technology-support: Highlights from the Polná 2026 user meeting

Toolmakers at the Round Table

This year's meeting built on previous editions, but also introduced something new – it was preceded on Thursday by a working round table of production directors and technicians from the toolmaking companies A.RAYMOND JABLONEC, Peartec and Josef Škrkoň - Techplast. The aim was to provide a space for more focused informal technical discussion and the sharing of experience in processes and the optimisation of electrode and mould production, thus opening up topics that were subsequently reflected in Friday's programme. 

Friday's Programme Built on Practical Experience

Friday's seminar was once again based primarily on sharing practical experience. Invited presentations were given by representatives of companies and institutions working in mechanical engineering, CNC machining, toolmaking, production planning, automation and supporting software solutions for machinists.

The opening session began with Radek Pípa from TKZ Polná, who introduced the company with its long tradition and a presentation entitled TKZ Polná, spol. s r.o., 114 Years of Experience with Metal.

He was followed by Pavel Rach from A.RAYMOND JABLONEC with the topic Sustainable Toolmaking in Central Europe: A Small Toolroom's Perspective on How to Grow, Not Just Survive. A practical perspective from a supplier of CNC machine tools was provided by Jakub Starnovský from WEMCO Czech, who presented the joys and challenges of supplying CNC machines, along with examples of joint projects.

The next part of the programme was devoted to technologies and software tools closely connected with the daily work of operators, setters, programmers and manufacturing engineers. David Fojtík from heidenhain.cz discussed the topic CNC Heidenhain in 2026 and CNC Machine Operators, Setters and Programmers. Václav Vrtěl from CIMCO presented the capabilities of CIMCO tools for CNC machinists, including editing, simulation, transfer and management of NC programs, as well as production monitoring. Petr Brož from Heaven Industries followed with the subject of production planning and rapid rescheduling in response to unexpected changes.

A traditionally strong historical and technical dimension was also provided by the presentation from Karel Praks, one of the first GibbsCAM users in the Czech Republic, who this year addressed the topic History of CNC Machine Programming and 30 Years of GibbsCAM in the Czech Republic.

The afternoon session offered further inspiration from both practice and academia. Pavel Zeman from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the Czech Technical University in Prague, Department of Production Machines and Equipment, presented a perspective on the real production process, with all its pitfalls and details. Ondřej Bouzek from SCHUNK Intec showed where SCHUNK products meet technology-support users. Zdeněk Berka from Sandvik CZ focused on the CoroPlus^® Tool Library for the GibbsCAM and Cimatron CAD/CAM systems.

Of course, employees of technology-support also took the floor. Milan Hnídek presented machine tool accessories from a single supplier and offered practical inspiration from LNS. In the presentations From the Life of GibbsCAM Technical Support, the GibbsCAM technical support team shared experience from daily communication with users, handling their requests and practical insights into using the system. Ondřej Vopravil presented Cimatron as a Universal CAD System and, in a separate presentation, also discussed experience from the daily work of Cimatron technical support.

Alongside the main CAD/CAM systems GibbsCAM and Cimatron, this year's programme thus also showcased the broader portfolio of technology-support products and services – from LNS hardware accessories for machine tools, through tools for working with NC programs, tool libraries and other software add-ons, to technical support, consultancy and practical assistance for users in everyday production.

Alongside the technical programme, individual consultations between users and technical support teams also took place. Participants thus had the opportunity to discuss specific questions about GibbsCAM, Cimatron, LNS and other tools directly with specialists who work with these systems in practice every day.

The Informal Part as a Space for Sharing Experience

Although this was a professional event, the social part once again played an important role this year. The setting of Měšťanský pivovar Polná once again provided a pleasant backdrop for informal meetings, discussions, exchanges of experience and networking. The programme also included an evening visit to the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, followed by a get-together on the brewery premises.

These reflections are also available in video format, where you will find the content of the PowerPoint presentations delivered at this year's meeting. They can serve as a source of information for those who were unable to attend the event for various reasons, and for those of us who were there, as an archive we can draw on whenever needed.

The following presentations were given as part of the presentations of products and services associated with technology-support:

• TKZ Polná, spol. s r.o. | 114 Years of Experience with Metal | Radek Pípa
• A.RAYMOND JABLONEC s.r.o. | Sustainable Toolmaking in Central Europe | Pavel Rach
• WEMCO Czech s.r.o. | The Joys and Challenges of Supplying CNC Machine Tools, Examples of Joint Projects | Jakub Starnovský
• heidenhain.cz | CNC Heidenhain in 2026 and CNC Machine Operators, Setters and Programmers | David Fojtík
• CIMCO | CIMCO Today in 2026 for CNC Machinists | Václav Vrtěl
• Heaven Industries, s.r.o. | Software Not Only for Production Planning, but Also for Rapid Rescheduling in Response to Unexpected Changes | Petr Brož
• Karel Praks | History of CNC Machine Programming and 30 Years of GibbsCAM in the Czech Republic
• Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the Czech Technical University in Prague | I Am More Interested in the Real Process, with All Its Pitfalls and Details | Pavel Zeman
• SCHUNK Intec s.r.o. | Where SCHUNK Products Meet t-support Users | Ondřej Bouzek
• Sandvik CZ s.r.o. | CoroPlus^® Tool Library for CAD/CAM GibbsCAM and CAD/CAM Cimatron | Zdeněk Berka
• t-support.cz | Machine Tool Accessories from a Single Supplier, Inspiration | Milan Hnídek
• t-support.cz | From the Life of GibbsCAM Technical Support, Part 1
• t-support.cz | Cimatron as a Universal CAD System | Ondřej Vopravil
• t-support.cz | From the Life of GibbsCAM Technical Support, Part 2
• t-support.cz | From the Life of Cimatron Technical Support | Ondřej Vopravil

The videos are on YouTube in the playlist User Meeting | Event Reflections