KASTO Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG celebrates its 175th birthday this year. The sawing and storage technology specialist with headquarters in Achern, Baden has evolved from a one-man-business into a globally successful company – and just like back then, it remains in the hands of the family who founded it. In celebration, KASTO provides an in-depth look into its history books – and is hosting a contest to find the oldest KASTO saw still in use.
KASTO looks back at a true success story and an impressive development. In 1844, the carpenter, Karl Stolzer founded the company as a “machine shop” in Achern, Baden-Württemberg. As a carpentry business, the company proceeded to manufacture water wheels, paper, and mill machines. With the building of sawmills and later timber mills, Karl Stolzer laid the foundation for the worldwide company success.
The invention of the hacksaw in the year 1947 marked the significant step towards the modern tool machine manufacturer. In the 1960s, the circular saws complemented the portfolio; at the beginning of the 1970s, KASTO presented the first fully automatic bar storage and retrieval system. This system featured two integrated circular saws which were supplied automatically by the operating gantry crane – the precursor for the first combined storage and sawing centers that KASTO manufactured beginning in 1980 and for which KASTO is the sole provider even today.
Globally successful and future-orientated
Today, KASTO has established itself as a global leader with over 140,000 saws sold and 2,200 installed storage systems for bars and sheet metal along with its numerous subsidiaries around the globe. For more than 30 years, Armin Stolzer has headed the operations of the family business as the managing director in the fifth generation; the other key management positions of the senior management are held by his wife, Ruth Stolzer and the four family members of the 6th generation. KASTO develops its own software systems, provides solutions for networking, automation and robot connection and focusses on future technologies such as augmented reality and artificial intelligence (AI). Therefore, the manufacturer sees itself as being well prepared for future challenges.
KASTO is using the anniversary year which officially begins on 7. May, as an opportunity to offer an in-depth look into its history books. The company will publish texts and photo galleries in regular intervals that for example, document the development of the business sectors sawing and storage technology but will also demonstrate the internationalization and the change in everyday life of the business and vocational training. The reader will be given exciting insights into one of the oldest family companies in Europe. The landmark birthday will be duly celebrated at the end of the anniversary year together with customers, business partners, journalists, employees, and friends.
Wanted: The oldest KASTO saw in operation
To mark this occasion, KASTO is launching a contest for its customers: The manufacturer is looking for the oldest KASTO saw which is still in use. Any machines built in or before 1980 may be submitted. Companies are invited to submit these including a photo of the saw and the nameplate via e-mail to 175@kasto.com. Each entry shall be rewarded; the winner will be announced and presented with an award.
About KASTO and sale of metal-cutting saws and semi-automatic and automatic storage systems for bar stock and sheet metal. It is also a leading manufacturer of automatic handling systems for metal bars, sheet metal, and pre-cut parts, as well as the corresponding software. One of Europe’s oldest family-owned companies, KASTO celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2019. In the course of its successful history, it has registered 170 patents, delivered more than 140,000 sawing machines to all parts of the world and installed more than 2,200 automatic storage facilities. In addition to a branch in Schalkau, Thuringia, KASTO has subsidiaries in England, France, Switzerland, Singapore, China, and the USA. For more information, visit www.kasto.com or contact press@kasto.com.
KASTO Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG, based in Achern, Germany, specializes in sawing and storage technology for bar stock. The company is a global leader in the manufacture
