Sunnen-TIBO Partnership: Complete Deep Hole Machining

A manufacturer of hydraulic cylinder tubes needs both deep hole drilling and precision honing for a new product line. The tubes are 3 m long, with a 63 mm bore drilled by BTA and then honed to a mirror finish of Ra 0.2 µm. Historically, the company has sourced these two operations from separate suppliers — the drilled tube from one, the honed tube from another. The logistics of moving 3 m tubes between suppliers adds cost, lead time, and risk of damage. The manufacturer asks both suppliers whether they can provide the complete process. Neither can. This is not an unusual situation. Deep hole drilling and bore finishing have historically been separate disciplines, served by separate companies with separate expertise. A strategic alliance announced in April 2026 between Sunnen Products Company and TIBO Tiefbohrtechnik GmbH changes this landscape.

The Sunnen-TIBO Partnership ​

In April 2026, Sunnen Products Company — headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri — and TIBO Tiefbohrtechnik GmbH — based in Pfullingen, Germany — announced a strategic alliance to jointly offer comprehensive deep hole machining solutions.

The partnership is not a merger or acquisition. Both companies continue to operate independently, maintaining their separate product lines, manufacturing facilities, and customer relationships. The alliance is focused on sales, marketing, and coordinated customer solutions.

The initial geographic scope covers Europe and the Middle East, with the potential to expand to other regions based on customer demand.

What Each Company Brings ​

David Kreilein, CEO of Sunnen, summarized the rationale: "By adding additional BTA drilling, gun drilling and rifling machine solutions to our existing honing and deep-hole drilling portfolio, we can deliver more comprehensive solutions for manufacturers requiring deep hole machining."

Ludwig Augustin, CEO of TIBO, added: "Together we will offer one of the most comprehensive and technologically advanced portfolios of deep hole machining solutions available."

TIBO's Deep Hole Drilling Technology ​

TIBO specializes exclusively in deep hole drilling machines and has built its reputation on a modular machine design that can be configured for specific applications.

Gun Drilling Machines (E-Series) ​

TIBO's E-Series gun drilling machines cover the diameter range of 2–40 mm with drilling depths up to 4500 mm. These machines use the single-flute gun drilling method where coolant is delivered through an internal channel in the drill shank and chips are evacuated through the external V-flute.

The E-Series is available with 1–6 spindles as standard, and up to 12 spindles in a TWIN configuration where two drilling units operate from opposite ends of the workpiece simultaneously. This modular spindle arrangement allows high-volume producers to drill multiple holes in each cycle.

BTA Drilling Machines (B-Series) ​

The B-Series BTA drilling machines handle diameters from 18–250 mm for solid drilling, with counter-boring capability up to 400 mm. Drilling depths reach 12,000 mm on standard configurations with deeper capacities available for special orders.

BTA drilling uses a pressure head (BOZA) that seals against the workpiece face and delivers coolant through the annular space between the drill tube and the hole wall. Chips are evacuated through the hollow interior of the drill tube. The B-Series achieves feed rates 5–7 times higher than gun drilling at equivalent diameters.

Rifling Machines (DR-Series) ​

TIBO's DR-Series rifling machines produce rifling in gun barrels and similar components using button rifling and crown cutters. The diameter range is 4.5–155 mm with depths up to 10,000 mm.

Modular Design Philosophy ​

TIBO's differentiation is a modular system built around eight standardized components:

1. Machine bed with linear guides in various sizes
2. Drill spindles (1–6, mounted on linear guides)
3. Tailstock or counter-rotating second drill spindle
4. Drill bush holder carriage (ELB) or coolant pressure head (BOZA)
5. Chip removal and coolant system
6. Steady rests and vibration dampers
7. Control system with touch panel and Siemens PLC
8. Safety enclosures and light barriers

This modular approach allows TIBO to deliver custom-configured machines with lead times of 4–6 months from order to delivery — significantly faster than fully custom machine builders.

Sunnen's Honing and Bore Finishing Capability ​

Sunnen is the global leader in precision honing, with a product range that covers virtually every bore finishing application.

Horizontal Honing ​

Sunnen's horizontal honing machines are the standard for tube honing in hydraulic cylinder manufacturing. These machines use a rotating and reciprocating hone that produces a cross-hatch surface pattern optimized for seal compatibility and wear resistance.

The horizontal honing range covers diameters from 25–250 mm with lengths exceeding 12 m. Accuracy is maintained to within 0.000010″ (0.25 µm) for diameter control.

Vertical Honing ​

The SV-Series vertical honing systems are designed for high-production environments. The vertical orientation is self-centering for the workpiece, reducing setup time and eliminating the need for steady rests on short to medium-length parts.

Sunnen's vertical honing machines are available in single-spindle and multi-spindle configurations, with fully automated CNC control, in-process gaging, and tool wear compensation.

Universal Honing ​

For job shops and low-volume production, Sunnen offers universal honing machines that can be manually operated or configured with semi-automated controls. These machines handle a wide range of diameters and lengths with quick changeover between jobs.

Sunnen SHDD Series Deep Hole Drilling System ​

Sunnen also offers its own deep hole drilling system — the SHDD Series — which provides heavy-duty deep hole drilling capability with tight diameter control and bore straightness. The SHDD system is designed for medium to large diameter applications and is backed by Sunnen's global service network.

Combined Technology Portfolio ​

The partnership creates a single-source portfolio that covers the complete bore manufacturing process from primary hole generation to final surface finish.

Available Processes ​

Process Integration ​

For a typical hydraulic cylinder application, the combined process flow would be:

1. BTA drilling (TIBO B-Series) — produce the bore to within IT9–IT10
2. Skiving and roller burnishing (TIBO or Sunnen) — improve surface finish to Ra 0.1–0.4 µm in a single pass
3. Horizontal honing (Sunnen) — final sizing to within IT6–IT7, cross-hatch surface for seal compatibility

Previously, each of these operations would have been quoted and managed separately. The partnership enables a single point of responsibility for the complete bore.

Industries Served ​

The combined portfolio targets industries where deep hole quality directly affects product performance.

Aerospace ​

Aerospace landing gear components require deep bores with tight concentricity and surface finish. The combination of TIBO's bottle boring capability for contour holes and Sunnen's honing for final finishing addresses a critical manufacturing challenge in landing gear production.

Turbine shafts and engine components made from Inconel and other superalloys benefit from the coordinated process design that the partnership enables.

Hydraulics and Pneumatics ​

Hydraulic cylinder tubes are the highest-volume application for combined drilling and honing. The partnership allows tube manufacturers to specify the complete bore manufacturing process — from raw tube to finished bore — through a single channel.

Defense ​

TIBO's rifling technology combined with Sunnen's bore finishing capability addresses the defense sector's requirement for precision gun barrel manufacturing. The defense segment is noted as a growing market by both companies.

Medical Technology ​

TIBO's gun drilling capability for small diameters (down to 2 mm) combined with Sunnen's finishing processes supports medical implant manufacturing, including bone nails, screws, and surgical instruments.

Renewable Energy ​

Wind turbine shafts and hydraulic pitch control components require large-diameter deep bores with high surface quality. The partnership's combined BTA drilling and honing capability covers these applications.

What the Partnership Means for Manufacturers ​

The practical benefit for manufacturers is simplification of the supply chain for deep hole components.

Single Source, Single Responsibility ​

When a bore is drilled by one supplier and finished by another, dimensional discrepancies between the two processes become a source of dispute. If the drilled bore has excessive runout, the honing allowance may be insufficient to clean up the bore. If the honing process removes more material than anticipated, the wall thickness may fall below specification.

With a single source, the responsibility for the complete bore is clear. The process design — how much material to leave for finishing, what surface finish the drilling process must achieve, what coolant and tooling to use — is optimized across both operations rather than optimized independently.

Reduced Logistics Cost ​

Moving long, heavy components between suppliers adds cost. A 6 m hydraulic cylinder tube is not a part that ships efficiently in small parcels. The logistics cost for a deep hole component that requires both drilling and finishing can be 10–20% of the total component cost when two suppliers are involved.

Process Optimization ​

The most significant technical benefit is the ability to optimize the drilling and finishing processes together. For example, a BTA drilling process can be designed to leave a specific amount of material for the subsequent honing operation, and the honing process can be designed to use the drilling process's characteristic surface texture as a starting point.

This coordinated approach can reduce total cycle time, extend tool life in both processes, and improve final bore quality.

FAQ ​

Is the Sunnen-TIBO partnership a merger? ​

No. Both companies continue to operate independently. The partnership is a strategic alliance focused on coordinated sales, marketing, and customer solutions.

What processes are covered by the partnership? ​

The combined portfolio includes gun drilling, BTA/STS drilling, ejector drilling, rifling, skiving and burnishing, pull reaming, bottle boring, horizontal honing, vertical honing, reaming, and bore gaging.

What diameter range does the combined portfolio cover? ​

From 2 mm (TIBO gun drilling) to 400 mm (TIBO counter-boring and Sunnen honing), covering the full range of deep hole applications.

Can I buy a combined machine that drills and hones? ​

The partnership does not combine both processes into a single machine. TIBO and Sunnen machines remain separate products. The partnership enables coordinated process design and single-source supply — not a combined machine tool.

What industries benefit most from this partnership? ​

Hydraulic cylinder manufacturing, aerospace landing gear and engine components, defense, medical technology, and renewable energy.

Where is the partnership initially available? ​

Europe and the Middle East, with potential expansion to other regions.

Does Sunnen still offer its own SHDD deep hole drilling system? ​

Yes. The SHDD Series and Sunnen's other deep hole drilling products continue to be available. The TIBO partnership adds additional drilling technology options to Sunnen's portfolio.

Does TIBO offer any finishing processes on its machines? ​

TIBO offers skiving and burnishing as part of its machine capabilities. Precision honing and reaming are provided by Sunnen.

How do I get a quote for a combined drilling and honing solution? ​

Through Sunnen's existing sales channels or TIBO's sales organization. The partnership has coordinated sales teams that can quote the complete process.

What is the lead time for a TIBO drilling machine? ​

Standard lead time for a modular TIBO machine is 4–6 months from order to delivery, depending on configuration.

Summary ​

The Sunnen-TIBO strategic alliance represents a consolidation of deep hole machining capabilities that have historically been fragmented across multiple suppliers.

For manufacturers of hydraulic cylinders, aerospace components, defense systems, and medical devices, the partnership offers:

• A single source for the complete bore manufacturing process — from primary drilling to final surface finish
• Coordinated process design that optimizes drilling and finishing together rather than independently
• Simplified supply chain with reduced logistics cost for long, heavy components
• Clear quality responsibility — one partner accountable for the complete bore

For the deep hole drilling industry, the partnership reflects a broader trend toward integrated manufacturing solutions. As components become more complex and quality requirements more demanding, the ability to offer a complete process — rather than a single operation — is becoming a competitive requirement.

Both Sunnen and TIBO remain independent companies with separate manufacturing facilities and product lines. The partnership is additive: it combines existing technologies through coordinated sales and process engineering rather than through product integration. For the customer, this means access to the widest available range of deep hole machining technologies through a single point of contact.