Stay ahead of the workholding technology curve

As automation continues to reshape manufacturing, workholding technology is evolving to deliver higher clamping force, improved accuracy, and full 5-axis access all while reducing setup time and increasing throughput.

In our Workholding Roundtable, taking place February 26 at 12PM, learn from top workholding experts at EMUGE-FRANKEN USA, SMW Autoblok, HAINBUCH America, and Ekaras about:

• Breakthrough workholding technologies designed for automated environments
• How modern clamping solutions improve part quality and cycle times
• What manufacturers should consider when upgrading workholding systems
• And more at this free hour of information and education

Speakers

 

David Jones
Precision Workholding Product Manager
EMUGE-FRANKEN USA

David Jones has been the Precision Workholding Product Manager with EMUGE-FRANKEN USA for more than 28 years. EMUGE-FRANKEN USA is a wholly owned subsidiary of German parent company EMUGE-Werk Richard Glimpel KG, a leading manufacturer of precision clamping devices, tool holders, taps, thread mills, drills, end mills, and other rotary tools for over 100 years.

EMUGE designs, engineers and builds workholding solutions specific to the customer's machine, workpiece, operation and environment. And in Q3 2025, EMUGE introduced EvoGrip, a uniquely designed breakthrough modular workholding solution which includes its first standard high performance centering vise system. EvoGrip delivers maximum clamping force and full 5-Axis access in a compact solution setup, broadening EMUGE's high performance solutions for table-to-spindle tooling products.

 

Larry Robbins
President and CEO
SMW Autoblok

Larry Robbins joined SMW Autoblok in 2007 as National Sales Manager and was appointed President of SMW Autoblok’s Commercial Division in 2019, then CEO in 2024.

As CEO, Larry manages all strategic sales and marketing initiatives as well as overseeing SMW Autoblok’s North American sales team and customer base including machine tool dealers, OEMs, and channels currently under development. He also oversees international products and global product launches including our new wireless connectivity company, SMW Electronics.

Larry has over 40 years of experience in the machine tool industry and manufacturing. Prior to working for SMW Autoblok, he owned a successful manufacturers’ rep company for 13 years. Larry’s knowledge and ability in the machining industry began in his early youth when he worked side-by-side with his father who owned a prosperous distributorship in New Jersey.

 

Timothy J. Wachs
President & CEO
HAINBUCH America Corp.

Timothy J. Wachs serves as President and CEO of HAINBUCH America Corporation, the U.S. subsidiary of HAINBUCH Workholding GmbH, Germany, a global leader in advanced workholding technology for CNC and gear manufacturing.

With more than 36 years of experience in the manufacturing sector, Timothy brings a uniquely comprehensive perspective to the industry. He began his career as a machinist and advanced to Application Engineer within the machine tool industry before transitioning into sales, where he developed deep expertise in CNC machine tool solutions and customer-driven applications.

Over the course of his career, Timothy has worked with machine tool builders from around the world, gaining extensive insight into global manufacturing practices. He later returned to the manufacturing side of the business, serving as General Manager of a production company for more than 11 years.

From machinist to executive leadership, including roles as Sales Manager and Vice President, Timothy has developed a well-rounded understanding of the CNC manufacturing landscape. His experience spans both customer and supplier perspectives, enabling him to lead HAINBUCH America with strategic vision, technical depth, and a strong commitment to delivering value-driven solutions to manufacturers across North America.

 

Ezhil Viswanathan
Executive Vice President
Ekaras

Ezhil Viswanathan is the Executive Vice President at Ekaras Inc., a Michigan-based manufacturing solutions company and distributor of both large format and small format machine tools across North America. He focuses on workholding strategies that improve rigidity, repeatability, and faster changeovers, especially on horizontal and 5-axis machining.

At Ekaras, he partners with shops to standardize fixturing, optimize clamping, and reduce setup time while protecting tight tolerances. He represents Fastmill, an Italian modular workholding system recognized for quick setups, strong clamping, and scalable configurations for prototype through production.