From CAD Programme to Machine Building
vhf camfacture AG – manufacturer of CNC machining systems and tools – celebrated its twentieth anniversary on 26 September 2008. For all involved persons this has been an exciting time with the shifting of the company's emphasis from software manufacturer to machine builder. In the following we have assembled some interesting stations of the company history.
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The first vhf product: circuit diagramm created with CAD programme Platon in 1992. |
The three-person company was founded as VHF computer GbR on 26 September 1988 in Böblingen and started to market the self-developed printed circuit board design system Platon. Swiftly the company became market leader in this segment. Already from the beginning, printed circuit boards could be milled and drilled. In summer 1990, vhf firstly offered engraving and milling systems. At the end of the same year, the first plugin for the production of printed circuit board prototypes by isolation engraving was available.
In spring 1991 vhf moved to the industrial park of the neighbouring city Schönaich where significantly more generous premises with a presentation room were available. In the subsequent year, the first self-developed CNC controller m800 was presented. This was followed by the trade fair debut in the sector of sign making with the first larger milling machine as well as by the presentation of the first release of the production software Cenon in 1994. The vhf online shop, which started business in 1997, was a pioneer success in the internet.
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Relocation into vhf's first own company building in Ammerbuch at the end of 1998. |
At the end of 1998 vhf moved, with its staff of nearly 10 employees, into its first own company building in Ammerbuch – still the current company's office. About six months later, the new four axis controller CNC 750 was presented. In the same year, the first large format system CAM 2000 with double drive units in y direction was brought to market.
In 2003 vhf offered, for the first time, the significantly more robust Premium model range. In the following year the company's name also showed the changed company's emphasis: vhf computer GmbH became vhf camfacture GmbH. At the same time further production area was hired in the building on the neighbouring ground. Shortly after that, vhf presented the new Active systems with positioning ranges up to 2 x 4 metres. They were also available in a more robust Pro version in the subsequent year.
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The Impression series – one of the two latest vhf model ranges. |
At the end of 2007 vhf became a joint-stock company and had, for the first time, more than 50 employees. On another neighbouring site, there was the chance to buy a production hall with more than 1,000 square metres. In view of the lack of room, this chance was taken immediately. Also in the same year, the vhf tools GmbH was founded, since then vhf group consists of four companies.
In the course of the year 2008 two new machine series were presented: the Impression systems for micro-machining and the Active Mold line for large-volume mould making. In March 2009, vhf presented themselves and the Impression systems for the first time at Baselworld – the world watch and jewellery show – as well as at the IDS in Cologne – the international dental show for dental medicine and technology. In the middle of June, the ground-breaking ceremony for the new company building, as extension to the existing production hall, took place.
