This section provides an overview for vacuum chucks as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 20 vacuum chuck manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked vacuum chuck companies as of November, 2024: 1.Obsidian Manufacturing Industries, Inc., 2.NEMI, 3.Vac-U-Lok.
Table of Contents
A vacuum chuck is a fixture that secures objects using negative pressure created by a vacuum, ideal for diverse industrial applications.
Typically table-shaped, these chucks feature several small holes linked to an internal vacuum. This design enables them to firmly hold objects via the negative pressure generated through these holes.
Due to their ability to adsorb objects with flat, non-porous surfaces, vacuum chucks offer broader material compatibility compared to magnetic chucks, which are limited to magnetic materials.
Vacuum chucks play a crucial role in securing materials during processes like polishing and packaging. They are perfect for handling delicate precision parts, hygiene-critical food containers, non-magnetic materials such as stainless steel and aluminum, and electronic components susceptible to magnetic fields.
These chucks are especially vital in the handling of semiconductor materials during processing and coating operations, as semiconductors are prone to damage, dust-sensitive, and adversely affected by magnetic fields. They can also be used to float workpieces by switching to positive pressure.
The vacuum chuck operates by creating a vacuum inside the table, generating suction through small holes on its surface. This suction force, due to atmospheric pressure differences, firmly secures objects to the table. Releasing the vacuum also releases the suction.
A vacuum is created either by a vacuum pump or through a vacuum ejector, using compressed air. The system's scale varies based on the object's size, material, and the required suction force.
The efficacy of a vacuum chuck depends on the small holes' arrangement and size. Factors like the disparity in size between the chuck and the workpiece's flat area, and the workpiece's thinness, can impact its ability to securely hold the workpiece.
Ceramic vacuum chucks excel in handling partial suction due to their high-precision small holes. These chucks are adept at managing thin workpieces and can be used atop standard chucks for improved functionality or in cylindrical forms for transport applications.
They also feature air-blowing functions to facilitate object movement and continuous air discharge to prevent foreign matter from entering the holes.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Nishimura Advanced Ceramics Co., Ltd., founded in Japan, is a manufacturer of ceramics including kneading materials, forming, firing, and other processing to finish products. The company's product portfolio includes ceramic circuit boards, ceramic for machine parts and pump parts, optical products, temperature sensor parts, and lighting apparatuses. It also offers various firing techniques, including reduction, oxidation, and alternative firing methods, to achieve unique glazes and finishes. It also collaborates with clients to produce custom ceramic products tailored to their specific design and functional requirements.
2L Inc., founded in 1998 and based in Hudson, Massachusetts, is a manufacturer of a wide range of tooling products, including solid carbide end mills, vacuum chucks, and engraving tools. It serves the manufacturing, engraving, and industrial markets, and its engraving and cutting tools are made from submicron-grade solid carbide. Some of its products, including the spring-loaded engraving, CNC countersink depth stop, and tough tip engraving tools have design patents. The company accepts international orders from more than 20 countries and verifies the quality of its tools using high-speed machining centers, multi-axis lathes, and optical measuring equipment.
Vac-U-Lok was established in 1997 in DeKalb, Illinois, USA, as a manufacturer and supplier of custom vacuum workholding solutions for various industries. The company's team of engineers designs and produces customized blueprints to meet client specifications. Its product range includes vacuum chucks, safety systems, automatic coolant return systems, and vacuum work holding accessories. The company offers vacuum design systems for use by technology startups, shops, Fortune 100 firms, and the military.
Simple Woodturning Tools Company, established at the turn of the 21st century in Minnesota, USA, is a manufacturer of quality woodturning equipment. Its products include simple scrapers, shear cutter finishing tools, detailing tools, vacuum chuck wrenches, turners, and hollower tools. Some items crafted with the help of manufactured tools comprise knobs, cylindrical boxes, baseball bats, chair seats, and woodwind musical instruments. The company's uses advanced fabrication process that ensures the resilience and durability of the equipment. The novel design, which incorporates replaceable cutters, disregards the need for sharpening, attaining consistent cutting performance throughout.
Pierson Workholding is a designer and manufacturer of work-holding systems used to secure workpieces against the force of machining and is headquartered in Simi Valley, California. The company's range of work holding systems include their 4th generation Pro Pallet System designed to allow more parts to be held and moved in and out of machines faster. Pierson also offers the SmartVac 3 Vacuum Workholding System which does not require an electric vacuum pump, and uses customizable Top Plates to create custom fixtures for small and irregular parts.
IBAG North America, founded in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1941 is a manufacturer of precision milling, drilling, and grinding for the watch industry. The company's product portfolio includes IBAG Spindles, Witte Vacuum Products, Freeze Chucks, Round Grid Chucks and Custom Witte Vacuum Solutions. Their products are used for Machining (milling, turning, drilling, grinding), Engraving, Polishing and Deburring metal and plastic materials. The company serves markets including Medical and Healthcare, Aerospace and Defense, Consumer Goods, Industrial Manufacturing and Construction and Building.
Obsidian Manufacturing Industries, Inc. is a manufacturer headquartered in Rockford, Illinois. The company was established in 2007 when it acquired Magna-Lock USA, a workholding brand with products such as rotary chucks and the “FluxMaster” controllers that regulate DC power and control for electromagnetic chucks. In 2010, the company acquired MagnaLift and Power-Grip brands, which offer a range of lift magnets, including battery-operated, electric, and custom-designed options. In 2018, the company further diversified its products by adding the Arter Precision Grinding Machine brand. The company also provides Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) components and equipment, as well as grinding services.
Refraction Technologies Corp. was founded in 1984 and is based in Newark, New York. The company is an ISO 9001:2015 and ITAR-certified manufacturer of ceramic-based products for industries such as aquaculture, chemical processing, pumps & valves, water treatment, and wire & cable manufacturing. The company has two product segments: Porous Ceramics and Zirconia Ceramics. Porous Ceramics includes fasteners and components based on aluminum oxide and silicon carbide. Zirconia Ceramics includes components with strong corrosion resistance, and increased strength, while weighing less than conventional materials.
Witte Barskamp GmbH & Co. KG is a developer and manufacturer of clamping, manipulation, and measuring parts that was established in Bleckede, Germany, in 1969. The company primarily produces modular workpiece handling parts for flexible fixture systems and industrial machinery. These include its Eurofix branded feeder systems for automated testing or assembly operations, and its Alufix branded modular fixturing system for production engineering processes. It also offers its Scooter branded driverless transport system for optimizing material flow in automated facilities. The company’s products are commonly used in Germany’s electronics, optical, and automotive manufacturing industries.
BRAILLON MAGNETICS is an ISO 9001-certified manufacturer of magnetic clamping and lifting systems that was founded in 1921 and is based in Ste Helene Du Lac, France. The company produces different types of industrial-grade lifting and clamping systems. Its products include magnetic lifters, magnetic blocks for securing pieces to machine tools, and vacuum chucks for glass processing. It also offers demagnetization devices and magnetic accessories. The company provides repair, rental, and testing services for its customers. It mainly serves clients in industrial manufacturing, industrial automation, and logistics.
Johann Fischer Aschaffenburg Präzisionswerk GmbH & Co. KG, founded in 1929 and based in Aschaffenburg, Germany, is a manufacturer of high-precision measuring instruments. The company is also a metrology service provider in the precision engineering industry and sells items such as concentricity test devices, measuring cylinders, and rotary positioning tables. The company also offers contract manufacturing and will help with milling, polishing, and assembling. The company’s laboratory is an accredited calibration laboratory for the dimensions’ straightness, flatness, and angles 90° by DAkkS since 1988, and the company offers calibration services regardless of where the product is manufactured.
Vicmarc Machinery Pty. Ltd. Was established in 1984 in Victoria, Australia, as a woodturning machinery, accessories, and spare parts manufacturer. The company product line includes chucks and accessories, lathes and accessories, sanding and sharpening tools. Quality raw materials and accurate computerized CNC machines are essential in lathe manufacturing. The company offers technical support and prompt delivery services globally. It has global distribution channels in Australia, Canada, Europe, the United States, and South Africa.
ONEWAY Manufacturing was established in 1991 in Ontario, Canada, as a manufacturer of the finest woodturning lathes and associated equipment. The company products include lathes, lathe accessories, chucks, metal spinning, adaptors, wolverine sharpening, and grinding. ONEWAY has established a standard for quality and novelty that is unmatched in the industry. With dealerships in the USA, Canada, and globally, ONEWAY manufacturing products come with a 24-month warranty from the date of purchase.
Mitee-Bite Products LLC, founded in 1986 and based in Center Ossipee, New Hampshire, is a manufacturer of high-density, profile clamping products such as vacuum systems, Vise jaws, manual actuators, and replacement parts for CNC machining. The company’s products include collet wrenches, PSI vacuum gauges, locating pins, and long-length serrated grips. The products are used in manufacturing, construction, fabrication, and heavy-duty industries. The company holds trade shows in Las Vegas, Portland, West Springfield, Hannover, and Toronto.
NTK CERATEC CO., LTD., founded in 1951 and headquartered in Sendai, Japan, is a manufacturer of ceramic products. The company has been providing high-precision ceramic materials ranging from industrial machinery parts to parts for semiconductor and liquid crystal manufacturing equipment. Products from the company include vacuum chucks, electrostatic chucks, ceramic coatings, as well as phosphor plates, and refurbishment solutions. Its ceramic products also find utility as abrasion-resistant components in crushers and related machinery.
Kanetec CO. LTD., founded in 1949 and headquartered in Nagano, Japan, is a designer, manufacturer, and supplier of magnet application equipment. Some of its products include permanent magnetic chucks, electro-magnetic chucks, tesla meters, magnetic holders, and lifting magnets. The magnet products have various uses in several areas, including milling, grinding operations, refrigerators, conveyors, and food processing. All of the motors of 0.75kW or more used in the company’s products are IE3 motors that comply with the Energy Conservation Act in Japan, and the company can also issue a calibration certificate for its measuring instruments upon request.
Suntech Advanced Ceramics Co. Ltd. is a manufacturer and supplier of precision ceramic parts that was established in 2006 in Shenzhen, China. The company specializes in ceramic parts for semiconductors, surface-mount technology, and medical equipment. These include porous ceramic vacuum chucks for clamping or handling delicate workpieces, and capillary tubes for wire bonding machines that are designed for long product and shelf life. The company is SGS ROHS, REACH of ECHA and NFS INTERNATIONAL certified, and has obtained a total of 28 patents.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Obsidian Manufacturing Industries, Inc. |
11.9%
|
2 | NEMI |
8.8%
|
3 | Vac-U-Lok |
8.2%
|
4 | Buffalo Woodturning Products |
7.2%
|
5 | Pierson Workholding |
7.2%
|
6 | Refractron Technologies Corp. |
5.7%
|
7 | IBAG North America |
5.2%
|
8 | Nishimura Advanced Ceramics Co., Ltd. |
5.2%
|
9 | JOHANN FISCHER ASCHAFFENBURG Präzisionswerk GmbH & Co. KG |
4.6%
|
10 | 2L inc. |
4.6%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the vacuum chuck page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 9 | 56.3% |
Germany | 2 | 12.5% |
Japan | 1 | 6.3% |
France | 1 | 6.3% |
Australia | 1 | 6.3% |
Canada | 1 | 6.3% |
China | 1 | 6.3% |
9 products are listed.
Kawatatek Co., Ltd.
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