Anniversary
Exciting innovations from Northern Germany
For 35 years, HWR Spanntechnik has been a reliable partner for industry when it comes to high-performance and individual solutions in the field of clamping technology. Founded in 1989 as a design office with a small team, HWR was able to establish itself quickly on the market and today is constantly gaining new customers with its developments.
Some industrial success stories begin in the garage or garden shed, where young enthusiasts have the idea of a lifetime. The nucleus of HWR Spanntechnik was not quite so provisional: The Henke design office was still based in the parents' house of founder Volker Henke when it began operations in 1989. From today's perspective, a classic start-up.
Orders quickly went through the roof; soon larger rooms were needed to accommodate all employees. From the very beginning, the core competence was in the area of clamping devices: clamping jaws, manual and power chucks as well as special designs. In 1997, the new building for the company headquarters was built at the Oyten site near Bremen: design, production and sales under one roof.
INOLine rotary clamping technology - the foundation for today's success
In 2009, HWR Spanntechnik presented the INOZet clamping system it had developed itself to the public. It turns a conventional 3-jaw chuck into a compensating 6-jaw chuck, thus opening up a wide range of application possibilities. The design, which is as ingenious as it is easy to use, convinced the industry: in 2010, HWR received the Nortec Award for INOZet at the Nortec trade fair in Hamburg.
In 2011, the INOTop hybrid clamping jaw was added: it centers the component from the outside and clamps it from the inside. In 2013, HWR presented an absolute world first with the compensating 4-jaw chuck: both the simplicity and the almost unlimited possibilities with the INOFlex chucks are the key to the company's current success. This means that today's successful INOLine product line, which was designed by HWR specifically with modern machine tools in turning and milling in mind, continues to take shape. Especially with shape-sensitive, thin-walled components or those with unusual geometries, INOLine clamping devices achieve results that would not be possible with conventional clamping technology.
In 2014, Henrico Viets and Matthias Meier joined the management team, and in 2015 it was time for another expansion: HWR moved into the new building at the current company location, which was expanded by over 1,000 m² to its original size in the following years. In 2018, HWR Spanntechnik already held 42 patents worldwide for its innovative clamping devices. And there is no end to the growth! In August 2024, the building permit for the next production hall with an additional 1,500 m² of production space at the Oyten site will be approved and construction will begin immediately.
Curtains up for SolidLine!
In 2019, HWR expanded its portfolio to include a second product family, the SolidLine. The company has been offering its customers solutions in the field of zero-point and embossing clamping technology since 2003 - with the modules and products, HWR is now establishing itself as an independent developer and manufacturer in this segment. Like the INOLine, the SolidLine is continuously being supplemented with new developments.
The key to success here is the significantly improved mechanics of the HWR zero-point technology. The patented clamping wedge mechanism enables 3 to 5 times higher holding forces compared to standard systems on the market. HWR has also been considered the inventor of the 52 and 96 combination grid since then. The company has also succeeded in revolutionizing the zero-point technology for 5-axis machines with the SOLDBolt system by making it significantly simpler.
HWR has long since established itself as a reliable partner for large global corporations in the industry as well as for medium-sized companies and small, but highly specialized one-person businesses, who understand the practical side of things and drive development forward with fresh ideas. Even after 35 years, there is still plenty of room for innovation - the success story continues.