ANCA Invites Partners to Join AIMS Smart Factory Ecosystem

ANCA, a manufacturer in the tool and cutter grinding (TCG) sector, has announced it is inviting technology vendors and equipment manufacturers to become partners in its ANCA Integrated Manufacturing System (AIMS) ecosystem. AIMS is an open, interoperable smart factory solution designed to connect, automate, and create integrated production systems.

The initiative aims to address current industry challenges such as labor shortages, rising costs, and productivity pressures by creating a collaborative system of complementary technologies. The company is moving away from closed, proprietary systems in favor of an open ecosystem that allows for greater integration between different hardware and software vendors.

For technology vendors, becoming part of the AIMS-ready ecosystem offers several benefits, including access to ANCA’s global customer base, shared marketing and sales opportunities, and technical support for third-party integration. The program is designed to embed partner technologies into broader, solution-oriented sales approaches.

ANCA is seeking partners from a range of sectors that can add value to the smart factory experience for tool manufacturers. This includes:

Tool measurement and metrology equipment providers
Machine accessory and fixture manufacturers
Tool and cutter industry machinery providers (e.g., edge prep, laser marking)
Smart manufacturing software companies (MES, ERP, simulation)
Automation and robotics hardware suppliers

The AIMS platform itself is a modular system that connects various processes and equipment. It is built around the AIMS Server, which manages workflows and connectivity across grinding, measurement, and IT systems. Key components like the AutoFetch mobile robot and the AutoComp tool geometry compensation system provide automated tool handling and quality control. This architecture allows manufacturers to scale from guided operator workflows to fully autonomous, "lights-out" production cells.