SAP S/4HANA RISE (Private Cloud)
VOLLMER Werke Maschinenfabrik GmbH, headquartered in Biberach an der Riß, is a leading international manufacturer of grinding, EDM, and laser machines for the precision machining of rotary tools, circular saws, and band saws. Founded in 1909, this family-owned company has grown from a small workshop into a globally recognized leader in technology and quality in the machine tool industry. For over 115 years, VOLLMER has stood for the highest precision, innovation, and “maximum sharpness.”
The company employs approximately 800 people worldwide, including about 550 at its headquarters in Biberach, and operates globally through 15 subsidiaries and more than 30 sales offices in Europe, the Americas, and Asia. VOLLMER is regarded as a “hidden champion” of the German mechanical engineering industry and embodies Swabian corporate values such as a long-term perspective, a commitment to quality, and strong customer relationships. Until her death in 2025, “Fräulein VOLLMER” (Sieglinde VOLLMER) played a decisive role in shaping the company over many decades by leading VOLLMER Werke as managing director and supervisory board member and developing it into a global market leader for grinding machines. She was also deeply committed to social causes and supported STEM talent through her foundation.
We felt very well supported by CONSILIO as our partner during the migration of our ECC system to the S/4HANA Rise environment. CONSILIO’s pragmatic approach aligned perfectly with our preferred dynamic and flexible coaching methodology for the project.
As part of their modernization efforts, the specialists in grinding and sharpening machines have successfully migrated their ECC system landscape to SAP S/4HANA Rise in the private cloud. The migration was carried out in collaboration with CONSILIO, a Munich-based SAP specialist and trusted partner, and went live on schedule.
In this project, which began in September 2024, a classic brownfield conversion with a complete data migration was carried out. VOLLMER deliberately opted for a coaching approach: The company’s own highly competent IT department handled large parts of the implementation itself and received targeted advice and support from CONSILIO. Despite the tight schedule, initial technical challenges during the first conversion, and a strong focus on SAP standards, the project was successfully completed within the agreed budget.
Project Highlights:
- Successful migration to SAP S/4HANA Rise in just 14 months (on time, on budget, and within scope)
- Access to the latest SAP updates and innovations
- Restoration of full SAP maintainability and support eligibility
- A stable, future-proof foundation for future innovations with Fiori, digitalization, and new SAP technologies
The transformation at VOLLMER is a state-of-the-art project. It was one of the first direct Rise conversions of its kind. We were particularly impressed by how professionally and enthusiastically the VOLLMER team put our input into practice. It was a true team success.
Fazit
Through a brownfield conversion to SAP S/4HANA RISE (Private Cloud), VOLLMER, in collaboration with CONSILIO, successfully modernized its system landscape in just 14 months—on schedule, within budget, and within the defined scope—with a complete data migration. The clean-core approach reduced system complexity during the custom code conversion by revising and removing customer-specific developments, thereby increasing SAP maintainability and supportability. Through the transformation and the current system, VOLLMER gains direct access to the latest SAP updates and innovations. This provides the Biberach-based machine manufacturer with a stable, future-proof foundation for Fiori, further digitalization projects, and future SAP technologies. This now enables the gradual optimization of processes and the utilization of current and future innovations in subsequent steps.