Insert grinding and laser machines as well as standard parts, guiding elements and precision contract manufacturing from Bellach (CH).
Agathon AG, Maschinenfabrik
Bellach (CH) · Leonberg (DE) · Bethel, CT (US) · Shanghai (CN)New on Amplifa
About Agathon
Agathon AG was founded in 1918 in Bellach/Solothurn and is a Swiss mechanical engineering company with two business divisions. The first comprises high-tech machines for the production of indexable inserts, including the ultrashort-pulse laser machine Nova and the 400 series of precision grinding centers for cutting and grinding carbide, CBN and PCD tools. The second division comprises the production and distribution of standard parts and guiding elements such as guide pillars, guide bushings, ball cage assemblies and rolling elements for machine, tool and mold making. The portfolio is complemented by Precision-Parts precision contract manufacturing in small to medium lot sizes as well as the Care360 service program with maintenance, remote maintenance, machine overhaul, training and a grinding laboratory. Agathon manufactures, among other things, from rolling bearing steel 100Cr6 (1.3505), case-hardening steel 16MnCr5, martensitic stainless steels, aluminum, brass, plastics such as POM and PEEK, and ceramics. Customers come from industries such as tool and mold making, mechanical and plant engineering, aerospace, medical, photonics, semiconductors, optics and the watch industry. In addition to its headquarters in Bellach, Agathon maintains subsidiaries in Germany (Leonberg), the USA (Bethel, CT) and China (Shanghai) as well as a worldwide sales and service network.
- Site
- Bellach
- Processes
- Laser machining of cutting edges, chip breakers and chip pockets on indexable inserts, Precision grinding of indexable inserts, Manufacture of standard parts and guiding elements (guide pillars, guide bushings, ball cage, Precision contract manufacturing (Precision-Parts / precision manufacturing), Electrolytic tool machining (125-SEV, first electrolytic tool machining machine, Grinding of helical flutes on carbide and high-speed steel tools, Fine grinding of carbide tools (175 series), Wire EDM of holes
- Materials
- 100Cr6, 16MnCr5, X90CrMoV18, X105CrMo17, X2CrNi18-9, AlCuMgPb, CuZn39Pb3, POM
- Certificates
- ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, OHSAS 18001:2007, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001 / ISO 45001
- Founded
- 1918
- Industries
- Tool and mold making, Mechanical and plant engineering, Stamping and injection mold making, Aerospace, Medical, Photonics
- 01
Design and consulting for guiding and positioning solutions
- 02
Heat treatment (hardening of steels)
- 03
Precision grinding (cylindrical, surface, jig, fine grinding)
- 04
Ultrashort-pulse laser machining of cutting edges
- 05
Wire EDM of holes
- 06
Measurement and pairing of components
- 07
Assembly
- 08
Worldwide service (Care360)
Locations
Bellach
CHHeadquarters, machine factory, production and sales
- Part weight / size
- Guide diameters 3–150 mm, lengths up to 1000 mm
- Lot size
- Small to medium lot sizes (Precision-Parts)
- Materials
- 100Cr6, 16MnCr5, X90CrMoV18, X105CrMo17, X2CrNi18-9, AlCuMgPb, CuZn39Pb3, POM, PEEK, ceramics, carbide, CBN, PCD
- Ultrashort-pulse laser machine Nova
- Laser Neo laser machining center
- Leo Peri grinding machine
- Evo Combi
- Evo Penta
- Evo Quinto
- 400 series insert grinding machines
- DOM
Leonberg
DESales and service, subsidiary Agathon Deutschland GmbH
Bethel, CT
USSubsidiary Agathon Machine Tools Inc.
Shanghai
CNSubsidiary Agathon Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laser machining of cutting edges, chip breakers and chip pockets on indexable insertsSurface | Micrometer precision | – | – | – | Carbide (HM), CBN, PCD |
| Precision grinding of indexable insertsMachining | – | – | – | – | Carbide, High-speed steel, CBN, Ceramics |
| Manufacture of standard parts and guiding elements (guide pillars, guide bushings, ball cageJoining | Positioning accuracy <1 µm; sub-µm repeatability · Ra 0.15 (centering pillar superfinish) | 1000 mm (pillar lengths) × Guide diameters 3–150 mm | – | – | 1.3505 (100Cr6), 1.7131 (16MnCr5), 1.4112 (X90CrMoV18), 1.4125 (X105CrMo17), 1.4307 (X2CrNi18-9), Aluminum 3.1645 (AlCuMgPb), Brass 2.0401 (CuZn39Pb3), POM, PEEK, Ceramics |
| Precision contract manufacturing (Precision-Parts / precision manufacturing)Machining | – | – | – | small lot sizes – medium lot sizes | – |
| Electrolytic tool machining (125-SEV, first electrolytic tool machining machineSurface | – | – | – | – | Carbide |
| Grinding of helical flutes on carbide and high-speed steel toolsMachining | – | – | – | – | Carbide, High-speed steel |
| Fine grinding of carbide tools (175 series)Machining | – | Shank cross-section 40x40 mm × 40 mm × 40 mm | – | – | Carbide, High-speed steel |
| Wire EDM of holesMachining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Jig grinding (jig-ground pockets, counter-rolling surfaces)Machining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Centreless (spindleless) cylindrical grinding machine production (150 SL)Machining | – | – | – | – | Steel |
13 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultrashort-pulse laser machine for indexable inserts | Agathon Nova (Laser Nova) | – | Space for two pallets | – | Bellach, Switzerland |
| Laser machining center for indexable inserts | Agathon Laser Neo | – | – | – | Bellach, Switzerland |
| Grinding machine | Agathon Leo Peri | – | – | – | Bellach, Switzerland |
| Machine (product line) | Agathon DOM | – | – | – | Bellach, Switzerland |
| Grinding machine | Agathon Evo Combi | – | – | – | Bellach, Switzerland |
| Grinding machine | Agathon Evo Penta | – | – | – | Bellach, Switzerland |
| Grinding machine | Agathon Evo Quinto | – | – | – | Bellach, Switzerland |
| Insert grinding machines (400 series) | Agathon 400series / 400 series | – | – | – | Bellach, Switzerland |
| Tool grinding machine | Agathon Minor | – | – | – | Bellach, Switzerland (historical, 1930s) |
| Carbide fine grinding machine | Agathon 175-A / 175-AR / 175-CBN / 175-DIA | – | – | ab 1953 | Bellach, Switzerland (historical) |
| Electrolytic tool machining machine | Agathon 125-SEV | – | – | – | Bellach, Switzerland (historical) |
| Optical precision grinding machine | Agathon Optiset 2 (DIXI) | – | – | 1976 | Bellach, Switzerland (historical) |
| Spindleless cylindrical grinding machine | Agathon 150 SL | – | – | 1968 | Bellach, Switzerland (historical) |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality
Agathon is SQS-certified according to ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and OHSAS 18001:2007. Manufacturing includes individual measurement and pairing of pillars, bushings and cages to maintain micrometer tolerances, complemented by an in-house grinding laboratory.
| Evidence | Bellach |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001 | |
| ISO 14001 | |
| OHSAS 18001 / ISO 45001 |
History
- 1918
Foundation of Agathon AG in Bellach/Solothurn, Switzerland.
- 1920
Patent for the revolutionary clamping system granted on May 1 by the Patent Office Bern; first tool grinding machines.
- 1925
Start of standard parts production.
- 1930er
The Minor tool grinding machine becomes a bestseller.
- 1953
Production launch of the 175 series carbide fine grinding machines.
- 1968
Entry into centreless cylindrical grinding with the 150 SL.
- 1970
Helical flute grinding attachment as an accessory; 125-SEV as Europe's first electrolytic tool machining machine.
- 1976
Optiset 2, optical precision grinding machine.
- 1987
Program expansion with 3-axis CNC control.
- 2020
100 years of Agathon; Agathon Virtual GuidingShow.