Navigating challenges with precision and innovation

The global economic environment of 2024 presented unprecedented challenges for industrial manufacturers, yet Studer emerged not only as a survivor but also as a strategic innovator. At this year’s press conference, Studer once again delivered an insightful overview of the company’s performance and innovations. Always a highlight in the calendar for the trade media, the 2025 event was hosted online as opposed to a trip to the picturesque Steffisburg municipality of Switzerland – but the insights were no less impressive. By Rhys Williams

Outgoing CEO Jens Blaher set the tone for the annual press conference with a candid and compelling narrative of organisational resilience. “During the recently concluded 2024 financial year, we effectively navigated the deteriorating economic and geopolitical landscape,” he explained, his words resonating with a deep understanding of the complex challenges facing modern industrial enterprises.
Studer’s approach to these challenges was fundamentally different from that of many competitors. Rather than retreating or dramatically scaling back, the company embraced a strategy of diversification and targeted growth. Blaher emphasised this point by highlighting how the company’s multifaceted approach allowed it to grow in select markets, transforming potential obstacles into opportunities for expansion and innovation.
The company’s performance was nuanced and strategically calibrated. While incoming orders were slightly below the previous year, they precisely aligned with Studer’s carefully planned expectations. Geographically, the company maintained a robust presence, with Asia remaining its largest sales region and North America showing significant growth. Approximately 50% of incoming orders were generated outside Europe, underscoring the company’s global reach.
A remarkable highlight was the 43% increase in new customer acquisition, with strength in key sectors, including automotive and the respective supply chain industries, as well as tool and die manufacturing, the machine tool industry and aerospace manufacturing.

The New favoritCNC
At the heart of Studer’s 2024 innovations was the advanced favoritCNC universal cylindrical grinding machine, representing a significant leap in grinding technology. The machine integrates the latest FANUC 0i-TFP control system with a sophisticated engineering approach that demonstrates the company’s commitment to precision and user accessibility.
Technical specifications reveal a meticulously designed piece of equipment. The machine offers flexible wheelhead configurations, including a fixed wheelhead with manual positioning at 0°, 15°, and 30° and a universal wheelhead with a 2.5° Hirth coupling for seamless internal and external grinding capabilities. Its foundation is constructed from Granitan® S103 mineral casting, a proprietary material that provides exceptional thermal stability and vibration damping.
The machine’s physical capabilities are equally impressive. It can accommodate centre distances of 650mm or 1m, handle workpiece weights between 80 and 120kg, and accept grinding wheels up to 500mm in diameter. Perhaps most innovative is the machine’s intuitive StuderPictogramming and StuderGRIND grinding software, which provide modern digital solutions that allow even complex grinding processes to be set up and controlled intuitively.
Commenting on the machine, Sandro Bottazzo, the new CEO at Studer, said: “With numerous new features, optimisations, and automation capabilities, the favoritCNC is a future-oriented, economical solution for the external and internal cylindrical grinding of small to medium-sized workpieces in individual and series production. Both for high-quality contract manufacturing and in-house production and with the conventional mode, the new favoritCNC is an optimal solution for a wide range of different grinding applications.”

Pushing the Boundaries of Precision
Beyond the favoritCNC, Studer introduced several groundbreaking technological innovations that underscore its position at the forefront of precision engineering. The Universal W-axis represents a quantum leap in grinding technology, integrating directly onto the Z-slide to enable automatic machining of different workpiece lengths without operator intervention. The axis’s most revolutionary feature is its direct force measurement capability, which allows for a force-controlled clamping process that delivers maximum precision and repeatability.

Aerospace Industry: A Proving Ground for Innovation
The aerospace industry serves as a critical proving ground for Studer’s technological capabilities. Modern aviation demands extraordinary precision, with components requiring micron-level accuracy and the ability to withstand extreme conditions. Studer’s machines play a crucial role, with the S31 and S33 CNC universal cylindrical grinding machines capable of grinding landing gear components to microns.
Martin Hofmann, Studer’s Sales Director for North America and aerospace specialist, emphasises that the company’s focus remains on supporting human expertise. Hofmann explains that the entire industry is currently experiencing an increasing trend towards better materials, optimised aerodynamics, sensor technology and data analysis for more efficient engines. “We are therefore supporting our customers with innovative production technologies to be even more successful.”
The SmartJet® coolant concept demonstrates STUDER’s commitment to sustainable manufacturing. This advanced system reduces coolant consumption by up to 40% and energy utilisation by 50% compared to conventional methods. Its expanded application range includes sophisticated optimisations for thread grinding and innovative plug-in coolant nozzles designed for various grinding wheel profiles.
Another breakthrough is the WireDress® dressing process, explicitly developed for metal-bonded CBN and diamond grinding wheels. In 2024, Studer extended this non-contact dressing system to internal grinding wheel applications.
Hofmann also sees the future-proof C.O.R.E. hardware and software architecture and intelligent Studer software with comprehensive digital capabilities as a significant advantage of the new generation of Studer cylindrical grinding machines. This includes intuitive operation, process and data visualisation as well as standardised or customised automation systems. “Our focus is always on people; technology should support them,” he explains.

Operational Excellence and Sustainability
Studer’s 2024 strategy extended beyond technological innovation to encompass operational efficiency and sustainability. The company implemented comprehensive improvements, including the consolidation of spindle assembly locations, advanced testing and diagnostic systems, and a complete renewal of internal electrical pre-assembly.
Sustainability initiatives were equally impressive. The company converted extensively to LED lighting, replaced operational systems with energy-efficient devices, and designed a new logistics facility aimed at reducing energy consumption. Ongoing digitalisation projects across operations further demonstrate Studer’s commitment to efficiency and environmental responsibility.
A Commitment to Excellence
Studer’s 2024 journey represents a masterful blend of technological innovation, market adaptability, and strategic foresight. By investing in advanced technologies, expanding customer care, and maintaining a forward-looking digital strategy, the company has not just weathered global challenges but positioned itself for continued growth in the precision engineering market.
As Jens Bleher aptly summarised: “Know-how and commitment are the future of a technology company”—a philosophy that continues to drive Studer’s remarkable journey of innovation and excellence: novation and excellence.