America – the first steps in an “unknown country”.
“When I held my first diamond in my hand in 1908, I would not have imagined that one day diamonds would not only be used in the automobile industry but also for the machining of wood and plastics.”
Jakob Lach, the company founder, said this on camera in 1980. It would become the preface for the first presentation of a new technique for machining wood and plastics – using diamonds as cutting material – the Dia Tool. This video, with audio translated into multiple languages, has lost none of its relevance for the choice of appropriate tools within the furniture, flooring and composite industries.
journal of hp tooling
This article was published by hp tooling (issue #3 | 2024) as part 10 of the 100 Years LACH DIAMANT series.
September 22nd, 1981, at the check-in at Frankfurt Airport: “Your tickets please, okay, your suitcases are now checked in to Los Angeles…”
Indeed, they had quickly disappeared on the conveyor belt. “And you do have your entry visas?” Pause. “Why, my wife and I are traveling upon an invitation from General Electric, the tickets were deposited at your counter, the visas should be there as well”, but the friendly Lufthansa lady was adamant. “I am sorry, but you still need a valid entry visa for the USA, I cannot let you board without it.”
Swearing back and forth, but to no avail. In 1981 all of this was not as easy as today. On top of it we had to apply for the visas in person at the American Embassy in Frankfurt, which closed daily at noon.
journal of hp tooling
This article was published by hp tooling (issue #3 | 2024) as part 10 of the 100 Years LACH DIAMANT series.
Pure frenzy. Early the following morning we visited the Embassy, and then, visas in hand, we took the next flight to pursuit our suitcases.
Waiting in Los Angeles was Hubert Rentsch, then marketing manager for the product launch of polycrystalline synthetic diamonds (compax®). Louis Kapernaros, general manager of GE Superabrasives headquarters in Worthington, Ohio, had instructed him to assist me with my initial steps for the market launch of the diamond PCD tools for all wood and composite materials in the USA.
From the beginning on, starting with the first diamond tool presentation at Ligna 1979, LACH DIAMANT showed the entire portfolio of diamand tools for the machining of wood and plastics for the series-production industry:
After the discovery of spark erosion in 1978 (former European patent no. 0010276, inventor Horst Lach), it had become possible for the first time to machine or form polycrystalline synthetic diamonds; which in turn allowed for the efficient production of rotating PCD tools, such as milling cutters, scorers, saws and other tools.
And successfully – demonstrated by a tool life up to 350 times longer than that of previously used carbide tools.
“After the striking success of diamond tools in the furniture and wood industry in Germany, LACH DIAMANT would now successfully conquer the American market with this technical revolution.”
The new technology changed everything
Until the discovery of spark erosion polycrystalline diamonds could only be processed by extensive grinding. Therefore this superior cutting material could only show its superiority on individually tipped turning steels and indexable cutting inserts.
The new technology changed everything and gave the management team in Ohio reasons to be enthusiastic – a rotating diamond tool needed not only one PCD cutting edge, but many; depending on the number of teeth and width of e.g. a jointing cutter. “Your Way to Diamond Economics” in the furniture and composite industry would now also begin in America. For this reason my wife and I touched ground in Los Angeles, or USA respectively.
Hubert Rentsch was waiting for me the second time on this early afternoon. The day before he had noticed the everreturning suitcases on the conveyor belt at the baggage claim, and could only hope that their owners would arrive on one of the next flights. (Usually the opposite is the case regarding suitcases.)
Together with him our first destination was the “Woodworking Show”, which was then taking place in Los Angeles, and which unfortunately would end the next day. Over all the fame and glory of our first step onto American ground, I forgot to mention the most important thing. It was in one of our suitcases: the first PCD tool for wood and plastic machining ever reaching American soil.
Without any idea that it would have a premiere on a numerically controlled router. This happened as follows.
Technicians among themselves
On that first day we followed Hubert Rentsch along the various aisles of the woodworking show and suddenly we stood at a stand with an “enormously large” router. Its size alone gave the impression that this was an oversized strong machine for metal processing. It was the machine of the Japanese manufacturer HEIAN.
Originally it had been developed for metal machining, but was now converted for the machining of coated MDF panels for kitchen furniture and other decorative boards. Our apparent interest was noticed by a Japanese who introduced himself in broken English as Mr. Matsui, vice president of HEIAN. “What he could do for us?” Before we could answer properly two other people joined us, introducing themselves as Mr. Barret and Mr. Zimmermann.
And now our main performer, the diamond milling cutter, made its debut. As is well known technicians understand each other across language barriers and without many words.
It had never been used on a numerically controlled machine with up to five axes, but even that did not seem too big of a challenge. The existing shank holder fit to this diamond routerbit which had been designed for different axis angles, another novelty at that time. The vice president himself operated the machine, at first cautiously, then, little by little, increasing feed and speed. And he was excited about the impressive chip performance.
“Many questions about this new diamond technology followed.
A future in America?”
Mr. Barret and Mr. Zimmermann – who wanted to secure representation of HEIAN in America for their company Wesflex – were especially interested. And immediately they invited us to visit their company in New York.
Everyone was extremely satisfied, including Hubert Rentsch, who now could report complete success back to Worthington, Ohio. Mr. Matsui made sure to secure LACH DIAMANT’s assistance for the demonstration of diamond tools on HEIAN machines at the next large woodworking show in September 1982 in Louisville. The adventure “Diamonds love wood” had begun.
Horst Lach
