Ulmer Werkzeugschleiftechnik GmbH & Co. KG manufactures tool grinding machines for a wide range of applications – from the automotive industry to medical technology. Ulmer has always combined its machine development with the aim of creating solutions that can be flexibly adapted to different customer requirements. Today, this also includes a high degree of automation to boost productivity and efficiency. Ulmer’s latest machine generation, the WZS 8 REINECKER, follows precisely this approach.
In order to focus more strongly on its own strengths during the development and manufacture of machines such as the WZS 8 REINECKER, Ulmer decided to carry out individual work steps in collaboration with an experienced partner. In LAPP, the specialist in tool grinding machines found a reliable expert for bespoke harnessing solutions, including suitable connectors. Rafael da Costa Carneiro, an electrical design engineer at Ulmer, is delighted: “The fact that LAPP provides us with expert support in this part of our work brings us enormous benefits. We save a lot of time, are more flexible during assembly, have been able to largely eliminate sources of error, and can quickly send a ready-assembled cable in the event of a service call.”
Manufacturer of high-precision machinery
Ulmer Werkzeugschleiftechnik GmbH & Co. KG, based in Ulm-Einsingen, is a long-established company with a high degree of vertical integration and exacting quality standards. Having emerged from the renowned engineering firm J.E. REINECKER Maschinenbau AG, a specialised team at Ulmer manufactures machines primarily for the production of rotationally symmetrical precision tools, which are used in sectors including the automotive industry, aviation and medical technology. The product range extends from cylindrical grinding machines to highly flexible machines for complex contours. Customised solutions and individual adaptations based on existing basic machine models are also part of the company’s core expertise, as is rapid support in the event of service requirements.
Ulmer’s latest development has been on the market since mid-2025: the WZS 8 REINECKER was developed specifically for small tools and re-sharpening processes. Electrical design engineer Da Costa Carneiro explains the background as follows: “There is greater demand than ever for smaller tools on the market, particularly in the medical and electrical engineering sectors. Furthermore, re-sharpening is becoming increasingly important, as the price of carbide is high. We are responding to this trend with the WZS 8 REINECKER.” With its high degree of flexibility and automation, the WZS 8 REINECKER meets the exact requirements of modern manufacturing environments.
Precision begins with connection technology
With a machine such as the WZS 8 REINECKER, process stability and precision also depend on the connection technology functioning reliably. For Ulmer, this means above all: robust motor and encoder cables, proper shielding, robust connectors and consistent quality – even in the confined spaces inside the machine. It is precisely the shared routing of power and encoder cables that makes the machine susceptible to faults. Da Costa Carneiro explains: “Improperly executed shielding can lead to malfunctions, disturbances in the control loop and, in the worst case, unplanned downtime. We absolutely must avoid this in the machines we supply worldwide.”
In consultation with the experts at LAPP Harnessing Solutions, it quickly became clear where potential areas for improvement lay. Together, the two companies analysed the existing challenges, which included issues relating to availability and the simplification of the number of variants. Building on this, LAPP Harnessing Solutions and Ulmer optimised the procurement processes as well as parts of the production process, tailoring them specifically to Ulmer’s individual requirements. Reducing the variety of servo cable assemblies lowered costs and stockholding requirements, whilst LAPP impressed with consistently high quality and reliability.
Manuel Arbeiter, Head of Purchasing and Materials Management, explains: “LAPP approached us at exactly the right time and won us over with expert advice and an understanding of our specific requirements. We have been sourcing our cables from LAPP for a long time, so purchasing complete cable assemblies from LAPP is a natural step for us – and one from which we are benefiting greatly.”
Tangible benefits in terms of lead times, safety and logistics
The benefits for Ulmer are evident in several areas, but above all in more efficient and stable production processes. Da Costa Carneiro reports: “In the past, one employee per machine would often spend a whole day cutting cables to length, stripping the sheathing, crimping the conductors and fitting connectors. Today, the fitter simply takes a complete cable assembly from the shelf and installs it. This significantly reduces lead times and makes the production schedule more reliable.”
Another advantage is technical reliability: every cable assembly, including shielding, contact resistance and connectors, is individually tested at LAPP’s test centres. This allows Ulmer to use the cables in the machine without having to test them individually again and largely rules out the cable assembly as a potential source of error. This also brings advantages in the event of servicing: as Ulmer keeps the pre-assembled cables in stock, replacements can be provided quickly when needed. Technicians simply swap out the cable, and the machine is up and running again in no time.
The collaboration with LAPP has also had a positive impact on logistics. Whereas previously many individual components – such as cables, connectors, ferrule sleeves and protective elements – had to be procured and picked, today fully assembled cables with a single item number are delivered to the site. This reduces the effort involved in ordering, simplifies stock management and minimises the risk of missing parts. At the same time, the standardisation of lengths and variants ensures that less material needs to be stocked, without compromising on flexibility.
A close partnership with prospects for the future
A partnership has developed between Ulmer and LAPP that makes good business sense and runs smoothly in day-to-day dealings. Manuel Arbeiter sums it up as follows: “For us, it is crucial that a supplier not only delivers reliably, but also understands how we work. With LAPP, the quality, reliability and support are all spot on. We have short lines of communication, clear points of contact and the feeling that our requirements are understood and taken seriously. That is why we will continue and intensify our collaboration.”
At LAPP, too, the partnership with Ulmer is seen as an example of successful collaboration on an equal footing. The customer is supported very closely by Joachim Hentschel, LAPP’s Account Manager for the Ulm region, and Anna Schüller. Anna Schüller, Business Development Manager in LAPP’s Harnessing Solutions division, comments: “We maintain close contact with our customers and have a very clear sense of what the market needs. In Ulmer, we see a partner that operates with a high level of expertise, pragmatism and a spirit of innovation. Companies like this are particularly motivating because, together, we can really make a difference technically.”
Both companies are looking to the future with optimism. Technical workshops, further optimisations and a continuous expansion of the collaboration are planned for the coming years. Step by step, but with a clear direction: greater efficiency, more standardisation and further joint solutions that will make Ulmer’s machines even more efficient and offer Ulmer’s customers tangible added value in their day-to-day operations.
