DIAMETAL has wrapped up its participation at IMTS 2026 in Chicago, where its stand was built around the full range of tools for micro gear manufacturing. The showcase covered hobs and gear cutting tools for small module gears, starting from module 0.03, which are used in robot drives, actuators and reducers, including humanoid joints, collaborative arms and surgical actuators.
A key highlight was DIAMETAL’s complete solution for precision micro gear production, developed and validated together with an Affolter AF160 gear hobbing machine as part of its robotics partnership. Because the tooling is developed alongside the machine process, the solution is designed to support shorter ramp up times, predictable tool life and consistent gear quality in high-volume production. IMTS 2026 also marked the first time DIAMETAL presented this complete micro gear solution to the North American market.
Robotics was the main topic at the show, and the focus on micro gears reflects growing demand for compact, high-precision gears in automation systems and robotics. As manufacturers invest in automation and reshoring, accurate and repeatable micro gear production is becoming a priority, and the choice of tooling has a direct bearing on how stable that production is.
Alongside the micro gear tooling, DIAMETAL’s stand featured its standard tool solutions, including TURNDEC and TOPDEC, as well as its micro tools. The company also discussed custom tool design with visitors, an area where tools can combine multiple operations into a single solution, helping manufacturers reduce cycle times and improve process stability.
The company develops and manufactures its tooling in house in Biel/Bienne. This allows its engineers to work closely with customers on application specific tooling rather than relying only on standard catalogue products, an approach that matters most in micro gear production, where small variations in the tool show up directly in the gear.
North America remains an important growth market for DIAMETAL, particularly across precision gear manufacturing, automation and robotics. The company used IMTS 2026 to build direct relationships with manufacturers and increase its visibility in a market where reshoring and automation are creating new requirements for precision tooling, in support of its wider plans to expand its presence and engage more closely with customers in the region.
As precision machining moves towards smaller and more complex components, higher levels of automation and more integrated production, DIAMETAL sees predictable tool performance and process stability gaining importance. Its IMTS showcase reflected this direction, bringing together micro gear tooling, machine and process development, and customised engineering for the changing needs of advanced manufacturing.
