news & facts 85 years of
news & facts 85 years of innovation and pioneering spirit Horst Lach celebrates milestone birthday Horst Lach, an icon of the diamond tool industry, celebrates his 85 th birthday. A life full of groundbreaking innovations and tireless dedication, he has significantly shaped the industry and made LACH DIAMANT a leading global provider of diamond and CBN tools. A life for diamond tools Horst Lach, born on April 3, 1940, joined the company founded by his father in 1960 and significantly Horst Lach shaped its future with innovative ideas. Under the watchful eye of his father, Jakob Lach, he developed the company further and initiated the transformation from a diamond grinding shop to a pioneer in the diamond tool industry. With his visionary ideas and an unfailing sense of innovation, Horst Lach set new standards and left a lasting impact on the industry. Milestones and innovations From developing the first CBN grinding wheels to introducing polycrystalline diamond in the tool industry – Horst Lach has always driven progress. Particularly noteworthy is his groundbreaking discovery of processing polycrystalline diamond using spark erosion, which laid the foundation for today’s mass production in the wood, furniture and kitchen industries. Over 100 years later Horst Lach has developed the company into a successful tool manufacturer: LACH DIAMANT produces high-precision diamond and CBN tools worldwide and collaborates with customers from the automotive, aerospace, wind power, electronics, furniture industries and many others to develop suitable tool concepts. The company now employs over 150 people at its locations in Hanau, Lichtenau near Chemnitz, and Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA A look into the future Even at 85 Horst Lach’s spirit of innovation remains unbroken. Supported by an experienced team and his family, especially his daughters Iris, Denise and Annabelle, and hand in hand with his son Robert Lach, he continues to lead the company into a promising future. LACH DIAMANT remains a key player in developing new tool concepts for the wind power, aircraft, automotive and many other industries. Horst Lach is a Hanau native with a love for his hometown and is involved in many cultural and sport events of the region. As a big fan of the football club “Eintracht Frankfurt” he never misses a game at the stadium and passionately cheers for “his” team. Together with his wife Margot he proudly looks at his descendants – now his five children, nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. On Horst Lach’s 85 th birthday we congratulate an extraordinary entrepreneur who has shaped an entire industry with pioneering spirit, foresight, unwavering innovative power and bold decisions. Congratulations! further information: www.lach-diamond.com ECTA CONFERENCE 2025 In the ECTA CONFERENCE 2025 over 100 operators took part, the annual conference of the European Cutting Tools Association – the association representing European manufacturers of processing tools for industrial use – which returned to Italy after seven years and was held in the city of Turin March 20 – 22. The initiative, organized by UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, the Italian machine tools, robots and automation systems manufacturers’ association, in cooperation with ECTA, represented a unique meeting opportunity to discuss and exchange views on the technical and economic developments in the sector. The event brought together the main players in the metalworking process, including manufacturers of cutting tools, inserts, tool materials, tool grinding machines, machine tool components and representa - tives from the academic and research world. Austria, Australia, Belgium, South Korea, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, Spain, United States and Switzerland were the countries represented by the attendees. “We are very pleased”, stated Federico Costa, president of ECTA, “with the incredible attendance at the ECTA CONFERENCE 2025. The high turnout of operators at the event confirms the importance of this appointment and the need for operators to meet and discuss the issues that are crucial for our industry, today and in the near future.” The next ECTA CONFERENCE is scheduled May 7 – 9, 2026 and will be held in Austria, in the city of Graz. further information: www.ucimu.it 26 no. 2, May 2025
fairs news & facts Six key trends leading the global machine tool industry The Taipei International Machine Tool Show (TIMTOS 2025), co-organized by TAITRA and TAMI, concluded successfully, marking another milestone. The sixday event took place at Nangang Exhibition Center Halls 1 & 2 and Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall 1. TIMTOS welcomed international visitors from 90 countries. The top five buyer countries were India, Japan, China, South Korea and Malaysia, with delegations from Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, India, Brazil and Mexico attending for procurement. TIMTOS 2025 showcased six major industry trends: precision machine tools, key components, full-scale automation and smart manufacturing, digital twin-driven integration, additive manufacturing and expanded cross-industry applications. Innovations from Taiwan’s machinery sector were displayed across aerospace, automotive, medical and consumer industries, reinforcing Taiwan’s leadership in precision manufacturing and intelligent automation. AI & robotics take center stage This year’s theme “AI & robotics” highlighted essential components like harmonic reducers and joint modules for humanoid robots. Leading exhibitors HIWIN, CPC and Main Drive introduced innovative solutions. HIWIN expanded into robot-related components, CPC developed joint modules, and Main Drive launched a production line with an annual capacity of 100,000 harmonic reducers. Taiwanese companies are now positioned as key players in the humanoid robot supply chain, with applications in healthcare, hospita l ity and service industries. Global industry leaders praise TIMTOS 2025 Industry leaders, including Fair Friend Group (FFG), Tongtai, Quaser, Kao Ming, YCM and SOCO, along with global International buyers at the on-site procurement meetings show strong interest in the products International buyers attentively listening to exhibitors’ product presentations controller manufacturers Siemens, Heidenhain, FANUC and Mitsubishi, commended TIMTOS 2025’s success. Heidenhain and Mitsubishi Taiwan showcased digital twin technology, improving machining efficiency, safety and cost-effectiveness while aligning with smart manufacturing and sustainability goals. Despite the digital era, in-person interactions remain crucial. FFG reported over 100 orders spanning automotive, aerospace, semiconductors, rail transport, and energy. Quaser secured NT $ 1 billion (US $ 30 million) in orders for hydrogen energy and medical devices, while Tongtai entered the semiconductor market with ultrasonic machining and additive manufacturing. These advancements reinforce Taiwan’s role as a key supplier for aerospace, semiconductors, EVs, medical and green energy industries. Exciting events and future outlook The fair featured engaging forums, including the TIMTOS Keynote, where THK chairman & CEO Akihiro Teramachi emphasized AI-driven automation and talent development. Techman Robot’s CEO, Haw Chen, introduced Taiwan’s only AI-driven collaborative robot, demonstrating AI’s transformative potential in smart manufacturing. For the first time, the Taiwan Excellence Pavilion and Taiwan Patent Go Pavilion debuted, showcasing Taiwan’s innovation in smart machinery and cross-industry applications. These pavilions attracted significant interest from international buyers, further enhancing Taiwan’s global reputation. TIMTOS will return in March 2027. further information: www.taitra.org.tw no. 2, May 2025 27
