Precision tool manufacturer Exact has developed Natureline, a completely plastic-free tool product packaging. It consists of 100 percent renewable raw materials and is therefore fully recyclable.

“Avoiding is better than reducing” – this is the motto under which the precision tool manufacturer Exact GmbH & Co. KG launched the Natureline project. “With the development of sustainable product packaging, we want to be a trendsetter in the tool industry,” explains Managing Director Andreas Oemkes. “We must manage to get plastic, polystyrene, foams and co. out of our thinking, but above all out of our processes,” he emphasises.

With Natureline it is possible to establish a zero waste cycle in the entire industry, the company boss is convinced. “We have long been convinced that plastic-based product and logistics packaging is the best solution in terms of product protection and transport,” says Oemkes. Through cooperation with experts from the packaging industry, however, they came to the conclusion that environmentally friendly and intelligent packaging alternatives could also be used for precision tools that fulfilled all industrial requirements. Before plastic packaging became the standard in the tool industry, sheet steel cassettes were widely used.

At the time, many manufacturers wondered whether the end customer would accept the new plastic packaging at all. But they were successful: within a very short time, the sheet steel cassettes were replaced by the new plastic versions. Exact now expects such a change in its Natureline products. The material used consists entirely of renewable raw materials. The basis of the fibre materials is made from 100 percent waste paper and natural substances such as useful hemp or similar natural fibres. The material can be completely recycled, is resistant, shock-absorbent and grease- and water-repellent, Oemkes explains.

The new generation of packaging can be used without any problems in worldwide transport logistics. With the help of multifunctional solutions, the packaging volume can also be significantly reduced. In addition, the new concept eliminates possible additional legal costs such as CO2 taxes or increased levies for plastic packaging. The company says it can already offer the new packaging for the most important product groups. The plan is to successively expand the deployment. Exact has set itself the goal of wrapping almost 80 per cent of its approximately 8,000 products in an environmentally friendly way. These include, among others, taps, countersinks, sheet metal drills/step drills and other precision tools for metalworking in a wide range of sizes and designs. A catalogue for trade partners presenting the plastic-free packaging is in preparation.

Exact has added another tool group to its premium Advancedline product line. As of now, twist drills with step technology are also available under the brand. Due to their specific properties, the Exact twist drills are significantly faster and more precise than conventional HSS standard drills and can be used for all common materials such as steel, cast iron, aluminum, plastic and wood.

As with all precision tools in the premium Advancedline product line, optimization potential was also sought for the twist drills in order to improve the
to sustainably improve performance features for the user. The results of this development work can now be seen in several areas of the tool, including the newly developed drill tip. A new and special feature here is the 118° acute angle, which ensures an impressive, self-centering effect and minimal effort. For the daily work routine this means: No more center punching is necessary and precise spot drilling is possible without “running” on the materials to be processed. Even angled bores can now be implemented without any problems. Unlike many standard HSS drills, there is also no torn-out hole, but a precise and round shape with sharp boundaries in the material.

3-SURFACE SHAFT PREVENTS SLIPPING IN THE SHAFT
The 3-face shank of the new Advancedline twist drill with Step technology also significantly reduces the amount of force required, prevents spinning
in the drill chuck and ensures optimum power transmission. Use is thus possible quickly and precisely at any time. Due to its low power consumption, the new twist drill also proves to be very battery-friendly. To sustainably improve drilling results, the new Advancedline twist drills with Step technology feature so-called TIN-TIP multilayer coatings throughout. These provide greater surface hardness and improved thermal stability, which in turn results in significantly increased tool life and a reduction in built-up edges.
has. Numerous functional tests by Exact show that the coating enables up to 30 percent longer usage times. Customers can choose depending on
requirement to choose between the coating variants HSS TIN (universal use) and HSS TIALN (VA materials).

TOOL WITH CONVINCING CAPABILITIES
For Exact Managing Director Andreas Oemkes, the new Advancedline product group once again demonstrates the development expertise and innovative strength of the Remscheid-based company: “We have developed and launched a twist drill with truly convincing capabilities. The new step tip technology revolutionizes the entire drilling process and expands the range of applications for twist drills to a previously unknown level. No matter what materials a user uses our drills for, he always gets a perfect drilling result.”

ALREADY THREE PRODUCT GROUPS IN THE ADVANCEDLINE
The premium products of the Advancedline by Exact brand have been around since 2017. To date, it includes three groups of tools. In addition to the new twist drill segment, this also includes taper countersinks and step drills. The idea of Advancedline was and still is to use existing, successful
tool concepts and to further optimize them. The following criteria apply as the goal: more performance, higher productivity, less time required and reduced costs. The basis for this is again the expertise built up in-house over many years, the close coordination with customers, and the existing innovative manufacturing capabilities.

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Exact GmbH & Со. KG Präzisionswerkzeuge is committed to active environmental protection and nature conservation and presents “Naturline bу Exact”, a new, plastic-free packaging concept for the tool industry. In an interview, Managing Director Andreas Oemkes explains the idea and the background.

EZ: Mr. Oemkes, what role does environmental protection and nature conservation play for Exact?

Andreas Oemkes: We do a lot here at the Remscheid site to protect the environment. The relevant keyword here is “avoid.” For example, a highly efficient geothermal system is used to heat, cool and generate electricity throughout the company. Furthermore, with an photovoltaic system, we aim to be completely self-sufficient in the near future. Our new packaging project “Natureline by Exact” is also proof of our principle – “Avoidance is better than reduction”. We want to do away with plastic packaging and replace it with fiber composites made entirely from recycled paper, hemp or comparable natural fibers.

How did this idea come about?

Before today’s plastic packaging became the standard in the tool industry, sheet steel cassettes were commonplace. Before they were replaced, many people wondered whether the end consumer would accept this new type of packaging. What became of it is well known: Within a very short time, the sheet steel cassette was more or less obsolete. Similar changes are now on the horizon, now due to the issues of environmental protection and sustainability. Therefore, we have once again questioned what has been preserved and thought about alternative solutions.

 

Do you not have to accept any restrictions at all for this changeover?

No. Today, fiber offers more and in some cases better properties than plastic. It is tough, shock-absorbent, and grease and water repellent. With the help of multifunctional packaging, we are also succeeding in significantly reducing our packaging volume. Our customers benefit, because by using our packaging they avoid all statutory additional costs such as C02 taxes and increased levies for plastic packaging.

And how do your customers react?

We presented our new packaging concept to our customers in advance and asked them for their opinions and comments. The reactions were positive through and through. We even incorporated some of the suggestions directly into the development process.

Does that make you feel like a pioneer in the sector?

A little bit. In my opinion, we are the first German tool manufacturer to introduce plastic-free tool packaging made from 100 percent renewable raw materials that is fully recyclable, compostable and biodegradable. This can be a game changer for our industry ecologically and economically. The world is constantly changing and that’s how we must be as a company. Especially in the current times it is en vogue to present oneself as a company socially and environmentally correct and committed. But when it comes to creating facts, the wheat is quickly separated from the chaff.

Is the new packaging already in use or still in preparation?

We are on the home stretch. This means that we will be able to offer the first packaging from “Natureline by Exact” for the most important product groups at the beginning of 2022 and then successively expand the range.

Our goal is to be able to offer a sustainable and environmentally friendly packaging alternative for our entire product range in order to reduce the proportion of plastic and synthetic materials to a minimum.

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Exact GmbH & Co. KG has launched a new step drill with a quadruple spiral flute. According to the manufacturer, the latest precision tool of the “AdvancedLine®” series is characterized by more performance, higher productivity, significantly reduced time as well as lower costs.

reduced time as well as lower costs.

The highlight of the new step drill is the force distribution from two to four cutting edges. This further development not only ensures significantly improved drilling behavior, but also reduced lateral forces with extremely smooth running at the same time. According to the company, the innovative geometry sustainably increases the performance potential of the step drill and enables up to 30 percent faster drilling as well as up to 50 percent longer tool life due to significantly lower wear.

The additional pre-cutters and post-cutters are also advantageous, as they increase the cutting forces per cutting edge, increase tool life and reduce the so-called “chatter” of the drill.

The specially developed “turbo tip” offers greatly simplified centering and spot-drilling behavior. This prevents the drill from slipping on the material – “center punching” is no longer necessary. As an option, the manufacturer also offers its latest innovation with the patented “Rotastop®” shank, which, due to its shape, prevents the drill bit from spinning in the drill chuck and ensures optimum torque transmission.

The step drill is available in versions of 4-12 / 4-20 and 6-30 mm as individual items as well as sets. To exploit the full performance potential, it is recommended to combine it with the specially matched high-performance coatings, depending on the machining process. In addition to the innovative packaging design, the other features and components of the product line include additional product information and access via QR codes to application videos.

At the market launch, three-part step drill bit sets are being offered at preferential prices for specialist dealers as part of the “Test the best” sales promotion offered.

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The Remscheid-based Exact GmbH & Co. KG has launched a new, revolutionary step drill with a quadruple spiral flute. According to the manufacturer, the latest precision tool in the AdvancedLine series, which has been successful for years, is characterized by four striking features: more performance, higher productivity, significantly reduced time and lower costs.

If you talk to Andreas Oemkes about the new AdvancedLine by Exact step drill, you can clearly sense the pride in his words. “We spent a long time intensively analyzing, tinkering and thinking,” says the Exact Managing Director “about how to further improve our already maximum-quality step drill.” What has emerged at the end of this process,” says Oemkes, “is a precision tool with exceptional performance data, which in our opinion can be called a revolution of the entire drilling process.”

INNOVATIVE QUADRUPLE SPIRAL GROOVE

The technical highlight of the new step drill is the distribution of force from previously two to now four cutting edges. This further development not only ensures significantly improved drilling behavior, but also reduced lateral forces and extremely smooth running. According to the company, the innovative geometry sustainably increases the performance potential of the step drill and enables up to 30 percent faster drilling as well as up to 50 percent longer tool life due to significantly lower wear. Extremely beneficial for the user are also the additional pre- and post-cutters, which increase the cutting forces per cutting edge, increase tool life and reduce the so-called “chatter” of the drill. “Overall,” according to Exact’s information materials, “significantly higher cutting speeds are possible and considerably better drilling qualities are achieved in the areas of burr formation, roundness and distortion.“

NEW TURBO TIP

Another novelty and special feature of the AdvancedLine by Exact step drill is the specially developed “turbo tip”. It offers greatly simplified centering and spot-drilling behavior. This prevents the drill from slipping on the material – “center punching” is therefore no longer necessary. As an option, the Remscheid-based manufacturer also offers its latest innovation with the patented RotastopShaft, which, due to its shape, prevents the drill bit from spinning in the drill chuck and ensures optimum torque transmission. “The core of our work,” explains Managing Director Oemkes, “is to develop precision tools that guarantee a fast, safe and efficient cutting process while offering the user maximum comfort. With the AdvancedLine by Exact step drill, we have once again succeeded in achieving all of these goals.” The redesigned company homepage also features an up-to-date application video that clearly illustrates the advantages of the new step drill compared to conventional step drills. The new step drill is available in versions of 4-12 / 4-20 and 6-30 mm as individual items and as a set. To exploit the full performance potential of the drill, it is recommended to combine it with Exact’s specially matched high-performance coatings, depending on the machining process. Other features and components of the AdvancedLine product line include the innovative packaging design as well as additional product information such as enclosed speed tables and access via QR codes to informative application videos.

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