Manufacturer of mining tools and carbide-tipped tool systems for rock drilling, special civil engineering and crushing technology
Bergbauwerkzeuge Schmalkalden GmbH & Co. KG
Schmalkalden · HemerNew on Amplifa
About BWS
Bergbauwerkzeuge Schmalkalden GmbH & Co. KG (BWS) develops and manufactures at its headquarters in Schmalkalden original Smalcalda mining tools as well as tool systems for rock drilling technology, special civil engineering and crushing technology. In addition to its own brand, the company also produces as a contract manufacturer for numerous other manufacturers and dealers. Production is characterized by high vertical integration, short throughput times and short distances between departments: this includes its own design department, its own tool and mould making, a forge for forged parts up to 10 kg, and a soldering shop with temperature-controlled medium-frequency induction soldering, including in-house coil manufacturing. The majority of the tools are fitted with carbide, which was first used as a cutting material for drilling tools at Heller in Schmalkalden as early as 1931. The products are used in potash mining in Thuringia, in coal mines in Mexico, in the reconstruction of the Reichstag building in Berlin, on the Palm Islands in Dubai, in geothermal drilling and in wood crushing for biofuels. Distribution is mostly via system partners such as machine manufacturers and dealers.
- Site
- Schmalkalden
- Processes
- Forging, Temperature-controlled medium-frequency induction soldering, Tipping of tools with carbide (hard metal), Tool and mould making, In-house design/development of tools, Manufacture of mining tools and tool systems for special civil engineering, rock drilling, Coil manufacturing (for induction soldering systems), Design (in-house design department)
- Materials
- Carbide (hard metal), Steel (forged parts), Carbide (Hard Metal), Steel, Induction soldering (medium frequency), Forging, Tool and mould making
- Founded
- 1991
- Employees
- 43
- Industries
- Mining, Rock drilling technology, Special civil engineering, Crushing technology, Geothermal energy, Wood crushing/Biofuels
- 01
Design/Development
- 02
Tool and mould making
- 03
Forging
- 04
Induction soldering/Carbide tipping
- 05
Assembly
- 06
Distribution via system partners
Materials & Processes
Carbide (Hard Metal)
Cutting material with which the majority of the tools are tipped; in use since 1931 in the Schmalkalden tool-making tradition.
Steel
Material for the forged parts weighing up to ten kilograms.
Induction soldering (medium frequency)
Temperature-controlled joining process with in-house expertise, including in-house coil manufacturing.
Forging
Forming process for forged parts with heating by two induction systems of 250 kW each.
Tool and mould making
In-house tool and mould making enables rapid response to customer requirements.
Locations
Schmalkalden
DEHeadquarters / Production
- Part weight / size
- Forged parts up to 10 kg
- Materials
- Carbide (hard metal), steel
- 2 induction systems of 250 kW each
- Forge
- Soldering shop (medium-frequency induction soldering)
- Tool and mould making
- Design department
Hemer
DELocation
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ForgingForming | – | – | 10 kg | – | Steel |
| Temperature-controlled medium-frequency induction solderingJoining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Tipping of tools with carbide (hard metal)Joining | – | – | – | – | Carbide (hard metal) |
| Tool and mould makingEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| In-house design/development of toolsEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacture of mining tools and tool systems for special civil engineering, rock drillingAssembly | – | – | – | – | Carbide (hard metal), Steel |
| Coil manufacturing (for induction soldering systems)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
1 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Induction system | – | 2 | – | – | Schmalkalden |
Additional services
History
- 1580
First mention of a drill smith master named Friedrich Heller – origin of the tool-making tradition in Schmalkalden
- 1849
Founding of the Heller drill factory
- 1888
Company named Gebrüder Heller (Heller Brothers)
- 1931
First use of carbide as a cutting material for drilling tools at Heller in Schmalkalden
- DDR
Nationalization of the company (VEB Werkzeugkombinat Schmalkalden)
- 1991
Founding of Bergbauwerkzeuge Schmalkalden GmbH & Co. KG on 1 August 1991 through privatization of the mining tools production division of VEB Werkzeugkombinat Schmalkalden
- 2023
43 employees; international projects including the Reichstag building reconstruction in Berlin and the Palm Islands in Dubai