News & Events

SMW Autoblok Names New Vice President of Sales and National Sales Manager

Wheeling, IL May 27, 2011 – SMW-Autoblok Corporation, a premier manufacturer of workholding solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Larry Robbins to Vice President of Sales, and the appointment of Kyle Zellmann to National Sales Manager.   

Larry Robbins has worked for SMW Autoblok for the past four years as Sales Manager for Eastern North America. Robbins has over 30 years of sales and marketing experience in the machine tool industry, including 12 years as a manufacturers’ representative for SMW Autoblok. 

Kyle Zellmann has worked for SMW Autoblok for the past ten years, most recently as Sales Manager for the Central United States. Zellmann has approximately 15 years of sales and engineering experience in the machine tool industry, starting with working on the shop floor at his family’s machine shop at age 17.  

“Both Robbins and Zellmann have proven track records in technical sales and customer service,” stated Gary Downs, President of SMW Autoblok. “In their new leadership roles, their diverse experience, talents and industry knowledge will continue to drive value for our customers and fuel growth for SMW Autoblok.” 

SMW Autoblok is a premier global manufacturer of rotating hydraulic and pneumatic chucks, expanding mandrels, collet chucks, hydraulic self centering steady rests, hydraulic cylinders, pneumatic cylinders and a full line of driven tooling. Headquartered in Wheeling, Illinois, SMW Autoblok Corporation is responsible for sales and service for the North American market. 

For more information on SMW Autoblok or their products, please contact SMW Autoblok Corporation at 847-215-0591 or visit www.SMWautoblok.com.

SMW Autoblok Names Gary Downs as New President

Wheeling, IL May 28, 2010 – SMW-Autoblok Corporation, a premier manufacturer of workholding solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Gary Downs to the position of President. Downs has worked for SMW Autoblok for fifteen years, most recently as Vice President of Sales.  

“Gary Downs has been a key member of the SMW Autoblok organization for the past fifteen years, and we are thrilled to promote him to the position of President,” stated Walter Bronzino, President of the SMW Autoblok Group. “His intimate knowledge of our products and organization and over 30 years of experience in the machine tool industry will help to fuel SMW Autoblok’s continued growth in North America.” 

SMW Autoblok is a premier global manufacturer of rotating hydraulic and pneumatic chucks, expanding mandrels, collet chucks, hydraulic self centering steady rests, hydraulic cylinders, pneumatic cylinders and a full line of driven tooling. Headquartered in Wheeling, Illinois, SMW Autoblok Corporation is responsible for sales and service for the North American market. 

For more information on SMW Autoblok or their products, please contact SMW Autoblok Corporation at 847-215-0591 or visit www.SMWautoblok.com.

ABOUT SMW AUTOBLOK CORPORATION - Autoblok Corporation was established in 1981 as a subsidiary of Autoblok of Italy, the largest power chuck manufacturer in Europe. Since 1942, Autoblok has been at the forefront of engineering and manufacturing state-of-the-art workholding, clamping and tooling solutions. In 1993, Autoblok acquired SMW of Germany. The combination of these two premier manufacturing entities resulted in the most extensive product line of high quality workholding devices in the world. Now available exclusively through its subsidiaries, reps and distributors, SMW AUTOBLOK customers are ensured a consistent, single source of superior product performance, support and service. 

Lathe Stimulus Package

Trade in your old power chuck (from any manufacturer, in any condition) for cash back on a new KNCS-N Quick Jaw Change Chuck or BHM Open Center Power Chuck. Both of these chucks will directly mount in place of Kitagawa™ B200 series chucks, and the BHM can utilize their existing top jaws. 

Get up to $5,000 cash back towards the purchase of a new KNCS-N Quick Jaw Change Chuck. The KNCS-N is the world’s most popular quick jaw change chuck. Chuck jaws can be changed out in less than a minute, and the built-in safety interlock prevents accidental jaw release by ensuring that jaw serrations are fully engaged before actuation. For complete details on the KNCS-N promotion, click here to download the PDF (opens in a new window). 

Get up to $1,705 cash back towards the purchase of a new BHM Power Chuck. Featuring a large through hole, the BHM is ideal for open-center or partial open-center clamping. Gripping force transmission is via wedge hook, providing tremendous grip. For complete details on the BHM promotion, click here to download the PDF (opens in a new window). 

This offer is not available to OEM’s, distributors and specific customers.