The company AW-Reeds was founded in 2000 by Martin SPANGENBERG, Hermann UHL, and Alexander WILLSCHER with the intention to strongly and lastingly increase the quality and the reproducibility in reed production.
The idea
The mental foundations were laid in the 90ies by Alexander WILLSCHER. The idea was to make clarinet reeds independently from steel master dies and also to be able to alter the shape of the reed at any time. He was then able to win over Hermann UHL, a qualified engineer and professional in mechanical engineering and electronics, for the technical realisation of his plan. In 1999, the next one to join them was Martin SPANGENBERG, principal of the Münchner Philharmoniker (Munic Philharmonic Orchestra), and professor at the university of Weimar. That's how an ideal combination of technical and practical knowledge and experience in orchestra routine and teaching was reached.
Research
Fundamental research was neccessary to find out which process is best to work clarinet cane, which cutting materials are to be used, and which kind of cane is best for clarinet reeds. In 1999 the first numerical controlled milling machine for reed facings was put into operation, probably the first worldwide. Shortly afterwards a newly-designed, fully automatic milling machine for blanks followed. The result of these cost-intensive investments are higher exactness and reproducibility of the reeds. In addition, the life span of the reeds is longer compared to reeds made with traditional production methods.
Development
A special computer program had to be developed to simplify the process of designing the reeds and optimizing their shapes. With the help of this program and a special gauge, any given reed can be digitalized, the data can then be saved and altered again at any time. Through the integration of mathematical smoothing-procedures (z.B. spline-interpolation) and numerical simulation (FEM), first predictions how the actual reed will vibrate, can be made at the computer.
Quality control
Self-developed measuring and test procedures have proven to be important for constant product quality. The exactness of the reeds is controled after every operation, the sorting to strength is made with the help of state-of-the-art electronical instruments. That results in a closed circle starting with reading in the reed data, continuing with the computer-controlled smoothing of the reeds and the optimization of the vibrations of the reeds during production, and ending with the final quality control. This highly technical process ensures best quality. Mayor university teachers and outstanding soloists as, e.g., Sabine MEYER, Ralph MANNO, Johannes PEITZ, Reiner WEHLE, were won as customers.
Plans for the future
The product spectrum (ranging from Eb-clarinet and Bb-clarinet -German and French System- to basset horn and bass clarinet) of AW-Reeds is constantly enlarged and improved. |
| Two numerical controlled reed milling machines at AW-Reeds. |
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