Develops and manufactures clamping technology for tapping and high-performance tools, including ThermoGrip® shrink systems
Bilz Werkzeugfabrik GmbH & Co. KG
Ostfildern-Nellingen · Horb-Betra · Colmar (FR) · Coventry (GB) · Lombard, IL (US) · Doddaballapur (IN)New on Amplifa
About Bilz Werkzeugfabrik
Bilz Werkzeugfabrik GmbH & Co. KG is a family-owned company founded in 1919 and owner-managed, headquartered in Ostfildern-Nellingen (Baden-Württemberg) with production in Germany. The company develops and manufactures clamping tools and clamping systems for machining, including tap holders and sync holders (including Nano Synchro for threads M0.5–M4), CNC tool holders, ThermoGrip® shrink-fit chucks made from high heat-resistant special steel, and induction shrink units of the ISG1200 to ISG4600 series. The product range is complemented by presetting devices (BTC), metrology with data chip systems (TDS, BIMS, TDSc), quick-change systems for industrial robots (AOCS), and custom special tools. Around 400–430 employees in Asia and Europe manufacture in a highly automated, air-conditioned production environment with runout accuracies below 0.003 mm. In addition to five subsidiaries in France, the United Kingdom, the USA, and India, Bilz serves customers in 34 countries through more than 40 sales representatives. Core markets are the automotive and machine tool industries, tool and die making, as well as watchmaking, medical, and precision engineering. Since 2000, Bilz has been part of the Leitz Group (together with Boehlerit).
- Site
- Ostfildern
- Processes
- Tapping with tap holders (cut-in and form-tap holders M0.5–M4), Shrink clamping technology / induction shrink units (ThermoGrip® ISG), Presetting and measuring of tools (BTC presetting devices), Process monitoring with metrology (BIMS, HF systems, pneumatic measurement), Quick-change systems for industrial robots (AOCS), Special tools / custom solutions for clamping technology, Repair and service of shrink machines, tap holders, and drill chucks, Repair and service for shrink units, tap holders, and drill chucks
- Materials
- High heat-resistant special steel, Steel, Brass, HSS and carbide tools
- Certificates
- ISO 9001:2015
- Founded
- 1919
- Employees
- 400–430 worldwide
- Industries
- Automotive industry, Machine tool industry, Watchmaking industry, Medical / electronics / precision engineering, Tool and die making, Mechanical engineering
- 01
Engineering and custom development
- 02
CNC manufacturing of clamping tools in air-conditioned production
- 03
Heat treatment / induction shrinking (ThermoGrip®)
- 04
Fine balancing and measurement (BTC presetting devices)
- 05
Metrology / process monitoring (BIMS, TDS)
- 06
Assembly, service, and repair
Materials and Processes
High heat-resistant special steel
Material of the ThermoGrip® shrink-fit chucks for maximum service life, dimensional stability, and high radial stiffness.
Steel
Material for safety couplings of the Hermetikus compressed-air devices and chuck components.
Brass
Alternative material for compressed-air couplings and nozzles.
HSS and carbide tools
With the ferrite disc system, a clamping range of Ø 3–50 mm for HSS and carbide tools can be achieved in the ISG shrink unit.
Locations
Ostfildern-Nellingen
DEHeadquarters, production, and sales
- Materials
- Steel, special steel
- Highly automated production machines
- ThermoGrip® induction shrink units
Horb-Betra
DEProduction site
- Materials
- Steel, special steel
- Highly automated production machines
- ThermoGrip® induction shrink units
Colmar
FRSubsidiary Bilz France, sales
Coventry (Binley)
GBSubsidiary Bilz Tool Ltd., sales
Lombard, IL
USSubsidiary Bilz Tool Company, Inc., sales
Doddaballapur (Bangalore District)
INSubsidiaries Otto Bilz India Pvt. Ltd. / Bilz Tool Pvt. Ltd., production and sales
- Materials
- Steel, special steel
- Production machines
Products and Components
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tapping with tap holders (cut-in and form-tap holders M0.5–M4)Machining | – | – | – | – | Metal |
| Shrink clamping technology / induction shrink units (ThermoGrip® ISG)Clamping technology/Engineering | Runout accuracy < 0.003 mm | max. tool length from gauge line | – | – | – |
| Presetting and measuring of tools (BTC presetting devices)Testing | – | Measuring range Z up to 600 mm × Measuring range X up to 570 mm | – | – | – |
| Process monitoring with metrology (BIMS, HF systems, pneumatic measurement)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Quick-change systems for industrial robots (AOCS)Automation/Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Special tools / custom solutions for clamping technologyEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Repair and service of shrink machines, tap holders, and drill chucksEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
5 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Induction shrink unit (ThermoGrip® ISG1200, entry-level model) | Bilz ISG1200 | – | Clamping range Ø 3–32 mm, max. tool length from gauge line 450 mm @ HSK-A63, cooling length 200 mm | – | – |
| Induction shrink unit (ThermoGrip® ISG3410) | Bilz ISG3410 | – | – | – | – |
| Induction shrink unit (ThermoGrip® ISG4600, fully automatic) | Bilz ISG4600 | – | – | – | – |
| Presetting device BTC I Starter / BTC II Allrounder | Bilz BTC I / BTC II | – | Measuring ranges X 320–570 mm, Z 350–600 mm; spindle SK50 | – | – |
| Production site with highly automated production machines | – | – | – | – | Ostfildern-Nellingen, Horb-Betra (Germany) |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality and Certificates
Production takes place in highly automated production machines and air-conditioned production areas; shrink-fit chucks achieve a runout accuracy below 0.003 mm. The quality management system is certified to ISO 9001:2015.
| Evidence | Ostfildern-Nellingen |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001:2015 |
Company History
- 1919
Company founded by Otto Bilz in a small basement workshop
- 1937
First continuously adjustable square drill chuck
- 1950
World premiere: first quick-change system for multi-spindle machines and transfer lines, in cooperation with Volkswagen Wolfsburg
- 1960
Establishment of a representative office in Detroit; first chucks for US NC machines
- 1964
Expansion of production and workforce at the Horb-Betra site
- 1970–1998
Automation, process monitoring, and telemetry; co-founding of telerob, HF transmitters/data chips TDS (1985) and TDSi (1991)
- 1983/1985
TDS Tool Dialog System with integrated data chip
- 1998
Launch of ThermoGrip® shrink technology with partners Diebold, Marquart, and Komet
- 2000
Bilz becomes part of LMT (Leitz Metalworking Technology Group)
- 2009
After the split of the Leitz Group, Bilz and Boehlerit remain part of this group
- 2010
Leak-free sync holders for MQL in collaboration with VW and LMT
- 2012
red dot design award for ThermoGrip® ISG3400
- 2018
TOP 100 innovation award (third time)
- 2025
BSFZ seal for in-house research and development