The Woodtech Division Is Formed

In 1990, in search of promising business units, the Engineering Division was founded: a special-purpose machinery department that developed machines for local companies, such as a grinding machine for Fill Metallbau.

Since this division was not very profitable, plans for the thin-cutting frame saw were dusted off: the frame saw that Johann Wintersteiger had developed as early as 1970 for ski production at Fischer was modified for use with parquet flooring. A connection to the company Banholzer (Banso)—now WINTERSTEIGER Sägen GmbH in Arnstadt, Thuringia—already existed: It was only with Banholzer’s saw blades that hardwood (e.g., oak) could be cut. Patents were filed for the hogging saw, scraper saw—two key components of the frame saw.

In 1991, the thin-cutting frame saw was presented with great success at LIGNA in Hanover. At a 16 m² exhibition booth, 500 leads were gathered—there was barely enough room for all the interested visitors! The frame saw had actually been developed for parquet flooring. However, the first customers were Sinus, a crate manufacturer from Greece, and a mousetrap factory in Neuburg an der Donau.

With the rising popularity of multi-layer parquet in the early 1990s, the Woodtech division continued to grow very successfully and steadily expanded its product range.