75 years of MAPAL

However, Dr Kress drew on research and development to overcome these initial problems. In a painstaking and meticulous process, the reamer was improved. This included inserting two guide pads asymmetrically around the circumference of the reamer body. In 1954, the first single-bladed reamer developed by MAPAL with guide pads made of carbide was patented. Another patent for a reamer with indexable inserts made of carbide followed in 1962. Both innovations laid the foundation for developing the reamers into a highly appealing, high-performance tool in the coming years. The fine machining of bores became MAPAL’s calling card. 

When Dr Dieter Kress joined the family business in 1969, the son of the company’s founder was well prepared for his future duties. Unlike his father, he was at home with all things technical. On his very first day working at MAPAL, he designed a new clamping method for indexable inserts. It was patented and in principle still forms the technology for clamping the indexable inserts in MAPAL reamers today.
 

When he became president in 1974, Dr Dieter Kress quickly set about redesigning the product portfolio. The tap drill and thread roller area of the business was given up to focus completely on reamer production. This came at a time when two-thirds of MAPAL’s turnover came from threading tools. But entrepreneurial foresight lay behind this plan. The long-established products offered almost no potential to differentiate the company from mostly bigger competitors who could also manufacture at a lower price. The single-bladed reamer, by contrast, was something very special, with no direct competition. However, the market had to be developed first.

The reamers were gradually developed until they were suitable for industrial large-scale series production. The coating of the indexable inserts played a role, as did the use of PCD for the guide pads. The tools helped MAPAL gain a foothold in the automotive industry first and foremost, where manufacturing technology was moving from rigid transfer lines to flexible machining centres. 
Alongside technical improvements, MAPAL rebuilt its sales concept and focused on maximum customer proximity. Independent sales representatives were replaced with in-house technical consultants whose role was to advise customers on the ideal, customised design for their tools and to support them with their use. In the automotive industry the collaboration became so close that the consultants even became involved in developing new engines by introducing potential precision machining options into the design process at an early stage. They didn’t just sell tools – they sold solutions.
 

To expand its product and service portfolio, which also followed customer requirements, MAPAL acquired specialist companies in Germany. WWS in Pforzheim expanded MAPAL’s offer to include PCD tools with brazed blades for high-speed machining, particularly of aluminium, thus covering a segment that was becoming more and more important to customers. Solid carbide drills and milling tools were added to the range courtesy of Miller in Altenstadt. As drilling from solid is the production step prior to reaming, this made a perfect addition to MAPAL’s portfolio. Weisskopf from Meiningen strengthened the solid carbide segment further. 

The purchase of the long-standing Winterlingen-based company August Beck secured MAPAL’s position as a leading manufacturer of reamers. Robert Strom and ISOTOOL added ISO and actuating tools to the portfolio. In 2015, the two companies were rebranded MAPAL ITS, which focuses on complex special tools with actuating mechanisms in Eppingen. Clamping tools from WTE in Ehrenfriedersdorf completed the product range. MAPAL made further strategic investments overseas. 
 

Daneben erfolgte die strategische Ausweitung von Kundensegmenten abseits der Automobilindustrie, die über Jahrzehnte ein Wachstumsgarant gewesen war. MAPAL fokussiert sich nun zusätzlich auf die Bereiche Aerospace, Fluid Power sowie den Werkzeug- und Formenbau. Digitallösungen bietet die 2017 gegründete c-Com, die inzwischen in die MAPAL Gruppe integriert ist und vor allem die Toolmanagementleistungen unterstützt. Mit einem Umweltmanagementsystem berücksichtigt das Unternehmen alle Aspekte eines nachhaltigen Wirtschaftens. Dazu tragen viele Einzelmaßnahmen in Bereich der Produktion und Verwaltung an allen Standorten bei.

Dr. Jochen Kress hat die Transformation von MAPAL hin zu einer prozessgesteuerten, global agierenden Organisation angestoßen. Strukturen und Prozesse werden der erreichten Größe des Unternehmens angepasst, Entscheidungsprozesse verschlankt und beschleunigt. Die Neuorganisation der Führungsebene in der Aalener Unternehmenszentrale richtet sich an Kernprozessen und Fokusthemen aus. Die strukturellen, organisatorischen und kulturellen Veränderungen, die Dr. Jochen Kress initiiert hat, werden das Unternehmen nachhaltig prägen und weit über das Jubiläumsjahr 2025 hinaus Bestand haben.