Development and manufacturing of roll, gripper and linear feed systems for punching and forming presses
Zehnder & Sommer International GmbH
Burgdorf (CH) · Witten (DE)New on Amplifa
About Zehnder & Sommer
Zehnder & Sommer specializes in press feed technology: The company develops and manufactures roll feeds (EV series), electrical linear and gripper feeds (EZ, EO), pneumatic gripper feeds (J series), feed controls, multi-axis and transfer systems, and peripheral devices such as shears, scrap choppers, strip cleaners (BR W) and coil handling. The products are used worldwide in high-speed and precision presses, including for rotor/stator electrical steel laminations, fuel cells, automotive, electronics, packaging, medical technology, cosmetics and microtechnology. The company has its own test room in Burgdorf for material testing and offers rental equipment, retrofit, training, safety inspections and worldwide service through its own representatives. Its roots go back to the 1960s, when pneumatic gripper feeds emerged at Sawab and Sommer Automation. Locations are Burgdorf (Switzerland) and Witten (Germany).
- Site
- Burgdorf
- Processes
- Strip cleaning / material cleaning prior to feeding (BR W Material Cleaner), Rental equipment / rental of feed systems, Material testing in the company's own test room, Online support and remote maintenance, Overhauls and repairs, Spare parts, Upgrades and retrofit, Training and workshops
- Materials
- Metal strips / sheet strips (punching and forming strips), Thin sheet, Films and sensitive materials, Electrical steel laminations (rotor/stator lamination), Metal strips / thin sheet, Steel / forming strip
- Certificates
- Material testing in the test room, Safety and AOPD tests, Vibration measurements, ISO 9001
- Founded
- 1989
- Industries
- Rotor/stator electrical steel laminations, Fuel cells, Electrical/Electronics/Contact industry, Automotive industry, Packaging, Household and household appliances
- 01
Engineering and design of the feed systems
- 02
Manufacturing and assembly
- 03
Control integration (ZS CX, ZS IC, ZS SM)
- 04
Material testing in the Burgdorf test room
- 05
Sales via international representatives
- 06
Service, rental equipment, retrofit and training
Processes and Materials
Metal strips / thin sheet
Processed strip material for punching and forming applications, including thin and sensitive strips.
Electrical steel laminations (rotor/stator lamination)
Main application of the high-speed feed and lamination systems.
Films and sensitive materials
Sensitive materials that require precise and gentle feeding.
Steel / forming strip
Conventional punching and forming strip material for automotive and packaging.
Locations
Burgdorf
CHHeadquarters, manufacturing, test room for material testing
- Materials
- Strip material, thin sheet, films, electrical steel laminations
- Roll feeds EV series (X, R, D, T series)
- Gripper and linear feeds EZ/EO/J
- Cutting shears and scrap choppers
- Strip cleaner BR W 160/320
- Feed controls ZS CX / ZS IC
Witten
DEGerman location (sales and support)
Feed Systems
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strip cleaning / material cleaning prior to feeding (BR W Material Cleaner)Surface | – | 160 mm (BR W 160) / 320 mm (BR W 320) | – | – | Strip material (metal strips, thin sheet, films) |
1 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material cleaner (strip cleaner) | Zehnder & Sommer BR WP 160 / BR WA 160 / BR WP 320 / BR WA 320 | – | Pass-through width 160 mm or 320 mm; felt width 165 mm or 325 mm; overall width 239–407 mm | – | Burgdorf (CH) / Witten (DE) |
Additional services
Quality and Testing
Material suitability and feed configuration are tested in the company's own test room in Burgdorf on cutting shears and various feed systems; services include inspections, safety and AOPD tests, and vibration measurements.
| Evidence | Burgdorf |
|---|---|
| Material testing in the test room | |
| Safety and AOPD tests | |
| Vibration measurements | |
| ISO 9001 |
History
- 1960er
Walter Sauter founds the mechanical workshop Sawab in Bern; Rolf Sauter develops pneumatic gripper feeds; in parallel, pneumatic components are developed at Sommer Automation near Pforzheim.
- 1980
Sawab becomes a stock corporation (AG) and relocates to Belp; under Fritz Sorg the development of electrical roll feeds begins; Andreas Zehnder sells the systems, Friedhelm Sommer distributes them in Germany via Sommer Automation.
- 1989
Andreas Zehnder and Friedhelm Sommer found Zehnder & Sommer in Schmitten, focusing on the sale of Sawab gripper and roll feeds.
- Mitte 1990er
The location is relocated to Bösingen.
- 2025
Zehnder & Sommer International GmbH takes over all activities of Zehnder & Sommer AG.