Once again, the Wikus Global CTO Group met at our Spangenberg, Germany headquarters allowing the members to share a wealth of information and knowledge from all the subsidiaries worldwide. Several times a year the CTO group gets together to brainstorm, build upon the fundamental knowledge of our products, analyze case studies in various applications and learn about the new product developments as we look to the future.

Having the ability to reach out Globally for a solution we might need in a local application is one more way we provide value to our customers. It’s also a great opportunity to discuss the markets and needs seen around the World and how we can react to better service them. And of course, sharing competitive news and updates.

Some of our highlighted topics focused on Material Basics and Machinability, the Wikus Product Pyramid and a deeper understanding of bimetal and carbide comparisons. Individuals participated by presenting case studies on a variety of applications seen around the world and discussed the solutions found for those sometimes-challenging materials. Adding to our database of knowledge to provide proven results. Our goal and desire is to provide the best solution we can to produce the lowest cost per cut for our Global customers.

Topping off the highlights was the introduction and demonstration of CUBOGRIT® WIKUS expanded its range of band saw blades with cubic boron nitride (CBN) coated saw bands CUBOGRIT®. Cubic boron nitride is the second hardest known material, whose properties include not only high hardness and strength but also thermal and chemical resistance. These properties make CUBOGRIT^® saw blades ideal for the reliable machining of hardened ferrous and hard alloys as well as for 3D-printed hard alloys. With CUBOGRIT^®, even the hardest alloys of up to 70 HRC can now be sawn economically.

**The machine-condition: (cutting speed of at least 3937 surface feet per minute) **