Page 12 - CMA PROfiles Fall 2019

ASSOCIATE OF THE QUARTER

LEUCO

a legacy of friendship

Founded in Germany in 1954, LEUCO is one of the world´s largest suppliers of carbide
and diamond-tipped machine cutting tools for wood and plastic processing. Its story
begins with the close friendship of Josef Störzer and Willi Ledermann, colleagues at a
metal-working company. Störzer was a bright, talented engineer, and Ledermann was a
brilliant financial director.

Störzer decided to leave the metal-working company to pursue his own work, making
metal saw blades and designing novel new features, and Ledermann soon joined him.
LEUCO was born. Their company originally manufactured metal saw blades, but by mid-
1955, they saw a need for cutting tools for the wood industry and expanded their focus.
Today the company is still family-owned.

BRINGING INNOVATION TO NORTH AMERICA
As LEUCO marks its 40th anniversary in North America, the company’s footprint has
expanded to include seven facilities and 112 employees (internationally, around 1,200
employees work for LEUCO). Its customers include sawmills and the construction,
furniture, paneling, and interior finishing industries. Nowadays, highlighting the “u” in
LEUCO marketing materials is a nod to customers being central to its mission and values.

“We provide everything from small drill bits to high-end, diamond-tipped cutting
tools,” says Abi Shaffer, Director of Marketing for the North America division. “We
serve anyone, ranging from a two-person shop to some of the largest furniture and
cabinetmakers as well as aeronautics manufacturers.

10 PROFILES FALL 2019