A guillotine knife grinder is more than just a tool – it’s a vital part of achieving precision in modern manufacturing. This is something the team at Klingspor understands perfectly. As a global leader in the abrasives industry, Klingspor has been setting standards for quality and innovation for over 130 years.
From automotive and woodworking to aerospace, Klingspor’s abrasive products are trusted by some of the most demanding sectors around the world. Their iconic yellow logo is synonymous with reliability, and the brand’s reputation is built on unwavering attention to detail. However, behind that precision lies a series of tightly controlled processes – and one of the most critical among them is sharpening industrial knives, especially guillotine blades.
In Klingspor’s production facilities, guillotine knives play a crucial role. These long, heavy-duty blades are used to cut mats, abrasive belts, and other materials into the exact sizes required. This is no small task – every cut must be clean and consistent, and the blade’s edge must remain perfectly straight and sharp across its entire length. If not, jamming, frayed edges, and even material waste can occur.
For many years, Klingspor relied on an aging grinder that had served them well. However, as production demands grew, it became clear that the older machine was falling behind. Sharpening took too long, required constant operator oversight, and often led to inconsistent results that needed further correction.
That’s when the decision was made to modernize the sharpening process – and that’s where our partnership began.
Before delivering the new machine, we began by conducting a detailed analysis of Klingspor’s production needs. It was important to us that every function of the GR-2100e addressed real-world challenges on the factory floor. Through close collaboration, we selected a complete system setup: a MS60 coolant separator with a mobile 150-liter tank, a high-performance 60 L/min pump, and a selection of premium grinding wheels for hardened steel – all tailored to handle the demands of guillotine knife sharpening.
Once the configuration was finalized, our team installed the machine at Klingspor’s site in Bielsko-Biała, Poland. In addition, our technicians provided comprehensive training – covering everything from basic operation to advanced sharpening program setup. As a result, the machine was up and running smoothly from day one.
Within just a few weeks, the results became evident. Productivity increased, and knife sharpening became a streamlined part of their workflow.
To someone unfamiliar with industrial blade maintenance, sharpening might sound complicated. However, once the process is broken down, it becomes much easier to understand.
It all starts with securing the knife. Guillotine blades – often over two meters long – are mounted on a tilting electromagnetic table. This table holds the blade firmly in place using a powerful magnetic field, ensuring complete stability during sharpening. Then, the operator sets the desired sharpening angle, tailored to the blade’s shape and application.
Once the setup is complete, the operator launches the sharpening cycle using the intuitive HMI touchscreen interface. The machine’s grinding head then moves automatically along the entire length of the knife. After each pass, it incrementally advances closer to the blade edge – sometimes by as little as 0.001 mm – removing thin layers of metal with each stroke.
Importantly, the entire operation is vibration-free and highly precise, thanks to robust guides and precision roller systems. As a final step, the machine performs a spark-out pass, which polishes the edge and removes any microscopic burrs, leaving the knife razor-sharp and production-ready.
Because all sharpening parameters – including the number of passes, depth of cut, and feed speed – are fully programmable, the process delivers consistent, repeatable results, time after time.
When it comes to sharpening, sharpness alone isn’t enough. What truly matters in industrial environments is repeatability – the ability to sharpen every blade exactly the same way, regardless of the operator or shift.
This is where the GRAFS GR-2100e guillotine knife grinder stands out. It ensures flawless, repeatable sharpening, backed by a fully automated system and easy-to-use controls. The interface is intuitive, and even less experienced operators can quickly learn to achieve expert-level results.
Beyond that, safety and ergonomics are built into the design. The operator stays in full control without needing to perform delicate manual adjustments. This not only improves consistency but also significantly reduces fatigue and human error.
For Klingspor, choosing the GR-2100e wasn’t just about upgrading equipment – it was a strategic move to improve efficiency across the entire production process.
The shift from the old grinder to the GRAFS GR-2100e brought immediate and dramatic improvements. What once took hours now takes a fraction of the time. Sharpening that previously involved manual corrections is now precise, automated, and error-free.
Thanks to this modernization, Klingspor now enjoys a higher availability of sharpened blades, fewer production interruptions, and greater flexibility in scheduling their operations. The entire production line flows more smoothly, with fewer bottlenecks and significantly less downtime.
Just as importantly, cutting quality has stabilized at a consistently high level – helping Klingspor maintain its reputation for excellence.
All of this translates into tangible business benefits: time savings, cost reductions, and improved process reliability.
If your company works with industrial blades – whether guillotine, bookbinding, chipper, granulator, or recycling knives – and you’re ready to not just sharpen better, but sharpen faster, more precisely, and more efficiently, we’re ready to help.
At GRAFS, we don’t just sell machines. We help you implement complete, optimized knife sharpening systems tailored to your production. We provide hands-on training, expert advice, and long-term technical support.
Contact us today. Let us show you what 21st-century industrial precision really looks like – built from the ground up, on your terms.
