2003
The first fully CNC-controlled six-spindle automatic lathe with a digital motor spindle is launched.
2005
125th anniversary of the company.
Patent application for concentricity and drum compensation.
2006
Introduction of the SCX series—a new multi-spindle lathe concept without a Schütte block, featuring nine machining stations.
2010
Introduction of the SIGSpro grinding software developed by Schütte.
2012
Introduction of the new 325linear grinding machine series.
2017
Introduction of the 335linear grinding machine series.
2018
Founding of Schütte Brazil.
Introduction of the ACX eight-spindle automatic lathe.
2019
Entry into the single-spindle automatic lathe market with the ECX for small and medium batch sizes.
2020
Introduction of the 105linear grinding machine series.
2021
Introduction of the 330linear grinding machine series.
