Harry Weingartner: The demand for quality steel has increased. The market has changed. Equipment for tube rolling mills is sought after. Nevertheless, in spite of the current boom, we must improve constantly to remain an accepted systems supplier and present a convincing philosophy.

What is the KOCKS company philosophy?

Harry Weingartner: We supply quality and technology. 15% of sales are funneled into new developments.

You are described as the Rolls Royce in a niche market. What are the unique characteristics of your company?

Norbert Stiehle: The tight tolerances, the accuracy of the shafts and the know-how when it comes to cogging trains, which we incorporate into the process to achieve a perfectly round product. We developed into a systems supplier who can offer everything from in-house developed software, through block calculation to shopfloor networking. Rapid stand changes are a hallmark of Kocks.

What is "free-size rolling"?

Harry Weingartner: Free-size rolling is infinitely variable rolling with extremely tight tolerances. Our rolls provide any finished dimension during the rolling cycle and can be used at low temperatures.

You cooperate with 200 suppliers per system. What criteria do you apply when looking for your partners?

Norbert Stiehle: In addition to binding delivery dates, we look for continuity as well as competent contacts at the partner. With Voith, we recognized the engineering expertise.

You used the first safety couplings from Voith ten years ago. Today you use Hirth serrations. What drew your attention to Voith?

Harry Weingartner: At that time, we were looking for a new solution for a 650 stand. Initially, Voith did not know what to think of us. We, in turn, also had no idea of who Voith are. Contact intensified and we travelled to Heidenheim to see what kind of company Voith was.

Has that changed in the mean time?

Dietrich Bernt, Voith Turbo: Initially Kocks was cautious in its dealings with Voith; they did not know us.

Harry Weingartner: But that changed quickly. For our new development, the size 500 roughing stands, we required HIrth serrations for the drive shafts. Within a very short period of time, Voith supplied calculations that optimized our design phase. We quickly realized that Voith are not amateurs. Another positive aspect: There are no intermediaries or traders involved.

To stay with the automotive analogy: Voith is considered the Mercedes among suppliers of Hirth serrations. Would you have been satisfied with a smaller automobile?

Norbert Stiehle: For us, reliable production and quality are decisive – a company like Voith can provide these.

Harry Weingartner: When it comes to workmanship, quality and accuracy, in roll stands, the experience of Voith is obvious. Voith showed us how to measure.

Where are the greatest challenges when building a system?

Harry Weingartner: They are in job planning and scheduling, in the raw material and in differences of quality among suppliers. Today, drawings alone are not enough. We look for partners who participate in the design. System suppliers such as Voith. Look at spare parts, for example: to check standard rings, Voith saw the need to build fixtures. That was something quite new for us.

Norbert Stiehle: Voith is an innovative partner and, as a machinery and equipment builder, always in search of new applications.

Where do you see the future of rolling mill construction?

Norbert Stiehle: The future lies in the transverse rolling process.

Harry Weingartner: We will incorporate safety couplings and Hirth serrations from Voith Turbo at critical locations there – and rely on Voith know-how.

The participants were: Norbert Stiehle, Section Manager Design & Engineering (KOCKS); Harry Weingartner, Development (KOCKS); Dieter Bernt, Technical Sales Manager Voith Hirth Serrations (Voith Turbo).

Voith Turbo

Voith Turbo, the specialist for hydrodynamic drive, coupling and braking systems for road, rail and industrial applications, as well as for ship propulsion systems, is a Group Division of Voith AG.

Voith sets standards worldwide for papermaking technology, power transmission, energy technology, and industrial services. Voith was founded in 1867. With approximately 37 000 employees, annual sales of € 4 billion and over 270 locations worldwide, Voith is one of the largest family-owned companies in Europe.

Voith is an official partner of the initiative "Germany – Land of Ideas".

FRIEDRICH KOCKS GmbH & Co KG

For over 50 years the independent medium-sized company has been active in rolling mill construction (tube, wire, rod and bar) and is 100 % family owned. Headquarters are in Hilden, in the triangle formed by the cities of Düsseldorf, Cologne and Wuppertal. The company was founded by Dr.-Ing., Dr.-Ing. e.h. Friedrich Heinrich Kocks and has 120 employees. There are offices in Hilden, Bremen and Pittsburgh, USA.

The first stretch reduction mill (SRM) for seamless or welded tubes was developed and built by KOCKS in 1950. With space for up to 32 stands and minimal spacing between stands, it permits extremely economical production. Optimizing of rolling both seamless as well as welded tubes is an ongoing process.

One result of this innovation is the 3-roll stretch reduction block with individually powered rolls. Development of 3-roll blocks for production of wire started in 1954. These equally compact blocks permit twist-free rolling – even cold rolling – of quality steels, specialty grade, superalloys, sintered materials as well as nonferrous metals and their alloys. The reducing & sizing block [RSB] with its "C-Module" drive is the latest stage in a series of innovations in the field of 3-roll blocks at KOCKS. To date, more than 180 KOCKS 3-roll blocks with over 7,000 stands have been supplied worldwide for production of tube, wire, rod and bar.