Manufacture of machine knives, machine components, as well as contract milling and grinding work up to 5 t piece weight.
Schmalkaldener Maschinenmesser GmbH
Schmalkalden · Steinbach-HallenbergNew on Amplifa
About Schmalkaldener Maschinenmesser GmbH
For more than six decades, Schmalkaldener Maschinenmesser GmbH has been manufacturing machine knives for the paper, plastics, wood, metal and recycling industries. The product range includes metal knives for plate, billet, slab and scrap shears up to 4150 mm in length, chipper, chipper-knife, comb and veneer knives for the wood and chipboard industry, as well as trimmer, punching, cross-cut and slitting knives for the paper industry. In recent years, the company has expanded its portfolio to include machine components such as guide bars, plate brackets, knife beams, knife holders, guide rails and plates, as well as contract milling and grinding work. Production is carried out based on sketches, drawings or CAD data using high-alloy tool steel, powder-metallurgical steel and special special steel from German suppliers; the entire production takes place in-house. Components and materials up to 5 tonnes piece weight are machined on modern machining centers, and regrinding of knives is possible up to 6,000 mm. The corporate group includes a flat steel hardening plant in Steinbach-Hallenberg with over 20 years of experience in the heat treatment of machine knives, bars and sheets.
- Site
- Schmalkalden
- Processes
- Milling, Grinding (contract grinding), Heat treatment / hardening (flat steel hardening plant), Consulting / engineering (manufacturing based on sketches, drawings, CAD data), Manufacture of machine knives (metal knives for plate, billet, slab and scrap shears), Manufacture of machine components (guide bars, plate brackets, knife beams, knife holders,, Welded constructions (manufacture of beams, girders, welded constructions), Recycling knife manufacturing
- Materials
- High-alloy tool steel, Powder-metallurgical steel, Special special steel, Chipper steel (specially developed for chipper and chipping knives), Steel (general), Chipper steel, Steel, Heat treatment (flat steel hardening plant)
- Certificates
- 2025 Certificate (linked on website, type unclear), 2025 Certificate
- Industries
- Paper industry, Plastics industry, Wood industry, Metal industry, Recycling industry, Mechanical engineering
- 01
Consulting and material selection
- 02
Manufacturing according to drawing/CAD data (milling)
- 03
Heat treatment (hardening plant)
- 04
Grinding up to 6,000 mm
- 05
Quality inspection
- 06
Delivery
Materials and Processes
High-alloy tool steel
Sourced exclusively from German suppliers and used for custom machine knives.
Powder-metallurgical steel
For metal knives with high demands on service life and toughness.
Special special steel
Special material for demanding cutting applications in the metal industry.
Chipper steel
Steel specially developed for chipper and chipping knives, followed by heat treatment.
Steel
Base material for machine components, paper knives and welded constructions.
Heat treatment (flat steel hardening plant)
Heat treatment of machine knives, bars as well as round and square sheets with a focus on hardness and straightness.
Locations
Schmalkalden
DEHeadquarters and manufacturing (milling, grinding, knife production)
- Part weight / size
- up to 5 t
- Lot size
- Single parts to series according to drawing
- Materials
- Tool steel, powder-metallurgical steel, special special steel, chipper steel
- Machining centers
Steinbach-Hallenberg
DEFlat steel hardening plant (heat treatment)
- Part weight / size
- Machine knives, bars, round and square sheets
- Materials
- Steel
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MillingMachining | tightest tolerances | – | 5 t | – | Steel |
| Grinding (contract grinding)Machining | – | 6000 mm (regrinding of knives) | 5 t | – | Steel |
| Heat treatment / hardening (flat steel hardening plant)Heat treatment | – | – | – | – | Machine knives, bars, round and square sheets, Steel |
| Consulting / engineering (manufacturing based on sketches, drawings, CAD data)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacture of machine knives (metal knives for plate, billet, slab and scrap shears)Machining | – | 4150 mm | – | – | Tool steel, powder-metallurgical steel, special special steel, chipper steel |
| Manufacture of machine components (guide bars, plate brackets, knife beams, knife holders,Machining | – | – | – | – | Steel |
| Welded constructions (manufacture of beams, girders, welded constructions)Joining | – | – | 5 t | – | Steel |
| Recycling knife manufacturingMachining | – | – | – | – | Tool steel |
| Paper knife manufacturing (trimmer, punching, cross-cut and slitting knives)Machining | tightest tolerances | – | – | – | Steel |
| Wood knife manufacturing (chipper knives, chipping knives, comb knives, veneer knives, cuttingMachining | – | – | – | – | Chipper steel |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality
The entire production takes place in-house with the tightest tolerances; a 2025 certificate is linked on the company website. The quality of hardness and straightness of heat-treated parts is the focus of the flat steel hardening plant.
| Evidence | Schmalkalden | Steinbach-Hallenberg |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Certificate |
History
More than six decades of activity in Schmalkalden as a manufacturer of machine knives
Flat steel hardening plant in Steinbach-Hallenberg with over 20 years of experience
Expansion of the product range in recent years to include machine components and contract milling work with targeted new investments