FEATURE ON WORKHOLDING

AOE Engineering opts for Optimag lifting magnets

A bespoke production equipment manufacturer has recently driven workplace safety and efficiency improvements by specifying Eclipse Magnetics’ Optimag P pneumatically activated lifting magnets into a new custom-built crane and gripper system.

Berkshire-based AOE Engineering is an expert in automated lifting and handling systems for a variety of industries. The company was recently approached by a leading lintel manufacturer to design and build a new crane, along with gripping and stacking system, for handling steel composite lintels weighing up to 90kg.

In order to safeguard employees, the client needed a system which replaced the manual handling process with an automated mechanical system. Additionally, due to restricted access, the customer required a lifting mechanism that only required single-face access to the lintels.

After consulting the Eclipse Magnetics technical team, Optimag P emerged as the outstanding choice for lift capability, efficiency and safety requirements. Incorporating a total of six 100mm diameter Optimag P magnets, the solution is delivering tangible results. Manual handling has been eliminated and theprocess now only requires a single operator instead of two. Notably, Optimag P only necessitates single-face access to the lintels, thereby overcoming the issue of restricted access.

David Ogden, operations director at AOE Engineering, says: “Specifying Optimag P has made a huge difference to this application, allowing us to provide our client with a safer, more efficient solution. As well as a high-quality product, we received a high-quality service in our consultations with the Eclipse Magnetics technical support team.”

More information www.eclipsemagnetics.com

Fully automated -more flexible -more efficient

The demands on manufacturing companies are rising: increasing variant diversity, decreasing batch sizes, growing time and cost pressure. Hainbuch is responding to this development with a consistently expanded product portfolio. The company presented innovative solutions atSeptember’sEMO 2025 exhibition in Hanover that help to make production more flexible and economical or to completely automate processes.

Hainbuch showcased a solution for automated jaw change-over in jaw chucks. Even for large OD clamping, the clamping elements can now be changed over fully automatically for different workpiece diameters – the integrated query sensor system ensures that this is carried out reliably. The result?Even with frequently changing workpiece variants in small series or single part production, the entire set-up process can be mapped completely unmanned – reliably, reproducibly and economically.

To ensure quality in automated processes, IQ clamping devices with integrated measuring intelligence can be integrated either directly into the process or as a downstream measuring station ‘post-process’. The TOPlus IQ chuck for OD clamping or the MAXXOS IQ mandrel for ID clamping continuously measure the workpiece diameter, workpiece position and clamping force.

Measurement data is transmitted directly to the machine controller and analysed via non-contact data and energy transmission. The control system then performs a setpoint adjustment. In the event ofany deviations, a message is issued or a correction is initiated immediately. This capability reduces scrap and ensures a constant level.

Hainbuch also presentednew clamping devices designed to maximise flexibility. Thanks to its rotationally symmetrical design, the reduced interference contour and the exchangeable flange, it is particularly flexible to use. The Torok enables sensitive manual clamping, ensures reliable workpiece stabilisation through axial tension against the end-stop and can be quickly changedover to ID or jaw clamping.

More information www.hainbuch.com

New milestone for LNS XT: the future of production

For nearly two decades, the XT has been a cornerstone of LNS innovation and reliability. Since its introduction in 2006, more than 35,000 units have been delivered worldwide, supporting customers across multiple industries.

What began with just 99 machines in its first year quickly evolved into a global benchmark for quality and performance, reaching a record 3500+ units delivered in 2021. This remarkable journey reflects not only the strength of the XT, but also the trust and loyalty of customers who rely on it every day to boost productivity and precision.

Now, LNS is introducing the next generation featuring improved rigidity and guiding for enhanced precision, a redesigned internal front rest to optimise performance, and an extra 40 kg of mass for greater stability and durability.

This transition process posed a major challenge, requiring close collaboration between LNS teams and partners. Developed and produced in China, the new XT shows the growing strength and potential of LNS China. The project required high levels of innovation, yet the company’s Chinese team and partners carried it out smoothly, with no interruption in deliveries to customers.

This milestone highlights how LNS China is more than a production site: it is a driver of innovation and growth for the entire group. With its know-how, flexibility and strong local presence, LNS China is ready to support both domestic and global markets. While the XT shaped the history of LNS,its successor is ready to shape the future.

More information https://lns-group.com/

The art of hydraulic pipework in automated fixtures

Many might not compare a hydraulic system in an automated fixture (like the one pictured) to a work of art, but behind every smooth motion and reliable clamp lies the precision craftsmanship of the pipework. At Brown & Holmes (Tamworth) Ltd, the skills and expertise at the core of the ‘art’ could not be taken more seriously.

At the heart of every meticulously engineered hydraulic pipework system are the core skills and knowledge required to deliver smooth, reliable and repeatable performance.The fixture in the photo is one of a suite of three which helps manufacture four different components for a client. Each side of each fixture is dedicated to a different component, while the three fixtures enable three different machining processes.

Precision skills in cutting, bending and assembling pipework are crucial to ensuring the system is leakproof and reliable, and has high automation efficiency.

Precise movement, high strength and durability are key to providing the stability needed in a fixture’s hydraulic system. It is also about enhancing overall productivity and operational accuracy. Further factors include: efficiency – for minimal pressure loss and to ensure consistent flow of accurate, controlled motions; safety – proper installation with regular checks and maintenance minimise the risk of leaks, fatigue or vibration-induced failures; aesthetics andaccessibility – neat, organised layouts make systems easier to maintain and inspire confidence in the build quality; and longevity – proper bends, clean connections, and well-chosen fittings made from strong, durable materials extend the life of both pipes and components.

Automated hydraulic fixtures are the backbone of repeatability in manufacturing. And while the technology driving them may be advanced, the foundation is still built on skilled engineering and meticulous workmanship.

More information www.brownandholmes.co.uk

Advanced work holding for digital manufacturing

At the recent EMO 2025 exhibition in Hanover, work-holding equipment manufacturer Roemheld presented its suite of digitalised work-holding solutions, which allow manufacturers to integrate their clamping processes into an Industry 4.0 factory environment.

The focus was on innovations like STARK.intelligence and the Hilma AS-E electromechanical machine vice series, which can transform traditional workholding into a vital source of real-time data, enhancing process reliability, efficiency and predictive maintenance.

In today’s rapidly evolving manufacturing landscape, companies face unprecedented pressures: the demand for higher precision, increasing product variants and the need for ongoing cost optimisation. While many metalworking companies still harbour doubts about the value of digitalised workpiece clamping, Roemheld, through its Stark division, demonstrates that these advanced solutions are not just an advantage, but a necessity for future-proofing production.

Martin Greif, Stark’s managing director, said: “We’re committed to making companies fit for the future of smart metalworking by providing solutions that integrate seamlessly, provide invaluable data and dramatically improve process control.While basic pneumatic or sensory monitoring of clamped and unclamped states has been available for years, our latest developments unlock a new dimension of process control and self-diagnosis.Advanced digitalisation of workholding is no longer a concept, but a tangible reality that delivers significant returns on investment, often within a few months.”

STARK.intelligence is a system with modular sensors designed to make hydraulically, pneumatically or mechanically operated zero-point clamping systems digital-ready. Each clamp is equipped with its own multi-sensor unit that continuously collects critical information, such as travel (position), temperature and pressure. The data is aggregated by a master unit and transmitted to various end devices via an IO-Link interface, available in both inductive and wired versions.

More information www.roemheld.co.uk