Press release on the 100 year anniversary of Fritz Studer AG Thun, 3rd February 2012 ________________________________________________________________________

From pioneer to grinding technology leader

Fritz Studer AG can look back on a 100 year history. In 1912 Fritz Studer established a small mechanical workshop in Steffisburg. As he had no grinding machine for machining precise parts, the young company directory promptly built his own. With this he laid the foundation stone for a very successful history. Today, STUDER is the world number one for complex grinding processes. The Art of Grinding. The largest employer in the Thun region, Fritz Studer AG in Steffisburg, is celebrating its 100 year anniversary. Tireless dedication, a high level of professional expertise and the founder's extraordinary drive helped to overcome the start-up problems and subsequently win respect for the company and its products among experts throughout the world. Today, with one hundred years' experience, STUDER is the market leader in precision cylindrical grinding machines. Around 800 dedicated staff, 95 percent of whose work is exported from the company headquarters, are responsible for this success. The technical specialists in the head office are represented by more than 300 contacts in 40 countries. With the integration of Combitec in Biel four years ago as internal grinding technology center of Fritz Studer AG STUDER was able to once again decisively reinforce its competence. First patent In February 1912 Fritz Studer established a mechanical workshop in Steffisburg, with no assured work prospects and no manufacturing program. The workshop had no grinding machine for machining precise parts. He promptly decided to build his own cylindrical grinding machine. The 33-year old patented noiseless reverse of the table as his first invention. After the difficult times of the 1st World War, the the one-man company was converted into a corporation. Success followed with the improvement in the economic situation. In 1926 Fritz Studer AG manufactured the required watch stone machine tools for the newly established Watch Stones company in Thun and was able to completely equip the operation. Continuous development At the beginning of the 30's, the workforce had increased to 36 employees. Despite the continuing economic crisis, the production of 38 machines a year could be maintained. This is due, not least, to large orders from Russia, where the first machine to be exported was delivered in 1931. These were the first successes of Alfred Studer, who had joined the company in 1929. In addition to planning extensions, he concentrated on developing a worldwide sales organization. After various building expansion stages in 1944/45 and 1956, the factory area had already reached a size of 10,000 square meters in 1962. Since then the company has regularly built new extensions, made necessary by developments and new technologies as well as the latest production and manufacturing technologies.

Broad product range, special design To test the market Dr. Marc Studer, from the third Studer generation, presented machines in the colors Bordeaux red and white at several exhibitions. Following positive customer reactions, the decision was made to introduce this distinctive coloring in 1985. The machines of Fritz Studer AG should not only be better than those of the competition, but also more beautiful, thus appealing to the customers' emotions. The range of different machine types became ever broader: from conventional cylindrical grinding machines through to CNC cylindrical grinding machines for small to medium-sized workpieces. Single-purpose machines with optimized grinding cycles and maximum availability were added to the range for large-batch production, as well as a combined machine tool for process optimization for consistent hard fine machining. Always the right machine - also for internal cylindrical grinding, with up to four internal grinding spindles. This is why, in the first hundred years of the company's history, STUDER has delivered over 21 000 cylindrical grinding machines around the world! The Krber Schleifring Group Structural problems in European machine tool manufacturers at the beginning of the 1990's made amalgamations inevitable, in order to counter the competition from Japan and the USA with a complete range of cutting-edge technology. Since spring 1994 Fritz Studer AG has belonged to the Krber Schleifring Group, which includes companies in tool grinding, surface flat/profile grinding and cylindrical grinding. No competitor in the cylindrical grinding sector has more application know-how, none has a more extensive machine program or a denser service and dealer network than the three cylindrical grinders STUDER, SCHAUDT and MIKROSA in combination. Forging ahead with innovation The continued development of such sophisticated technologies requires sharp minds as well as the use of premium products in production. Cutting-edge production concepts such as STUDER PuLs are mainstays and the embodiment of a company philosophy, which provides advantages in all disciplines. Naturally this also includes internal software and hardware development and collaboration with leading research institutes. STUDER's technological expertise is underscored by a Customer Center and a Tech Center for more than 400 grinding trials and tests per year STUDER machines will be lighter and more dynamic in a few years time. They will be characterized by additional intelligence and economy in energy consumption. With the Bluecompetence label, STUDER's ultimate aim is to reduce the CO2 emissions resulting during the manufacture and operation of its machines. More than 80 engineers and designers tackle such problems in the application center with its cutting-edge infrastructure. For enthusiastic customers, but also for the protection of the environment.