Spangenberg, January 05, 2025: Strong partnerships and innovative sawing solutions “Made in Germany” provide a solid foundation for the future of the steel industry. This was demonstrated once again at the BDS Band Saw Blade Day, where Europe’s largest band saw blade manufacturer, WIKUS, welcomed association members exclusively to Spangenberg, Hesse, on January 23.

Steel traders, bending companies, service centers, and processing firms gained valuable expertise through discussions, hands-on examples, and exclusive insights into the global operations of WIKUS. This aligns perfectly with the mission of the BDS: representing an industry responsible for two-thirds of Germany’s steel supply while promoting quality, sustainability, and competitiveness through networking.

BDS board member Oliver Ellermann and Sven Koepchen, the new CEO of the WIKUS Group since the end of 2024, opened the event together. “WIKUS has a long tradition in the steel industry. We were therefore delighted to be able to organize the Band Saw Blade Day 2025 as a partner of the BDS,” says Koepchen. Guests engaged in personal discussions while gaining hands-on sawing expertise and exclusive insights into the state-of-the-art production facilities of WIKUS. The efficiency of WIKUS band saw blades was demonstrated live through the cutting of solid materials, girders and industrial blanks.”

Practical knowledge for more efficient steel processing 

With the steel industry under considerable cost and time pressures, quality and long-term security are essential. Karsten Gutke, Managing Director of Technology at WIKUS, explained how band saw blades can be used optimally. This starts with selecting the right band saw blade and ranges from optimal cutting parameters to the automation of tool management. 

Jan Möschler, Sales Manager at Behringer GmbH, presented the advantages of Behringer’s newly developed machine control system (AFC Pro) in a specialist lecture. This innovation makes sawing processes even more precise and efficient. He also presented practical application examples in which Behringer has developed customized solutions for individual customer requirements together with WIKUS. The close cooperation between the two companies shows how technological innovation and practical expertise go hand in hand to optimize steel processing. 

Innovations for the future of steel processing

The BDS Band Saw Blade Day took place in the ideal setting—the innovative sawing and production world of WIKUS—and provided expert knowledge, insights, and solutions for both current and future challenges in the steel industry. As the host, WIKUS emphasized its role as a reliable partner for steel traders and processors, strengthening the efficiency and competitiveness of the industry through continuous innovation.

Discover the world of WIKUS sawing tools in the virtual showroom

Those unfamiliar with the high-quality sawing tools of WIKUS can explore them up close in the virtual showroom. The interactive platform offers comprehensive insights into the WIKUS product portfolio and enables visitors to get to know the innovative technologies and possible applications of the sawing tools in detail.