WIGO manufactures tools according to customer requirements with VOLLMER 2025-04-15

WIGO-Werkzeugdienst Wetter GmbH is based in Löhne, a town in western Germany, and develops machining tools for the metalworking and plastics processing industry. In 2024, the company commissioned the VGrind 360S grinding machine with an HC4 chain magazine from sharpening specialist VOLLMER primarily in order to manufacture special tools according to customer requirements. Ever since it was founded, its sister company MAWE-Wetter GmbH has been using machine manufacturer VOLLMER’s innovative products. MAWE specialises in machining tools for machining wood, plastic and non-ferrous metals. These are applications where PCD tools are primarily used. The close cooperation with VOLLMER, which has grown over the years, has established a trusting relationship that has proven to be extremely advantageous to both companies in decision-making.

The town of Löhne in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia has been known as the “kitchen capital of the world” since 2005 because the municipality of 40,000 residents is home to four large kitchen manufacturers. Moreover, the entire eastern region of Ostwestfalen-Lippe is considered to be the centre and heart of the furniture industry – employing almost a third of people working in this sector in Germany.

WIGO can look back on over 50 years of company history

It’s therefore no surprise that WIGO-Werkzeugdienst Wetter GmbH, which is based in the same region, supplies around 30 per cent of its tools to customers from the furniture industry. WIGO’s other machining tools are purchased by customers in the metalworking and plastic processing industries across Europe. With its range comprising standard and special carbide tools, the company has an annual turnover of around EUR 3.5 million. As part of this, tools such as torus cutters, full radius cutters, and profile and multi-stage tools are not only manufactured, but also resharpened, measured and coated. For example, the range includes diamond-
coated milling cutters for machining graphite, carbide and ceramic green parts, as well as screw taps and thread milling cutters.

“Rüdiger Wetter, the father of our current Managing Director Stefani Wetter, founded the company as a tool-grinding shop over 50 years ago. We now supply our customers all around Europe with precision and machining tools for any task,” says Guido Rähmer, Operations and Sales Manager at WIGO. “At the core of our success are around 30 qualified employees and modern machinery for primarily manufacturing customer-specific special tools or resharpening tools.”

VOLLMER machines have been performing impressively at the sister company for decades

Last year, WIGO opted for a VOLLMER grinding machine in order to advance the manufacturing of its special tools. Since it was founded, sister company MAWE has been using machines from the Biberach-based sharpening specialist and possesses, among other machines, a CHD 270 with ND handling system for automated grinding of carbide-tipped circular saws. The business uses its VOLLMER erosion machines to sharpen PCD-tipped (polycrystalline diamond) circular saws and tools. WIGO and MAWE’s list of customers includes, among other names, Germany’s largest kitchen manufacturer, international furniture makers and international machine manufacturers. It also extends to companies in structural and civil engineering, the composites industry and local tradespeople, such as locksmiths, carpenters and roofers.

“Not only MAWE’s positive experiences, but also VOLLMER’s company history of over 100 years and its technological leadership convinced us that we can optimise our production processes with a VOLLMER machine to further increase our tools’ reliability,” says Stefani Wetter, Managing Director of WIGO. “Specifically, we chose the VGrind 360S grinding machine that impressed us because of its compact size, stability and functionality.”

The VOLLMER VGrind 360S fits the WIGO company philosophy

In addition to machining drilling and milling tools, the VOLLMER VGrind 360S meets all of WIGO’s requirements for efficiently and precisely machining its special tools – irrespective of whether high-speed steel, solid carbide or ceramic is being used as the cutting material. Two grinding spindles situated one above the other with the grinding wheel set positioned at the C axis pivot point enable multi-layer machining,
which ensures short distances between the spindles and maximum precision. Thanks to the different spindle variants of the VGrind 360S, WIGO can custom design the optimal spindle combination and does not have to make any compromises. A plate heat exchanger cools the spindles and motors and ensures maximum thermal stability – without using additional power or emitting waste heat. In combination with the HC4 chain magazine, WIGO can operate the machine unmanned and around the clock.

“We’re increasingly using the VGrind 360S to manufacture special tools especially to assist our customers with achieving the highest quality in small batch sizes,” adds Stefani Wetter. “As a result, the VOLLMER machine is an important piece of the puzzle for implementing our company philosophy. We provide support for our tools over their entire service life and offer all of the necessary services from a single source – from manufacturing to maintenance, repairs and recycling.“

The combination of manufacturing and services not only extends the service life of WIGO tools, but also ensures greater sustainability because necessary raw materials and other materials are conserved, without customers incurring a loss in quality in their tools. Moreover, it is not insignificant to WIGO that VOLLMER can be quickly reached thanks to the direct contact partners in Sales and Service. The sharpening specialist can also ensure safe operation of the VGrind 360S with its high level of expertise. This means that machine downtimes and delays in production processes can be minimised.

“The fact that WIGO has opted for our technology due to the technical advantages of the VGrind 360S and the many positive years of experience of its sister company MAWE confirms to us how critical it is to have a cooperative relationship and personal contact with our customers,” says Manuel Kruse, Sales Manager for Germany, Austria and Switzerland at the VOLLMER Group. “Even though we’re profitably using the opportunities and benefits of digitalisation to quickly and efficiently support our customers, the key to a trusting and mutually beneficial cooperation for both parties is being on-site for the customer. That’s why we’re represented in 18 countries around the world through subsidiaries and representatives.”