Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Company History of Injecta AG, Teufenthal

I found a article titled "The company Injecta AG , Teufenthal (1921-2011)". 

http://www.e-periodica.ch/cntmng?pid=arg-001:2012:124::53

Its about the history of the company that made the INCA woodworking machines.

The article was written by "Dr Felix Ackermann" and it was published in the magazine "Argovia: annual publication of the Historical Society of Canton Aargau"

Its in German. With the help of Google translate and a bit of guesswork, I summarised the most interesting parts as best as I could. Any errors are mine.
Injecta AG, Teufental" (1921–2011) was a aluminium and zinc die casting company based in Teufenthal, Swizerland. They also did zinc electroplating, brass parts, and plastic molding. Their slogan was "Diecast and more". They became known for the high quality products which where exported around the world. The company at its peak had almost a thousand skilled employees. 
Injecta made products and parts, used internally by the machine industry. They also made parts for other companies to use in their consumer products. Examples are parts for cameras (Sinar, Hasselblad, Leica), motorcycles (BMW, Triumph, Stella Bassecourt), sewing machine (Elna, Singer), electric shavers (Philips), steam iron (Jura), pencil sharpeners (Wyna), etc.
Injecta also made their own consumer products sold under their own brand name: "INCA". INCA products where things like woodworking machines, kitchenware (scales, nut-crackers, juice-presses, corkscrews), door handles, ashtrays, etc.
In 1905 Herman Doehler invented die-casting (in New York, USA), and it started a whole new industry. The Swiss company "Karrer Weber & Co" sent Ferdinand Wuffli to the "Doehler Die-Casting Company" to learn their process. When he came home to Switzerland after 8 months he got to lead the newly founded Injecta company (1920), as the sales and technical director, until his death in 1960. 
From 1930 to 1970 Walter Helbling was the key figure responsible for the industrial design of Injecta's INCA products. As a young man had wanted a creative and artistic education. But due to pressure from his parents he instead did an apprenticeship as a technical draftsman and afterwards studied to become a mechanical engineer. At Injecta he was free to come up with new INCA products designs, and was a regular at the patent office.
A generation shift happened in the 1950s when many influential people retired.
In the 1970s, sales of the woodworking machines continued to rise, those of other products declined sharply. The earliest woodworking machines had been selling well for decades without much change to their design. The first INCA table saw dates back to 1931.
After Walter Helbling retired, an external industrial designer named Felix Fedier Baden took over deign of INCA products. He helped develop larger woodworking machines  aimed at the professional market. These new machines where not as big a success as the old hobby machines, as there was already a lot of competition in the professional sector. The Hobby market, was also becoming more competitive with cheaper options from competitors in the field. 
 In 1978 production of INCA woodworking machines moved to France. 
In 1989 The Injecta plastic factory in Triengen (est.1971) was sold off. In 1990 INCA (in France) was sold off.  What was left of the company was renamed "Injecta diecast AG" in 1995.
When the company celebrated its 50 year anniversary (back in 1971) it also marked the end of its heyday. Increasingly, directors and management where replaced by people from the financial sector. Loyal investors with close ties to industry where replaced by investors looking for short term profits. The company suffered and struggled with low margins and high costs. After many restructures and management changes Injecta finally went bankrupt in 2011. 
The nearby museum of Aargau was invited to take the items it wanted for its portfolio when the Injecta Teufental factory closed down. A small but representative collection of items about "ten pallets" worth is conserved by the museum.


Edit: I emailed the author "Dr Felix Ackermann". He was nice enough to send me some old Injecta and INCA catalogues and documents. I added them to the [catalogues] section of this blog.

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Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Where do I go to sell my INCA machine?



This site is mostly just an unofficial and incomplete collection of INCA manuals. I do not buy or sell INCA machines.


If you are looking to sell your INCA machine to someone who appreciates it. Go to the incawoodworking group. Its got 1600+ INCA users/owners. They'll give you a fair price. You have to register to view or post messages there, but its worth it.

Alternatively, put your INCA machine up for sale on ebay. Then post a link to it on the incawoodworking group, so the people there have a chance to bid on it. Don't forget to mention your location.

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/incawoodworking/info

The group has moved here:

https://groups.io/g/incawoodworking/

Edit:

There was a small poll on the inca woodworking forum about "the polite and proper way to post a sales offer". Most preferred "Craigslist-Style" over "eBay-style". As in:
"State the desired sale price and sell to the first responder who agrees to said price."

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Sunday, September 13, 2015

Re-launched Inca Machines website

Inca as a company is still alive, although its now owned by Multico in France.

 The people over at Inca Machines are relaunching their website. Its looking quite good. They even have an online store now, for official Inca band saw blades. 

 They kindly asked me to add a link to their site. Here is part of that message:

 "
We've recently re-launched our website and are trying very hard to get the word out that we're still in business and providing spare parts, blades etc.
We're hoping to slowly build it up to allow for spare parts, manuals etc.
Inca Machines
http://incamachines.com
"
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Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Links to reviews, blogs, videos, etc for INCA (INJECTA)

Official resources

http://www.vamus.ch/industriekultur/firma_detail.cfm?search=ort%3D'Teufenthal'&start=3

http://www.injecta.ch/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=110&Itemid=115&lang=en

http://trade.mar.cx/CA443449

http://www.doebeli.ch/index.asp?page=produkte-inca-machines-en

http://www.incamachines.com/

 Reviews and blogs

http://billpentz.com/woodworking/Tools/ToolDiscussions.cfm#Inca

http://www.woodcentral.com/bparticles/inca_570.shtml

http://www.toshen.com/woodworking-reviews02-01.htm

http://lumberjocks.com/reviews/3180

http://wanderingaxeman.blogspot.com/2012/07/wood-working-powertools.html

http://everetthurst.blogspot.com/2008/03/inca-510-planer-jointer.html

http://everetthurst.blogspot.com/2011/10/inca-710-band-saw-with-spacer-block.html

http://garagesandals.wordpress.com/2012/02/02/inca-band-saw/


Videos

"Inca 342 186 Bandsaw" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLgSoyvMWTo

"Pilgrimage to Eagle Tools" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RojtfmF3qHE

"Raboteuse dégauchisseuse inca" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFO2KIAo7r8

"Inca automatic, DIY dust hood" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsOVbHg8a4c

"Inca Bandsaw" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrfCusb9r7s

"Inca 260 bandsaw with Tuffcut blade" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SW7e54nLw0

"INCA 570 Jointer/Planer" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR5B_SwgkW8

"Changing Tersa Jointer knives" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1VYtoiP3-8

 "Squaring lumber in 4 steps" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pfWZMNKg9Y

"Inca jointer/planer thickness feed" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2G81tCQdvA

PS. Do you have a link to INCA related information? I'd like to add it here.

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Monday, September 16, 2013

Maintenance for INCA (INJECTA)

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Saturday, September 14, 2013

E-Book for INCA (INJECTA)


"The INCA Woodworking Machinery Handbook: With Useful Tips and Jigs for Everyone" 
by Mark Duginske for INCA Maschinen und Apparate AG - 1984 - 156 pages.

 There is another book called "Precision Machinery Techniques". Its the same book only with a different title and cover.

Edit: The copyright for the book was owned by the company "INCA Maschinen und Apparate AG, Teufenthal/Switzerland". This company doesn't exists anymore, as it went bankrupt. If the copyright is still in effect, by having been transferred to some other entity, please let me know and I'll remove this link.
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Friday, September 13, 2013

Catalogues and Adverts for INCA (INJECTA)

The evolution of the INCA woodworking machines

 Old INCA catalogues (adverts, price lists, etc) are useful in order to learn what different machines and models exist, and in which order they where developed. Many of these catalogues are not dated which makes inferring the order more difficult. The first INCA woodworking machine was the "Universal" table saw. It dates back to 1931. The first INCA catalogue also includes the "Standard Jointer-Planer". Later catalogues include a few different models as well as new machines like band-saws and sharpers.

 Official INCA Catalogues
    Garrett Wade (North American INCA reseller)
    Lee Valley (North American INCA reseller)
    Fine Woodworking (US Magazine)

     Official Injecta Catalogues


     PS. Do you have any INCA catalogues? Please consider scanning them, to help fill in the gaps in this puzzle.
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    Wednesday, August 21, 2013

    Model Numbers and Manuals for INCA (INJECTA)

    INCA Table Saws (341.xxx.xx)

    • 341.017.xx - "7" Circular Saw Universal (Universal-Compact)" -  1931 (1980) - Tilt table saw - (US Model 150/159), (Injecta "Model 51/54") 
    • 341.018.xx - "10" Circular Saw Major" -Tilt table Saw - 1970 - (US Model 250/259) 
    • 341.037.xx - "Master (SuperMaster)" Table Saw: 10:  - Tilt Arbor - (US Model 280/290) 
    • 341.033.xx - "Professional" Table Saw: 12" Tilt Arbor - 1986 - (US Model 2100/2200) 
    • 341.???.xx - "Senior300"

    INCA Bandsaws (342.xxx.xx)

    • 342.205.xx - "Euro205" Bandsaw: 8" - (US Model 205) 
    • 342.186.xx - "Euro260" Bandsaw: 10 1/2" - (US Model 310/320/330/340) 
    • 342.025.xx - "Expert500" Bandsaw: 20" - 1980 - (US Model 710) 

    INCA Jointer/Planers (343.xxx.xx)

    • 343.185.xx - 4 15/16" Rebating" Jointer"
    • 343.132.xx - 8 5/8" Jointer-Planer", "Standard Jointer-Planer" -1930s? - (US Model 410/420), (Injecta "AF 132/140") 
    • 343.190.xx - "10 1/4 Automatic Jointer-Planer" - 1976? - (US Model 510, 550, 560, 570, etc) 
    • 343.036.xx  - 15 3/4" "Professional 4000" - (US Model 3000?) 
    • 343.044.xx - "Concorde 315" Planer 

    INCA Shapers (344.xxx.xx)

    • 344.021.xx - "Senator" Spindle Moulder: 20mm Spindle Shaper - 1976 - (US Model 659) 
    • 344.070.xx - "Actor" Spindle Moulder: 1 1/4" Spindle Shaper - (US Model 660) 

    INCA Lathes (345.xxx.xx)

    • 345.197.xx - Wood Turning Lathe: 8 1/2" Swing - 1975
    • 345.199.xx - Wood Turning Lathe by LUNA: SP800/SP1000 - 1983

    INCA Accessories (348.xxx.xx)

    INCA Stands (54.xxx.xx)

    INCA Other

    • Universal 9" Radial Arm by Eumenia - (US Model 810) 
    • Scroll saw "Max 600" made by sister company "Minilor" in the 1990s - (345.600.02) 
    • Contractor Table Saw "ITK 1832" 
    • Workbench

    Sources

    [This post] on the incawoodworking yahoo forum was the original source for this list. I have since updated the list with with info found in INCA manuals and catalogues.


    How to make sense of the model numbers

    There are (at-least) 3 model numbering systems for the INCA machines.

    For example the "'Standard' Jointer/Planer" can be referred to by any of these model numbers:
    • The official INCA numbering system. ex: "343.132.01" 
    • A shorter numbering system for the US (and North American) market. ex "410". (This system may have been established by "Garrett Wade" the US importer) 
    • An early discarded numbering system. ex: "AF 134". (This system might be that of Injecta AG's Teufental. It can also be seen found on toy trains, etc made by the company) 
    The official INCA numbering system (xxx.xxx.xx) has three parts:
    • The first is a number shared by all machines of the same family. ex "341.xx.xx" is for table-saws. 
    • The second part is the base machine number, ex "341.017.xx" is for the "Universal Table-Saw". 
    • The third is a type number for different versions or configurations of the same base machine. ex "341.017.09" is the "Universal Table-Saw, with the small table of 420x340mm". 
    PS. If you see errors or have additional information let me know. If you have a manual that is missing from this list, please consider scanning it.
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    Tuesday, August 20, 2013

    Manuals for INCA (INJECTA) [moved]

    This page was moved [click here]
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