Expanding Horizons
His experiences as a toolmaker at the Italian corporation Olivetti had a profound impact on the life of Feintool founder Fritz Bösch. He already anticipated the demand for high-precision industrial fineblanked components back in the 1950s. With his intuition for new needs and future markets coupled with a pioneering spirit, the entrepreneur gradually built the family business into a global market leader. Fritz Bösch opened the world’s first fineblanking technology subsidiaries in Japan and the United States back in the 1970s.
Today, Feintool is a leader in fineblanking technology and the only global supplier that covers the entire fineblanking process – from component design to prototyping, engineering, tool design, and high-volume parts production. The focus is on sophisticated applications for the automotive industry. Thanks to its strong presence in Europe, North America, and Asia as well as its high standards of quality, Feintool was able to hold its own over the years, even in difficult periods. Today, Feintool continues to expand this strong market position with new technologies and growth in expanding markets such as China.
In 2012, Feintool extended its technology portfolio to include cold forming. Like fineblanking, cold forming processes are in particularly high demand for the manufacture of complex components for car engines and transmissions. The company’s additional expertise has further strengthened Feintool’s position as a preferred system supplier. Laser cutting and electro lamination stamping have been the third pillar of the Feintool Group’s product range since 2018. Today, Feintool’s presence on three continents makes it possible to manufacture products across national borders with identical processes and standards of quality.
In the very first year of its existence, the company built its first mechanical fineblanking press, which allowed the three forces to be precisely controlled. This innovation still makes the difference between conventional blanking and fineblanking to this very day.
The first successful prototype led to the subsequent move to Lyss, where Hügi & Bösch became Feintool.
This long-standing partnership continues to this day.
Founding of subsidiaries in England (Feintool UK Ltd.), France (Feintool Francs S.a.r.l.) and Japan (Feintool Japan Co. Ltd.).
The current Feintool System Parts Ettlingen production facility was founded under the name Promera.
Today, Feintool is represented in the US with a technology center in Cincinnati (OH) and production facilities in Cincinnati and Nashville (TN).
The 1000th Feintool fineblanking press is delivered to a new customer in Milwaukee (USA). Feintool has so far sold over 2,500 fineblanking presses worldwide.
A production facility opens in Cincinnati at the same location as the technology center.
The current Feintool System Parts Lyss production facility goes live as a test and demonstration press room in the technology center.
A technology center opens in Atsugi (JP) to deliver local service to the Asian markets.
Feintool Cincinnati remains the only training facility for tool and die makers recognized by the state of Ohio.
The facility in Lyss is the first certified Feintool facility. Today, all locations worldwide are certified in accordance with ISO/TS 16949:2009 and ISO 14001:2004.
Eleven years later, Promera Jena becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of Feintool and is now called Feintool System Parts Jena.
The Feintool representation in China has offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing and Shenzhen.
Feintool lists on the Swiss stock exchange.
This cutting-edge facility near Nashville means that Feintool fineblanking as well as forming are now both established in the North American market.
The current press production component center is acquired by Feintool and becomes Feintool Technologie Jona.
Feintool acquires various companies working in the automation and production of precision parts.
The new hydraulic presses in the HFAplus series are launched on the market. This update on the HFA series provides greater stability, higher output and a new control concept.
The Tokoname plant opens about 300 kilometers south of the production facility in Atsugi to provide even faster service for local customers.
Feintool gradually splits from non-core-competence companies. The company has since consistently focused on its extensive expertise in fineblanking and forming.
The new servomechanical Feintool fineblanking press is launched on the market. The XFTspeed series satisfies requirements for increasing automation, such as shorter cycle times and higher flexibility when changing products. The servo drive also enables better energy efficiency.
Artemis Beteiligungen III AG, owned by Michael Pieper, becomes the new majority shareholder.
The production facility in Atsugi (JP) expands and production commences at the facility in Taicang (CN). Feintool also continues to build its press presence in Asia by developing and constructing a press series tailored to the needs of the Asian market.
Feintool reinforces its forming expertise from 2012 to 2014. In 2012, Feintool acquires German forming specialist Herzing & Schroth with locations in Obertshausen (DE) and Ohrdruf (DE). The company also expands its forming expertise in the US with significant investments in the Nashville location.
The technology center now provides a complete local service in presses directly to the Chinese market.
Successful capital increase and share reallocation.
Production capacities in Europe are expanded through the acquisition of a fineblanking facility in Oelsnitz (DE). The Lyss location also benefits from investment in finishing processes.
At the new site rotationally symmetrical cold-formed precision components are produced. These are used in the automobile industry for the high-volume manufacture of lightweight components for efficient transmissions. With the takeover Feintool now offers forming products in all of the most important markets.
The plant in Most covers the entire process chain of fineblanking with focus on high-volume production of fineblanked parts and tool spare elements. Feintool thereby corresponds with requirements for customer-driven, global suppliers, who competitively produce ready-to-install parts as well as assemblies.
With its acquisition of the German company Stanz- und LaserTechnik Jessen GmbH, Feintool is expanding its strategic areas of business alongside fineblanking and forming by developing the market for electric vehicle components.
Fineblanking, redefined: Feintool’s latest «FB one» generation of presses combines a new development of the hydraulic direct drive, constructive design, an intuitive control platform, and digital networking.