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 A long history – from the year 1945 until this day. |
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| 1945 |
On the 1st September 1945, the ZOLLER company was founded by master mechanic Alfred Zoller, as Mechanische Werkstätte in Ludwigsburg.The conditions surrounding the start-up were by no means easy, but Alfred Zoller’s enterprising pioneer spirit and his enthusiasm for technology and engineering helped him to overcome any problems. Close customer contact and quality formed the basis for the work of the Mechanische Werkstatt from the very beginning. |
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| 1948 |
The first three years were already a great success, and the factory move in 1948 created the conditions necessary for the start of contract production of toolposts for lathes. The present-day ZOLLER Company developed out of this. |
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| 1958 |
Being a real Swabian, Alfred Zoller had the happy combination of a wealth of ideas, hard work and enterprising foresight. His company had been expanding continuously in the previous ten years, and while he was still producing simple toolposts under license, his design for tool presetting was already in existence. In 1958 they moved into a new office and residential building, and a spacious production hall. Here, in his own production facility, he realized his idea of profitable production for metal cutting manufacturing. The first tool presetting devices – produced to customers’ specifications – proved their usefulness, with significant numbers produced. |
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| 1968 |
When his son, Eberhard Zoller, joined the company in 1968, after studying engineering and spending the first years of his professional career with Heidelberger Druck, series production of tool presetting device began. One more foundation stone for the success of the company had been laid. Under the name of ALFRED ZOLLER Maschinen- und Vorrichtungsbau, the company displayed its expertise at the first Hanover Trade Fair. In the following years ZOLLER was represented at all the important national and international Trade Fairs, and exports took off. ZOLLER’s innovative technology was making its mark all over the world. |
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| 1969 |
Only one year later the first batch of over 30 machines had been sold, and the basis had been created for the developmental and technological expertise that was to become crucial to and a byword for the name of ZOLLER. |
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| 1970 |
Close customer contact and service had always been the first priority. A demonstrator vehicle was acquired, which could be fitted with various types of machine, so that the efficiency of tool presetting could be demonstrated on site. Today, on the other hand, interested parties think it is most useful to be able to get to know the whole range of products, with all their technical possibilities and applications, and to test them with their own tools in Freiberg/N. There is a very pleasant, spacious and convenient demonstration area available for that very purpose. |
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| 1976 |
The computer age began for ZOLLER presetting and measuring devices in 1976. In that year the first NC-controlled presetting device was produced. Even in those days it was possible with the aid of ZOLLER presetting and measuring devices to accommodate and preset complete lathe turret toolposts. On rotary tool turrets, the clamping unit could be turned to exactly the required clamping position. As a result, ZOLLER’s innovation was always in demand for intelligent, practical solutions, particularly for CNC-controlled models. |
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| 1982/83 |
With the move from Ludwigsburg to Freiberg/Neckar, the company’s present location, at the turn of the year 1982/83, and extensive new buildings for operations and administration, the necessary preconditions had been created for becoming the world’s number one.There were continuous technical improvements to the whole range of products. In 1983 the ZOLLER range already included horizontal and vertical designs of presetting devices, CNC or manually controlled, in one-off or series production.Interested parties and customers did not just see ZOLLER as a manufacturer of quality, but also as an innovative and creative partner at the forefront of new developments. |
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| 1988 |
Once more Eberhard Zoller showed forward thinking and a willingness to take a risk when he decided to rework the whole range of products. The aims were optimum ergonomics, modular construction, easily serviced designs and user-friendly devices. And the risk paid off! The newly created model series were promptly awarded the International Prize for Industrial Design, and the title of "The Best of the Best".In addition to which, ZOLLER AUSTRIA was founded in 1988. This company has conquered the Austrian market in under 10 years, to become the market leader. |
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| 1991 |
Together with ZOLLER FRANCE, founded in 1991, these two companies are number one in their respective countries in the field of presetting and measuring devices. |
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| 1992 |
ZOLLER achieved another coup with its "ZOLLER-AWV" image processing technology. A completely new technology, patented throughout Europe, gave rise to a completely revolutionary method of working. Fully automatic presetting of tools, independent of the operator, and micro-precise – only possible with ZOLLER’s unique AWV technology.As to convenient PC software for the presetting of tools, there remains nothing more to be desired by the interested party. We have a strong team of development engineers that satisfies all our customers’ requirements, optimizes operating procedures, and is always trying out new ideas and possibilities. |
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| 1993 |
One of the greatest challenges facing the company was the economic recession that was already casting a shadow in 1992. At the beginning of 1993 the management decided to cease its own, modern CNC production, and in future to contract out the production of components to highly qualified, sub-contracted producers in the Stuttgart area. At that time it was the right decision to make. By means of an efficient Kanban system, ZOLLER is now in a position to supply any presetting and measuring device from the current range of products within two weeks. |
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| 1994 |
Christoph Zoller, the grandson of the company’s founder and son of its present owner, joined the company on successful completion of his studies in mechanical engineering. He represents the third generation and has been with the company since 1994, seeing ZOLLER GMBH & CO KG move successfully into the new millennium. |
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| 1995 |
50 years of ZOLLER – a company anniversary that also reflects a piece of German industrial history, and which shows that there can be no lasting success without enterprising vision. And that goes for the workforce too, on whose idealism, hard work and commitment it all depends.Within just under three years, Mr Christoph Zoller has modernized and rationalized operations in an innovative manner. Today ZOLLER is certified according to DIN ISO 9001, and all the workstations in the office and on the factory floor work in connection with the network. The design department has been using a powerful HP-ME10, CAD system for over ten years for the design process. A total of eight qualified graduate engineers work in the software department, developing software for presetting and measuring devices. And an optimized Kanban system ensures that the right components are procured just in time, and that the work of the assembly department is to deadline, without any delays. |
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| 1997 |
In February 1997, Christoph Zoller founded ZOLLER INC. in the United States of America. After a rapid start-up and introductory phase, ZOLLER is now well on the way to becoming the number one in the USA too. Top quality, attentive customer service and innovative technology available right on site; these are also winning over interested parties on the other side of the pond. |
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| 1998 |
Progress and innovation in training opportunities for young people too. In line with its task of independent production, and the training opportunities associated with it, E. ZOLLER GmbH & Co. KG has been providing training places for students with A-levels to study at the Berufsakademie (vocational academy) in Stuttgart since 1998, in the subject areas of IT technology, mechanical electronics and economics. |
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| 2000 |
The idea of the company founder, Alfred Zoller, who died at the age of almost 80, in December 1986, is more relevant today than ever. ZOLLER presetting and measuring devices guarantee quality assurance, efficiency and economy in metal cutting production around the world. With a great sense of responsibility and enterprising foresight, sole proprietor and managing partner Eberhard Zoller will be leading his company, E. ZOLLER GMBH & CO KG, successfully into the next millennium.Over 50 years of ZOLLER – you can rely on it in future too! |
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| 2001 |
A milestone in inspection and measuring technology: ZOLLER “genius 3”, the fully enclosed CNC 5-axis universal measuring machine with innovative 3D-incident light technology. |
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| 2002 |
Product Highlight “redomatic”: automatic measurement, adjustment and shrinking of tools, all on one machine. |
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| 2003 |
For all grinding and sharpening companies as well as tool manufacturers, ZOLLER develop an interface to the »NUMROTOplus®«-Software as well as to Anca, Schütte, Schneeberger and Walter. A smooth data exchange between the ZOLLER presetter and measuring machine and the grinding machine is thus guaranteed. With the formation of ZOLLER Iberica, ZOLLER forces the development of the European market. |
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| 2004 |
The sons of Eberhard Zoller, Christoph and Alexander Zoller, join the management of the company. ZOLLER expand the product range: The universal measuring machine »genius 3 micro« is designed for micro tools. The newly developed measuring machine »sawCheck« provides the opportunity to measure hack saw blades in transmitted light and incident light. In order to measure crankshaft cutters with internal cutting edges, ZOLLER offers the measuring machine aralon«. Thanks to the formation of branch offices in China, India and Mexico, ZOLLER expand world-wide. |
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| 2005 |
The universal measuring machine »genius 3« is expanded by the new inspection and measuring process for the cutting edge preparation. Since 60 years ZOLLER ensures an epoch-making innovation for inspection and measuring technology. ZOLLER proudly look back on more than 20.000 presetter and measuring machines sold. But the success story continues. It remains exciting! |
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