Automotive Workholding

Engineers, tooling managers and production managers seeking workholding improvements in automotive manufacturing turn to Vektek, a recognized leader in precision workholding for automotive manufacturing. As a complete solutions provider with engineering support, we help you reduce model changeover times, support plant automation and minimize scrap rates.

How Vektek Can Help Your Operations

Vektek addresses some of the most common challenges in automotive manufacturing with real-world solutions:

Reduce Your Model Changeover Time

Manual fixture changes and re-alignments can impact your production schedule. Even experienced operators can take a long time to unbolt, re-align and recalibrate fixtures, and the manual process can introduce errors.

With Vektek’s solutions, technicians can efficiently “drop and lock” pre-positioned fixtures, significantly accelerating changeover times with precise positioning. When an OEM requires frequent model changeovers for different component configurations, necessitating high agility, our solutions reduce the downtime associated with traditional retooling.

Our zero-point system supports highly accurate and repeatable positioning, allowing you to maintain reliable, high throughput, so you can meet efficiency and profitability targets.

Meet Tight Tolerances

Get micron-level repeatability in ideal scenarios with challenging alloys minimizing scrap. Engineered for heavy-duty performance, our clamps maintain stable, high clamping forces under intense machining conditions.

We ensure a stable, rigid setup that reduces rejected components and prevents distortion or deflection of the part under tool pressure. You get consistent quality, meeting the tight tolerances that are expected in the auto industry.

Get Automation-Ready

While automation is becoming increasingly important in automotive manufacturing to manage tight tolerances and the need for agile manufacturing while managing labor costs, not all facilities are Industry 4.0 ready. If your current workholding doesn’t support evolving automation needs, our solutions can provide adaptable integration for future growth.

At Vektek, we offer pneumatic and hydraulic vises and clamps with reliable automotive clamping and quick open/close cycles, making them ideal for automated cells. We can help you integrate them into robotic workflows with our robotic grippers, which are especially designed for parts handling by robots.

With expert engineering assistance and custom workholding component integration into your automotive fixture. Vektek ensures your lines operate at peak efficiency and keep pace with Industry 4.0 technology.

Support High-Volume Demands

Vektek’s automotive machining fixtures support the automotive industry’s heavy-duty 24/7 operations. By reducing downtime and enabling automated workflows, our systems allow automotive manufacturers to achieve aggressive production targets.

Our zero-point systems, for example, reduce setup time, enhancing overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) and increasing throughput. Our hydraulic and pneumatic clamping systems are designed for high-cycle use, while our workholding solutions minimize variations and scrap rates, even across long production lines.

Our engineering support helps you design and implement highly automated workholding setups that maximize machine utilization and minimize manual intervention, driving up production capacity.

Vektek Vehicle Component Workholding Solutions

Our automotive assembly fixtures and workholding technologies include:

Zero-Point Systems

For the rapid changeovers that OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers demand, our highly precise, modular docking systems allow for fast, repeatable positioning of workpieces or workholding fixtures. Our zero-point systems are designed to maintain micron-level positional accuracy while reducing setup times, ideal for the lean manufacturing strategies and just-in-time production common in automotive parts manufacturing.

Hydraulic Workholding

Our clamps, vises and supports use hydraulic actuation to deliver high-force clamping in a compact footprint. For machining transmission cases, heavy suspension parts or other tough car components, our hydraulic workholding offers the required consistent, high clamping force needed to prevent chatter, deflection and vibration during heavy cutting operations. It supports tight tolerances, improved surface finishes, lower scrap rates and reduced tool wear.

Pneumatic Vises and Clamps

Typically offering faster cycle times than hydraulic systems, our pneumatic vises and clamps are ideal when you need lower clamping force. These solutions are designed for high-volume, highly automated manufacturing cells used in assembly, component handling and light machining.

Robotic Grippers

These End-of-Arm Tooling (EOAT) components precisely grasp, manipulate, and transfer various automotive components within an automated production line. Our robotic grippers and engineering support help you automate repetitive, precise and heavy lifting tasks. They help you enhance operational safety, increase throughput, reduce reliance on manual labor and ensure consistent part orientation.

Work Supports

Our work supports provide additional stability and rigidity to the workpiece, mitigating the deflection and vibration that can occur during machining. They are especially advantageous for maintaining tight tolerances for thin-walled, long or irregularly-shaped parts.

Engineering Support

We offer a technical partnership that includes consultation, collaborative custom fixture design and integration into your manufacturing. Where automotive manufacturing often involves highly specialized parts, our bespoke workholding setups reduce implementation risks and support maximum performance. Our services are available online and on-site.

Why Choose Vektek for Car Part Fixtures and Workholding Technology?

We deliver solutions built for the relentless demands of automotive mass production, including requirements for 24/7 operation, minimal downtime and automation. Our configurations can help with car part fixtures, whether you’re producing engine blocks, crankshafts, transmission housings, suspension knuckles, brake calipers or other components. </span >

We understand that Tier 1, 2, and 3 automotive suppliers need to meet International Automotive Task Force (IATF) 16949 and other quality standards, as well as requirements set by OEMs. At the same time, new models and design changes require high adaptability. Our precise, tailored solutions help you meet or exceed quality mandates, adapt quickly and produce varied batches without time-intensive retooling. </span >

Headquartered in Kansas, Vektek is recognized internationally for workholding innovation and reliability. We’ve been in business since 1986 and have launched more than 100 new products since 2018 alone. Make us your reliable supplier of automotive manufacturing clamps, zero-point systems and other advanced workholding solutions.

Our extensive CAD libraries and engineering support ensure custom fixture design, stress analysis and clamping force optimization, so you get a one-stop solution that works for your operations, whether you’re manufacturing parts for electric vehicles, traditional auto parts or hybrid systems. We also offer on-site and online training to help your team stay productive.

Contact Vektek for Automotive Production Fixtures and Equipment

Request a consultation or download our product guides to learn more. When you’re ready to discuss your needs, contact our engineering team at (913) 365-1045 or (800) 992-0236 outside of North America.