Deep Hole Drilling Machines & Special-Purpose Machines — Buying Used

Deep hole drilling (depth-to-diameter ratio > 10:1) is one of the most demanding machining operations. New machines like the TBT ML 200 or Mollart Omnisprint cost 250 000-600 000 EUR. The second-hand market offers the same technology at 40-60 % of the new price — but requires specialist knowledge during condition assessment.

As procurement agents, Hutnia regularly assists in the purchase of used deep hole drilling machines and other special-purpose machine tools. Below we outline what matters most.

Types of Deep Hole Drilling Machines

You will encounter three main technologies on the used market:

BTA drilling (STS drilling) — single-edge tool with internal chip removal under coolant pressure. Diameter range: 18-300 mm. Typical machines: TBT (Dettingen, Germany), Botek, Gühring. The industry standard for holes above 20 mm. Used: 60 000-200 000 EUR.

Gun drilling (single-lip drilling) — tool with one cutting edge and an internal coolant channel. Range: 1-40 mm diameter, depths up to 100xD. Machines: TBT, Heller, IMSA. Used: 30 000-120 000 EUR. Popular in mold making (conformal cooling) and defense.

Ejector drilling — a BTA variant with a dual coolant circuit. Used for depths beyond 50xD and diameters of 25-250 mm. Less common on the used market — prices start at 80 000 EUR.

Key difference: BTA drilling requires a pilot hole, while gun drilling starts from solid material. This determines whether you need an additional machine for pre-drilling.

Brands and Price Levels

The deep hole drilling machine market is a niche. Key manufacturers:

TBT (Dettingen, Germany) — market leader. ML series (BTA), T series (gun drill). TBT machines from 2005-2015 used: 50 000-180 000 EUR. Service and spare parts available — TBT supports older models. Our recommendation for buyers who value after-sales security.

Botek / Gühring — primarily tooling manufacturers, but Gühring also builds complete machine systems (GT series). Used GT 2-1000: 40 000-90 000 EUR.

IMSA (Italy) — specialist in mold-making deep hole drilling machines. MF 1000 / MF 1600. Used: 60 000-150 000 EUR.

Mollart (UK) — Omnisprint, Drillsprint. Rare on the German market, but worth considering. Prices: 80 000-200 000 EUR.

Cheto (Portugal) — growing brand, new machines 20-30 % cheaper than TBT. Rarely available used (young company).

Inspection Criteria in Detail

Deep hole drilling machines require a different inspection than standard CNC machining centers:

High-pressure coolant system — the heart of the machine. Working pressure: 40-120 bar (BTA), 70-200 bar (gun drill). Check: pump condition (axial piston or screw pump), filters (filtration grade 10-25 microns), oil cooler, tank (typically 500-2 000 liters). Pump replacement: 8 000-20 000 EUR.

Steady rests and guides — tool guidance at great depths requires precision steady rests. Worn guide bushings cost 200-800 EUR per set, but their absence leads to vibration and tool breakage (a BTA tool dia. 50 mm costs 1 500-3 000 EUR).

Spindle and drive — deep hole drilling machines operate at lower speeds than CNC centers (200-3 000 rpm) but with high torque. Check runout and bearing condition.

Chip conveyor and filtration — the system must reliably remove metal chips from the coolant. A clogged filter means tool overheating, breakage, and costs of 2 000-5 000 EUR.

Control — older TBT machines (pre-2005) run Siemens 840C or even 810D. Upgrade to 840D sl: 15 000-25 000 EUR. Newer machines with 840D sl or Fanuc 31i need no retrofit.

Special-Purpose Machines: When Is Buying Used Worthwhile?

Beyond deep hole drilling, the German market offers other special-purpose machines:

Honing machines — Gehring, Nagel, Sunnen. For cylinder finishing and hydraulic housings. Used: 20 000-80 000 EUR. Niche market with stable demand in automotive and hydraulics.

EDM machines (sinker and wire) — Sodick, Mitsubishi, AgieCharmilles, Makino. Sinker EDM: 15 000-60 000 EUR, wire EDM: 20 000-80 000 EUR. Not strictly special-purpose, but frequently sought alongside deep hole drills (same industries: mold making, tooling, aerospace).

Broaching machines — Karl Klink, Hoffmann. For keyways and splines. Used: 10 000-40 000 EUR. Highly specialized, but when needed there is no real alternative.

Induction hardening machines — EFD, Eldec, SMS Elotherm. Used: 30 000-100 000 EUR. Rarely available — manufacturers typically modernize their own fleets.

Logistics: Transporting Special-Purpose Machines

Deep hole drilling machines are often elongated constructions. A TBT ML 200 with a 2 000 mm drilling path has an overall length of 6-8 meters and weighs 4-8 tonnes. Transport requires:

• Trailer with telescopic beams or lowloader
• Dismantling of the drilling unit (if modular)
• Coolant system securing (draining, blanking flanges)
• Costs: 3 000-6 000 EUR from Germany to Poland (depending on dimensions)

Hutnia arranges special transport as part of the mandate — you do not need to find a carrier yourself.

Learn more about industrial machine transport and loading and CNC for small batch production in our guides.

Next Step

Deep hole drilling machines are specialist purchases — a mistake costs five-figure sums. Hutnia technically reviews every offer, arranges inspections and negotiates with experienced dealers.

Book an initial consultation Step 0 for EUR 49 — fully deductible from the EUR 500 mandate. Schedule now.