Anca Awards Honor Diversity, Innovation

The ANCA Tool of the Year Awards 2024, which culminated with a special presentation at the ANCA booth during IMTS 2024, celebrated diversity within the industry and achievements in precision tool manufacturing.

“For 50 years,” said ANCA Co- Founder Pat Boland, “ANCA’s software has set industry standards, enabling Tool of the Year entrants to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Our technology not only meets the highest precision demands but also showcases the creativity and capability of our customers, highlighting truly innovative designs.”

Stephanie Chrystal from Sandvik Coromant USA was recognized as ANCA’s Female Machinist of the Year.

The award, introduced in 2023 to promote inclusivity, honors Chrystal’s problem-solving skills, leadership in expanding and training her team, and her ability to deliver outstanding results under pressure. Chrystal expressed pride in representing women in a typically male-dominated field, hoping to inspire others to pursue technical careers.

“It is a privilege to be a part of Sandvik Coromant, which is paving the way for women to be recognized for their contributions to the industry,” Chrystal said. “I am honored to have been chosen out of all of the extraordinary women in this field as the Female Machinist of the Year for ANCA. I hope to be an encouragement to women looking for guidance on their journey for meaningful careers. I am excited to see ANCA continue to honor women in this industry and inspire other companies with this award.”

ANCA also recognized Female Machinist of the Year finalists Roksana Grodowska of CNC Progresja Sp. z o.o., Poland, and Jessica Sennott of U.S.-based Gorilla Mill.

Werkzeugschleiferei Krämer GmbH won the Made on ANCA category, showcasing advanced use of ANCA’s iGrind operations and advanced profile software features, such as layers, pivot editor and 3D hook compensation.

“This tool is used by one of our customers to create a profile in a gripper for molded parts. Previously, this contour was produced using a 3D milling process,” said Torsten Mende, managing director at Werkzeugschleiferei Krämer GmbH. The customer’s tolerance specification was +/-0.01 mm. The program was created in ToolRoom RN32/33 and ground using RN34.1 on ANCA’s FX7.