In 2023, Zimmermann took over the company EiMa Maschinenbau based in Frickenhausen, which is also family-owned. By this, Zimmermann was not only able to strengthen its team, but also expand its portfolio in the lighter machine segment. Both Markus Eisold (owner of EiMa) and Frieder Gänzle were aware that the merger process would be challenging and a long, sometimes rocky road. Nevertheless, they faced the challenge together.
How did you even get to know each other?
Markus: My father already knew Frieder’s father—we’re in the same industry and live in the same region. It’s a small area, so you end up knowing each other and also meet quite often. I happened to meet Rudolf Gänzle at dinner in late 2021, then again at the AMB 2022, until we finally decided to take action in January 2023.
Frieder: We already knew each other personally, but more on a surface level from meeting on various trade shows and events. One late evening, a confidential conversation became the initial spark that made us want to collaborate. It quickly became clear to everyone that the opportunities and similarities far outweighed the risks and differences.
Why did EiMa decide to sell to Zimmermann?
Markus: The German-speaking market is too small for our machines. If the economy weakened at times, we felt the impact immediately. We couldn’t operate in international markets like the USA or China without significant investments, which was beyond our reach. So, we initially started looked for a partner but ultimately decided to sell nevertheless. In a family business, values are still much different compared to an investor. Here, we can be confident that everything is in good hands and will endure. Zimmermann has a good reputation in the industry. The close proximity was, of course, an added advantage for both our employees and the logistics as well as the production of our machines.
What are the benefits of the collaboration?
Frieder: I’d say it’s a classic win-win situation. We were able to offer EiMa a new perspective and sales opportunities, and with their lighter machines we also expanded our own product portfolio. For example, with the FZ22 and FZ27 product family, we can offer our customers economically attractive milling machines that deliver very high quality and high reliability in their base versions.
Markus: We benefit from the global service and sales structures. Until now, we’ve only operated within the German-speaking market, but together with Zimmermann, we now have completely new possibilities. EiMa machines are not known outside Germany, but Zimmermann has a well-established name and is recognized by an international customer base.
How would you describe the collaboration?
Frieder: We merged our sales teams relatively quickly, and since the beginning of the year, we’ve completely taken over the service for EiMa machines. All assembly already takes place at our facility in Neuhausen now. We’ve also started collaborating on design and engineering efforts to benefit from synergies. However, it’s important not to underestimate the immense effort required to synchronize two companies. There are many structural and emotional obstacles to overcome.
That being said, we’re currently on a good path and see very positive developments in many areas. For our customers, we are currently working on further expanding our portfolio. There are many ideas about how we can better position our machines, for instance, we are considering introducing a Basic and a High-End line. This would allow us to offer solutions for cost-conscious customers as well as for complex, high-tech requirements.
Markus: Our machines aren’t as technically complex as the ones from Zimmermann. They’re pragmatic, cost-efficient, and simple to operate. Together with Zimmermann’s expertise and manpower, we can optimize our machines while maintaining an attractive price range. Currently, we’re revising our milling head portfolio, among other things we’ve already integrated the VH10 into the FZP/U27 series.
What has the experience been like with the FZ22 and FZ27 machines?
Frieder: So far, we’ve had nothing but positive experiences. The market launch went very smoothly. The first FZU22 is already in operation with a customer in the USA, and additional machines are heading to India and China. First machines have also been commissioned in the German tooling and mold-making sector. Our customers are very satisfied with the performance and reliability of the machines.
How would you describe the personal dynamic in the collaboration?
Frieder: As I’ve mentioned, merging two companies is no easy task. I’m grateful that EiMa’s leadership team actively supported this process and helped implement the agreed-upon approach. I deeply value the exchange with Markus and learn a lot from him personally every day. It’s incredibly valuable for us to see how processes and tasks were organized at EiMa in the past. Not everything at Zimmermann was perfect or better. I’m confident that we will only continue to benefit from this collaboration in the future.
Markus: We’re working together as equals and regularly exchange ideas. Of course, it’s an adjustment. I’ve had to hand over a lot of responsibility, but on the other hand, it allows me to focus more on the operational work aspect and to tinker with the technology.
What are the next steps?
Frieder: Taking an outside standpoint, starting in 2025, EiMa will be fully integrated into Zimmermann. This means that design/engineering, service, and sales will then be handled by Zimmermann, and the remaining machines and model names will be adapted to fit into the Zimmermann system. There’s still plenty of work ahead, transferring the products into our system, but we’re on the right track.
Markus: We still have several horizontal machining units that will gradually be incorporated into the portfolio, such as the FZH27 and FZH32. Specialized machines like the SIGMA D also have market potential and will remain part of the portfolio. However, this can only be done step by step. Daily operations must continue.