Ultra-precision grinding of carbide plates with pyramid profiles for needle holder plates and wear parts in medical technology
Bach Hartmetall Schleiftechnik GmbH
Breitnau (Fahrenberg)New on Amplifa
About us – Innovation & Tradition
Bach Hartmetall Schleiftechnik GmbH in Breitnau in the Black Forest is a specialised family-owned company for the ultra-precision grinding of complex profiles in carbide. Core products are needle holder plates in customer-specific contours with pyramid profile, rasp plates for bone processing, and carbide wear parts for surgical instruments and gripper components in mechanical engineering. On modern 5-axis grinding machines, individual geometries including recesses and boreholes are manufactured with tightest tolerances in outer dimensions, pitch and thickness – also in smaller quantities. In 2024, the cobalt-free, nickel-bound material BTC12N was developed together with carbide manufacturers and the Fraunhofer Institute and is biologically tested according to ISO 10993. A fully paperless production control system, automation with a robotic cell and the use of AI models ensure efficiency and traceability. The company continues the tradition of the Fahrenberg smithy founded in 1851 and has been run by the third generation since 2022.
- Site
- Breitnau
- Processes
- Ultra-precision profile grinding of carbide (incl. pyramid profiles, gear teeth), Grinding of needle holder plates with pyramid profile (individual contours, recesses,, Manufacturing of rasp plates for bone processing (medical technology), Grinding of wear parts (surgical instruments, gripper components), Ultra-precision grinding of complex profiles (pyramid profiles, gear teeth), Manufacturing of needle holder plates in customer-specific contours (incl. sample plates), Rasp plates for bone processing, 5-axis grinding
- Materials
- BTC12N – biocompatible nickel-bound premium carbide, cobalt-free, Carbide, Nickel-bound carbide, cobalt-free, 5-axis grinding
- Certificates
- Biological tests according to ISO 10993 (material BTC12N, material-related, no, ISO 10993 (Biological tests material BTC12N)
- Founded
- 2000 (Bach
- Industries
- Medical technology, Mechanical engineering
- 01
Material development (BTC12N with carbide manufacturers & Fraunhofer Institute)
- 02
5-axis profile grinding (pyramid profiles, gear teeth)
- 03
Contour machining (recesses, boreholes)
- 04
Automated production (robotic cell, image processing, AI)
- 05
Digital production control & batch traceability
Materials & Processes
Nickel-bound carbide, cobalt-free
Biocompatible premium carbide, tested according to ISO 10993, suitable for temporarily invasive medical applications.
Carbide
Material for wear parts, needle holder plates and rasp plates with a highly wear-resistant surface.
5-axis grinding
Manufacturing of complex profiles such as pyramid profiles and gear teeth in tightest tolerances.
Locations
Breitnau
DEProduction and grinding centre (Fahrenberg smithy site)
- Lot size
- Single parts to larger quantities
- Materials
- Carbide, BTC12N
- 5-axis grinding centre (2020)
- Robotic cell (2014)
- Mechanically controlled grinding machine (1984)
- AI grinding centre (under conversion, coming 2026)
Components
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultra-precision profile grinding of carbide (incl. pyramid profiles, gear teeth)Machining | – | – | – | – | Carbide (BTC12N) |
| Grinding of needle holder plates with pyramid profile (individual contours, recesses,Machining | tightest tolerances in outer dimensions, pitch and thickness | – | – | smaller quantities – larger quantities | Carbide (BTC12N) |
| Manufacturing of rasp plates for bone processing (medical technology)Machining | – | – | – | – | Carbide |
| Grinding of wear parts (surgical instruments, gripper components)Machining | – | – | – | – | Carbide |
4 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5-axis grinding machine / 5-axis grinding centre | – | – | – | 2020 | Breitnau |
| Robotic cell (automation) | – | 1 | – | 2014 | Breitnau |
| Mechanically controlled grinding machine | – | 1 | – | 1984 | Breitnau |
| AI grinding centre (fully automated, under conversion, coming 2026) | – | – | – | – | Breitnau |
Additional services
Quality
Continuous paperless production control with real-time data, seamless batch and order traceability, and AI-supported automation ensure tight tolerances in outer dimensions, pitch and thickness.
| Evidence | Breitnau |
|---|---|
| ISO 10993 (Biological tests material BTC12N) |
History
- 1851
Franz Bach from the Rottweil area founds the Fahrenberg smithy in Breitnau
- 1950er
Transformation of the smithy: repair of agricultural machinery
- 1960
Specialisation in replacing, fitting and grinding knife blades in mower bars
- 1975
Heinrich Bach takes over the Fahrenberg smithy
- 1980
First ground carbide inserts
- 1984
Acquisition of a mechanically controlled grinding machine
- 1986
Specialisation in grinding technology for medical products
- 1990
Expansion of production of grinding technology for medical products
- 1996
Tobias Bach completes training as a precision mechanic and joins the company
- 2000
Tobias Bach takes over the grinding shop and founds Bach Hartmetall Schleiftechnik
- 2003
First automation with image processing
- 2014
Expansion of the machine park with a robotic cell
- 2020
Conversion measures and new modern 5-axis grinding centre
- 2022
Noah Bach joins – 3rd generation grinding technology, 6th generation of the smithy
- 2023
Full digitalisation of production control, first AI models in automation
- 2024
Development of the material BTC12N and a new process for needle holder plates with carbide manufacturers and the Fraunhofer Institute
- 2026
Planned: fully automated AI grinding centre (conversion in progress)