Within just a few years, the company grew rapidly and established itself as one of the leading providers of high-precision, superhard tool solutions. The next logical step was international expansion – and with the founding of Worldia Europe in 2022, the company successfully entered the European market. With its new location in Herrenberg (Baden-Württemberg), Worldia is focusing on close proximity to European customers and on the ambition to sustainably establish the highest standards of quality and performance here as well.

At the head of Worldia Europe are three strong leaders: Managing Director Tao Fang, Michael Grimm, Worldia’s chief strategist with decades of industry experience, and Eugen Schleicher as Head of Sales Europe. Together, they are shaping the company’s market entry in Europe and laying the foundation for a successful future. In this interview, Fang and Grimm share insights into the early days of Worldia Europe, discuss challenges and opportunities, and present their vision of how Worldia aims to set new benchmarks in Europe.

DIAMOND BUSINESS: Mr. Fang, after completing your bachelor’s degree in China, you pursued a master’s degree in automation technology at the renowned University of Stuttgart. Since then, you have built a long career with a global leading tool manufacturer – as an engineer, head of technical teams, and later as head of sales teams. Today, you are Managing Director of Worldia Europe. What drives you – and which responsibilities do you consider especially crucial for the future of the company?

Tao Fang: First of all, I am very grateful for the trust and the opportunity to actively shape the development of Worldia’s European business. Behind Worldia Europe stands a strong parent company with over 1,400 employees and a total of 11 subsidiaries worldwide. In recent years, the company has filed more than 300 patents – an impressive testament to our innovative strength and technological leadership. Our clear focus is on the development and production of PCD and CBN inserts and tools, CVD diamonds, as well as sophisticated customized solutions. This makes us a highly attractive partner – especially for high-precision machining in Germany and Europe. Thanks to the close integration within the group, we are able to leverage valuable synergies – which not only makes us technologically competitive, but also highly efficient economically. My role is above all to establish Worldia in Europe as a reliable and competent partner. I also see myself as a bridge-builder: on one hand, I communicate the requirements and expectations of our European customers clearly and precisely to our headquarters in China; on the other hand, I work to make our brand and our strengths visible and tangible here in the market.

DIAMOND BUSINESS: What is currently your top priority?

Tao Fang: Our goal is not simply to sell tools – we want to build trust. Direct communication with our customers is our highest priority. We want to convince them not only with the quality of our products, but also by establishing long-term partnerships. For this, we are deliberately relying on a dealer network as a strategic multiplier – and on a motivated team with strong technical know-how and genuine commitment to our solutions. Since 2022, we have regularly been present at industry highlights such as AMB, EMO, as well as selected regional trade fairs. These personal encounters are extremely valuable for us. In face-to-face dialogue, we can show what Worldia stands for – and win customers over with a decisive argument: top quality and performance equal to our competitors – but at a price that convinces.

DIAMOND BUSINESS: Mr. Grimm, you originally got to know Worldia during your time in Asia – and over many years you had consistently positive experiences. When it came time to build the Worldia brand in Europe, you didn’t hesitate to join. You bring not only extensive sales experience and technical know-how as an engineer, but also comprehensive marketing expertise, international management experience, and fluency in several languages. How did you experience the start at Worldia Europe – and what personally appealed to you about this new challenge?

Michael Grimm: Entering the market as a newcomer is certainly a challenge. We had very few existing customer relationships to build on – we had to actively seek direct contact with new potential customers and dealers. From my own experience, I knew how crucial trust and quality are. That’s exactly what I focused on, and I was convinced that our expertise and offering would make the difference. By now, we have already gained many customers – a success that, of course, doesn’t happen overnight, but requires continuous effort and patience, and will continue to do so.

DIAMOND BUSINESS: Production takes place in China, but the warehouse is located here in Herrenberg. How quickly can you deliver?

Michael Grimm: Products from our standard range, as well as regularly ordered items from our long-term customers, are typically delivered within 24 hours. For custom-made products, particularly special tools, the delivery time is around six weeks. In addition, China operates a large warehouse, from which we can supply customers in Europe within one week.

DIAMOND BUSINESS: What are Worldia’s competitive advantages compared to other tool manufacturers?

Tao Fang: Worldia stands for high performance, precision, and innovation at the highest level. As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of superhard cutting tools – PCD, CVD-D, PCBN – we not only control the entire process chain in-house, but also keep every single quality aspect firmly in hand. Our tools are not made just anywhere – they are created in an environment that combines cutting-edge technology, expertise, and an uncompromising passion for precision. Our production facilities? State of the art. With some of the most advanced systems worldwide, we are at the technological forefront. Here, production is only one part – research, development, and testing are equally essential. Together with renowned Chinese universities, we are working on the next generation of tools: new geometries, new materials, new processes. What still seems like the future elsewhere is already becoming reality with us. Worldia symbolizes a modern, confident China: technologically on par with the West – and in some areas, such as AI, even a step ahead. We think further, act faster, and consistently drive progress. That is not only our claim – it is our motivation.

Michael Grimm: In addition, we focus specifically on demanding materials – because while aluminum machining is standard, our real strength begins where things become truly challenging: in machining ceramics, glass, nickel-based alloys, or high-performance composites such as glass fiber, carbon fiber, and graphite. These materials place the highest demands on tools, processes, and expertise – and this is precisely our niche. Here, we set the benchmarks. We are convinced that specialization and technical depth will be the key to sustainable success.

DIAMOND BUSINESS: Which current developments are you watching most closely?

Tao Fang: The greatest challenge right now is the growing uncertainty in global markets. Supply chains that appear stable today can already falter tomorrow – whether due to sudden tariff increases, political tensions, or new regulatory measures. Both towards the US and China, we are seeing just how quickly the framework conditions can change.

Michael Grimm: Of course, this instability does not only affect us directly – it also impacts our customers, especially in industries such as automotive. When political decisions significantly intervene in the market, companies must react with extreme agility. For us, this means thinking ahead, acting flexibly, and building stable partnerships in order to remain a reliable partner even in uncertain times.