With additional machines from the sharpening specialist in Biberach, such as the VHybrid 260, the Thai company aims to continue its success story in carbide tools. Additionally, N.S.T. Machinery is constructing a 5,400-square-meter production hall, scheduled for completion by the end of 2025. With these investments, the company seeks to expand beyond Thailand and attract international customers, particularly in the automotive, medical technology, electronics, and watch industries, focusing on micro-tools.

The Thai city of Bang Wua has a population of around 13,000 and belongs to the province of Chachoengsao. Due to its proximity to the megacity of Bangkok, this rural region is increasingly becoming a prime location for industrial companies. A prime example of this is the tool manufacturer N.S.T. Machinery Company Limited, which set up operations in Bang Wua in 2011 and has been a customer of the sharpening specialist Vollmer from Biberach for five years. Vollmer has been active in Thailand for many years and established its Vollmer Asia Pacific branch in Bangkok two years ago. N.S.T. Machinery is only a 30-minute drive from Bangkok, which significantly simplifies on-site support.

Expanding into new markets with the VHybrid 260

N.S.T. Machinery’s portfolio includes cutting tools made from carbide, HSS (High-Speed Steel), and PCD (polycrystalline diamond). Within just a few years, the company has become a leading manufacturer of precision tools for the aerospace, medical technology, automotive, and electronics industries. Currently, the company employs 80 people, serves around 160 customers, and generates an annual turnover of approximately five million euros.

"We receive incredible support from Vollmer Asia Pacific. If we have a problem, the Vollmer service team is immediately available—whether online via video call, over the phone, or on-site," says Narong Yimnuam, Managing Director of N.S.T. Machinery Company Limited. "And because we are convinced of Vollmer’s technology and support, we recently invested in a VHybrid 260 grinding and erosion machine, which will enable us to manufacture carbide tools with Vollmer quality in the future."

With the VHybrid 260, N.S.T. Machinery can grind or erode both carbide and PCD tools in a single setup with 100% precision. The machine's foundation is a multi-level machining system with two vertically arranged spindles, where the lower spindle can be used for both grinding and eroding. Thanks to its robust kinematics and the high-performance Vpulse EDM generator, N.S.T. Machinery can manufacture the smallest micro-tools with diameters as small as 0.45 millimeters and below with the highest precision, performance, and surface quality.

Five wire erosion machines for PCD processing

"Our goal is to establish ourselves as a specialist in cutting tools in Thailand and internationally, positioning ourselves on the global market with advanced technology and high-end quality," adds Narong Yimnuam. "Entering the PCD sector five years ago has significantly driven our growth, with five Vollmer wire erosion machines from the VPulse and QWD series playing a key role in this development."

Four of the five Vollmer wire erosion machines are VPulse 500 models. With these, N.S.T. Machinery produces a wide range of PCD tools, including end mills, step reamers, form tools, and special and step drills. In a single setup, cutting tools can be precisely eroded thanks to simultaneous path interpolation across five CNC axes. The core of the VPulse 500, like the VHybrid 260, is the Vpulse EDM generator, which ensures higher material removal rates or improved surface quality. The erosion wire also enables N.S.T. Machinery to process complex geometries and small internal radii with high precision—ideal for structures found in step or bell tools. Automated systems allow for unmanned tool processing around the clock.

N.S.T. Machinery excels with micro-tools

"Vollmer’s technologies and services perfectly align with our company’s motto: quality, precision, on-time delivery, and providing innovative solutions for complex tool machining," emphasizes Narong Yimnuam. "Through our collaboration with Vollmer, we also want to enhance the skills and expertise of our employees to tailor our tools even more precisely to the needs of our current and future customers. That’s why we will soon be adding a VGrind 340S to our machine park."

At the end of 2024, the Vollmer VGrind 340S tool grinding machine was commissioned. It is particularly suited for manufacturing delicate micro-tools used in the medical, electronics, and watchmaking industries. With two vertically arranged grinding spindles, the VGrind 340S can efficiently grind even the smallest carbide tools with diameters ranging from 0.3 to 12.7 millimeters. The machine is also equipped with a shaft steady rest to ensure optimal concentricity and can optionally be fitted with a support steady rest for longer drill tools.

"From Thailand to Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and the Philippines, we support numerous medium-sized companies like N.S.T. Machinery, which have recently experienced tremendous growth through their products and innovations," says Andreas Böhm, Managing Director of the Vollmer Group. "That’s why we established our Vollmer Asia Pacific branch in Bangkok two years ago—to support our customers in Southeast Asia even more efficiently and personally on-site."

Source | Vollmer