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/

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

The TP32 Tool Management, Tool ID (TiD) and Tool Tracking System (TTS) were developed by Nikken to meet the evolving demands of smart manufacturing and using connectivity between systems to improve information exchange and streamline processes. According to the company, these systems provide system integration, leading to improved visibility and efficiency that empower manufacturers to maximise uptime, reduce waste and centralise critical data.

Built as a comprehensive, fully integrated tool management solution, TP32 brings visibility and data exchange to the shop floor. Designed for connectivity with CAM systems, CNC machines, ERP software, vending systems and more, TP32 manages every tool and resource within a production environment, ensuring nothing is misplaced or overstocked, and all usage and costs are visible.

For manufacturers seeking a reliable entry point into digital tool data management, Nikken says TiD is ideal as a cost-effective, plug-and-play system for managing tool identification and data transfer.

TiD utilises handheld scanners to read a data matrix tag (similar to a QR code) directly from the tool at the presetter and machine. This unique identifier allows specific tool measurement data to be located and loaded directly into a machine’s NC, bypassing the need for embedded RFID chips or costly hardware modifications.

TiD is suitable for manufacturers looking to digitise their tool data without overhauling existing infrastructure. Nikken saysit offers a smart bridge between the physical and digital tool environment, while removing the change of erroneous tool measurements ending up in the machines tool table.

As the manufacturing landscape evolves toward full digitisation, Nikken reports that its TP32 and TiD software platforms provide the critical infrastructure needed for high-efficiency operations.

More information www.nikken-world.co.uk

At the recent EMO 2025 exhibition in Hanover, Schunk showcased battery-powered electromechanical clamping devices with IO-Link connectivity for the first time – a technology with wireless data transmission between clamping device and machine control. Schunk says this innovation represents an important step to further automation of the clamping process and the implementation of Industry 4.0 principles. Companies benefit from a media-independent clamping position, expanded options for data transmission and increased productivity.

EMO visitors seeking electrically actuated quick-change pallet modules with fully integrated electronics and actuators needed to look no further than the Schunk stand.Thanks to a multitude of interrogation and transmission options, the Vero-S NSE3-PH 138 IOL offers greater transparency during the clamping process, without further interfering contours.

With the new battery-powered clamping device, Schunk says it offers a pioneering solution for companies that want to capture process-relevant statuses in real time and transmit them efficiently to the machine control. The technology is particularly attractive for industries looking to move away from cost-intensive pneumatic and hydraulic solutions – whether to reduce operating costs or to avoid contamination, which is undesirable in cleanrooms or the food industry.

In this new development, Schunk relies on IO-Link for wireless communication between the clamping device and the machine control. For the first time at EMO 2025, battery-powered Tandem clamping force blocks of the KSE3 series – as well as Vero-S quick-change pallet modules – were presented that utilise this technology. The actuation and transmission of the permanently recorded statuses of the clamping devices are carried out via IO-Link Wireless and an IO-Link Master, which then transfer this information to the machine control.

Despite the switch to battery operation, users do not have to compromise on clamping force or pull-down force. On the contrary: the new clamping devices deliver the same performance as pneumatic or hydraulic systems.

More information www.schunk.com