IBOR AG is a Swiss CNC contract manufacturer with 18 milling machines. After installing Liquidtool AUTOPILOT on a single CNC machine as a pilot, they reduced coolant concentrate consumption by up to 30%, stopped tank overflows, and resolved a recurring quality issue with aluminum parts. The continuous data also surfaced a hidden temperature effect that was affecting their machining tolerances.

The Challenge

Managing coolant across 18 machines

IBOR AG produces precision parts for aerospace, automotive, and mechanical engineering customers. With 18 CNC milling machines running daily, coolant quality has a direct impact on what they can deliver.

The team was running into the same problems again and again:

• Concentration levels fluctuated, which led to surface defects and stains on aluminum parts
• Tanks occasionally overflowed, wasting expensive concentrate and causing avoidable downtime
• Manual spot checks were sporadic, so issues were often noticed too late
• Without historical data, it was hard to spot patterns or understand the root cause

The Solution

Starting with one AUTOPILOT

IBOR decided to start small. They installed Liquidtool AUTOPILOT on a single CNC machine as a pilot project.

The AUTOPILOT continuously monitors coolant concentration and fill level, and doses water and concentrate automatically to keep both within the target range. It runs around the clock and reduces the need for manual checks, while the team still does periodic spot checks to verify the values.

Within a short time, the team saw the difference. Concentration stayed steady, the tank never overflowed, and the production staff could spend less time on coolant maintenance.

The Discovery

What the data revealed

The bigger insight came once Thomas Bättig started looking at the continuous data in Liquidtool Manager.

These temperature swings had a direct effect on machining tolerances. Without continuous data, the connection between hall temperature and machining accuracy would have been almost impossible to see. With the data in hand, IBOR could adjust their tolerances accordingly.

It was a production problem the team didn't know they had, solved with data they didn't know they were missing.

What's Next

Scaling up across the fleet

IBOR has already equipped 4 of their 18 CNC machines with the AUTOPILOT and continues to roll it out across the rest of the fleet. For a contract manufacturer that delivers precision CNC parts to demanding industries, more reliable coolant management means fewer quality issues, lower costs, and more predictable production.

Frequently Asked Questions

IBOR AG is a Swiss contract manufacturer specializing in plate and cubic parts for aerospace, automotive, and mechanical engineering. With 35 employees and 18 CNC milling machines, the company produces precision components to high quality standards.