From small pioneer to global market leader: MAPAL WWS

1980-2025

When Dr Dieter Kress develops the strategy of making MAPAL a supplier of complete solutions through strategically clever company acquisitions in 1994, he comes across the small Pforzheim-based company WWS. Its founder Werner Stief is a visionary pioneer of PCD technology - and just as passionate an innovator as the MAPAL boss. The integration of WWS into the MAPAL Group as a competence centre for PCD tools becomes a success story for both partners.

THE PERFECT COMPLEMENT

As an authorised representative of a manufacturer of diamond tools, Werner Stief first comes into contact with a new type of material in the 1970s: Polycrystalline diamond (PCD), an industrially produced cutting material that combines the hardness of “real” diamond with improved machining options and significantly lower costs. Unlike his employer, he recognises the huge potential of the material - and sets up his own business in 1980. With just two other employees, he starts his company WWS (West-Werkzeug-Service Werner Stief GmbH, West stands for Werner Stief) in rented premises in Birkenfeld near Pforzheim.

Thanks to constant innovative optimisations, the young company achieves a technological breakthrough with the wire eroding technology for the production of PCD cutting edges, which is followed by a rapid growth. This is driven by the automotive industry, which increasingly uses aluminium components, here the PCD tools and cutting edges are ideal for high-speed machining of those components. In 1985, MAPAL becomes aware of the Pforzheim pioneers and purchases customised PCD sections from them, which are brazed into the indexable inserts of the single-edge reamers. The Pforzheim-based company soon generated a third of its turnover with MAPAL. In a very short time, the start-up WWS becomes the world market leader for PCD tools, which subsequently moves several times to ever larger and more modern premises.

MAPAL's acquisition of a 75 per cent majority shareholding in WWS in 1994 creates a win-win situation for both companies: MAPAL can expand its product portfolio with regard to solutions for complete manufacturing processes. And WWS benefits from MAPAL's growth and international sales network. Even though the name changes to MAPAL WWS in 1999, the company retains its operational independence and Werner Stief remains Technical Managing Director until his retirement in 2010.

Also with the new Managing Director Christian Molch, the PCD pioneer continues its rapid growth. Despite changing conditions such as the transformation of its most important sales market, the automotive industry, MAPAL WWS in Pforzheim now operates one of the world's largest and most modern engineering and production facilities for PCD tools with around 470 employees.

IN 2001, a new building will almost double the production area of MAPAL WWS in Pforzheim.

WERNER STIEF, the founder of WWS, will initially remain managing director of MAPAL WWS, even after the purchase by MAPAL.

THE MACHINE POOL AT MAPAL WWS is equipped with the most modern machines.

WWS, THE FIRST GERMAN SUBSIDIARY OF MAPAL, is already housed in modern, well-equipped premises in Pforzheim before its integration into the MAPAL Group.