Witzig & Frank Re-Enters U.S. Market

The Witzig & Frank production site in Offenburg, Germany.

FFG Werke GmbH’s Witzig & Frank brand has renewed its traditional partnership with St. Louis-based manufacturer Hydromat Inc., combining their matching portfolios of high volume metal cutting solutions for the automotive communications, medical, aerospace, plumbing, and general machining industries.

Witzig & Frank, a manufacturer of integrated machining solutions for high volume applications, is based in Offenburg, Germany. Under FFG Europe’s new ownership, the company re-launched production at the Offenburg plant in December 2013, and sales targets for 2014 have already been exceeded. Several metal forming and metal cutting machining systems for German customers are currently on the shop floor.

Following FFG’s global market approach, Witzig & Frank is now leveraging its history in the American market by partnering with Hydromat Inc., a St. Louis-based manufacturer of rotary transfer machines and multi-spindle machines. Apart from the matching portfolios, the companies have had close ties for more than 25 years, dating back to when Hydromat President and CEO Bruno Schmitter co-founded a joint venture with Witzig & Frank. Hydromat’s Chief Sales Officer Matthias Walter started his career at Witzig & Frank (where his father had been managing director for many years) and later took over the company’s U.S. entity Turmatic Systems.

“We have actually sold, installed and serviced more than 160 Witzig & Frank machines in the U.S., so we’re very experienced in the field and know the relevant players,” says Mr. Walter. “Also, with our portfolio and the Witzig & Frank products, we can now cover a vast range of different size applications, leveraging our mutual strengths and giving our customers a competitive edge.”

Hydromat’s contract with FFG Werke GmbH, Witzig & Frank’s holding company, includes the full range of services for the brand, such as sales, service, spare parts supply, and retrofits.