Celebrating a half-century contribution to industrial progress through precision cutting tools

Over its history ANCA has changed the shape of the cutting tool industry with brilliant innovations. We are proud of our legacy of pushing the industry forward with our creative spirit, engineering excellence, a global network of expertise and breathtaking technology. In looking back at 50 years of growth, the future of ANCA is revealed. What five decades of ANCA brings to light is a passionate business philosophy: to be bold, control your destiny, and fully commit to innovation and customer needs. This is evident in our commitment to customised solutions that bring capability and agility together with a desire to solve customers’ production challenges.

ANCA’s future remains bold, focused on continuing to invent and deliver innovative customer-oriented technology that takes cutting tool production into areas not thought possible; as well as advanced manufacturing and automation as we continue to evolve and take on new challenges.

A message from ANCA's co-founders

Being privately owned brings great benefits as it means we can focus on investing and developing new innovations while maintaining our long-term view of the market to design products with longevity and customer focus.

ANCA is my life, and I am proud to be celebrating its 50th anniversary. I’m proud that we have been able to build the company to the size that it is and with world recognition. Thank you to all our employees, partners, and customers for helping to make ANCA what it is today.

Pat McCluskey

ANCA Co-Founder

50 years ago, Pat and I did not anticipate ANCA to be what it is today. We embarked on a business journey that felt in hindsight like stepping onto a treadmill, with our customers driving the speed. I take pride in the fact we’ve built a company that is global in outlook; has professional aftermarket support and thousands of loyal customers, some of whom have been with us for nearly five decades.

The technology we continue to unveil is a reflection of the brilliance and passion that pulses through ANCA. We have a multitude of talented people who have made contributions to ANCA throughout these years and continue to do so. To everyone who has shared in this journey so far, thank you.

Pat Boland

ANCA Co-Founder

It started with a mini computer

In 1974, ANCA co-founders Pat Boland and Pat McCluskey bought a mini-computer to turn their passion into a business venture. Considered mini or small for the time, it was in fact as tall as them at a cost of $4,000 - which in ‘74 could buy an inner city apartment. Their basic idea was to replace the hardwired controls of the time with a standard computer. Adding the computer to NC thus CNC resulted in a much more powerful and flexible technology than the hardwired logic designs that were current at the time.

Today ANCA is a thriving business with over 1,000 employees and a world leading manufacturer of CNC grinding machines, motion controls and manufacturing solutions. While the global headquarters remain located in Melbourne, Australia; due to the niche market we service, we export 99% of our products with customers in over 45 countries and offices in the UK, Germany, China, Thailand, India, Japan, Brazil and the USA as well as a comprehensive network of representatives and agents worldwide.

Looking back on 50 years of innovation

L

1970s

ANCA started with the purchase of a $4000 mini computer and teletype installed in Pat and Libby Boland’s spare room, and from there the co-founders couldn’t resist giving it a go. Inventors at heart, they were CNC pioneers. In 1974, Pat McCluskey’s hardware and Pat Boland’s software joined forces, and from what started as a glorified hobby, ANCA was born.

1980s

The 1980s brought significant changes for ANCA. Australian manufacturing suffered early in the decade and orders declined. It became clear that unless ANCA expanded outside of Australia, it would eventually fall victim to the economic cycles of a small domestic market.

Going global initially meant expansion into the UK and the USA along with international sales in India, Singapore, Germany, and Switzerland. ANCA started building its international network of technology centres in the ’80s, building today to a truly global presence.

1990s

At EMO Paris in 1991, ANCA unveiled the TG7 five-axis machine, marking the beginning of a series of innovative releases including the FastGrindCL4, ISG6, BG7, TGX, and RGX. ANCA's introduction of the System 32 CNC software in 1991 revolutionised tool grinding by incorporating advanced robotic software, introducing concepts like soft axis and soft machine kinematics. The launch of CIM3D in 1998 marked a pivotal moment with its true 3D simulation technology, transforming the CNC tool and cutter grinding industry.

2000s

From the start of the new millennium, ANCA significantly increased their market share - building from the 1,000th machine sold to the 2,000th in only six years. As always being close to customers remained central to growth, sales were bolstered by an ongoing establishment of a global service, sales and administration network.

2010s

In 2012 ANCA Motion opened a purpose-built facility in Melbourne, a new branch in Tianjin, in 2017, and a new technology centre in Taiwan in 2019.

Tinfish started as a fully owned subsidiary of ANCA in 2010, rebranding to ANCA Sheet Metal Solutions in 2018 and more recently to ANCA Manufacturing Solutions in 2023 to better represent an expanded focus beyond sheet metal and extended manufacturing capabilities.

Corvus Technology Solutions is ANCA’s newest business division, initially stemming from harnessing ANCA’s capabilities to produce ventilator components during the COVID pandemic.

2020s

ANCA is always looking ahead and can see that with customer needs of efficiency, reducing cost, labour gaps, and greater tool accuracy - smart factory solutions unlock new possibilities. Iterative step changes have led to revolutionary impacts for cutting tool manufacturers. Every world-first technology development ANCA has introduced – from 3D simulation software to LaserUltra, an in-process measurement system, to RoboTeach, which makes robotic loaders accessible and easy to program, is building Industry 4.0 capabilities and productivity gains.

Media Contacts

For press information, images, media resources and sponsorship enquiries, please get in touch
with ANCA’s PR team:

Sepideh Zandieh Caroline Moran
Acting Communications Manager Corporate Communications Advisor
sepideh.zandieh@anca.com caroline.moran@anca.com

Celebrating a half-century contribution to industrial progress through precision cutting tools

A message from ANCA's co-founders

1.1 billion cutting tools and counting have shaped the world around us

Join us for a 50th anniversary event extravaganza around the world

It started with a mini computer

Looking back on 50 years of innovation

L

Media Contacts

For press information, images, media resources and sponsorship enquiries, please get in touch
with ANCA’s PR team:

Celebrating a half-century contribution to industrial progress through precision cutting tools

A message from ANCA's co-founders

1.1 billion cutting tools and counting have shaped the world around us

Join us for a 50th anniversary event extravaganza around the world

It started with a mini computer

Looking back on 50 years of innovation

L

Media Contacts

For press information, images, media resources and sponsorship enquiries, please get in touch with ANCA’s PR team:

For press information, images, media resources and sponsorship enquiries, please get in touch
with ANCA’s PR team: