Danobatgroup, a specialist in designing and manufacturing machine tools and advanced manufacturing solutions, has built its global leadership on product excellence and a solid internationalization strategy. This approach has made it one of the world’s leading machine tool manufacturers — with Germany playing a pivotal role in its international expansion. Its German subsidiaries, Danobat-Overbeck and Bimatec Soraluce, have not only opened up Danobatgroup’s innovations to the global market but have also become leaders in their respective niches in Germany.

Bimatec Soraluce ranks among the top two in the country by revenue, with over 1,900 installed machines. Danobat-Overbeck, meanwhile, leads the highprecision grinding segment for applications requiring internal, external, and radius grinding — as well as high-precision hard turning. Soraluce, a specialist in milling, boring, and machining centers, entered the German market in 1991 through the acquisition of Bimatec, based in Limburg. Over the years, Bimatec Soraluce has strengthened its foothold in the German market as a springboard for global growth. In 2012, it invested 6.2 million to expand its workshop to 3,800 square meters, with a crane clearance of 10 meters — enabling the exhibition of machines with vertical travel up to 8 meters.

BIMATEC SORALUCE HAS OVER 1,900 MACHINES INSTALLED

The new facilities included a technology center for milling and boring trials, unlocking new possibilities for application development and machining tests. The subsidiary also houses the Soraluce Academy, a platform connecting customers with technical experts to share knowledge, learn, and implement practical solutions and projects.

A Strong Commercial Partnership

Bimatec Soraluce, which has its own machining engineering department, showcases the full Soraluce machine lineup in a dedicated showroom for live demonstrations. The subsidiary serves the entire Central European region, providing technical support and services. It boasts a headstock maintenance center and stocks 3.9 million in spare parts. In addition to leading the milling segment in Germany, Bimatec Soraluce amplifies the Soraluce brand’s global reach and exemplifies the strong commercial ties between Basque and German firms.

Danobat, known for its grinding machines, lathes, hard turning systems, and hybrid machines, began its journey in Germany in 2002 with the acquisition of Overbeck GmbH — a move aimed not only at expanding the Danobat brand but also at diversifying its product range and technological capabilities. Overbeck brought with it a century of expertise in German precision engineering.

From the Workshop to World Stage

Overbeck GmbH was founded in 1924, when master mechanic Gustav Overbeck opened a precision engineering workshop in Herborn. Its first major orders came from the aerospace industry after the 1929 crash. In 1948, the firm launched the first Overbeck grinder in the Zetto series. By 1959, its internal and external grinding machines commanded over 25% and 15% market share, respectively. The company’s Herborn facilities took on their current form in the 1970s, coinciding with the global rise of its high-precision grinders, renowned for their technical excellence. In subsequent decades, the product line expanded to include specialized grinders for the bearing industry and fully automated NC external grinding machines. Danobat acquired Overbeck in 2022, continuing its legacy in internal grinding with the backing of the company’s extensive experience. Recent innovations include the new ILD series of grinders for large, long parts, and the IED-1200 model designed for spindle housings, shafts, and machine tool components.