First IMTS as SMW Autoblok’s President and CEO

Larry Robbins, SMW Autoblok’s new president and CEO, wants to continue to grow the workholding company without losing focus on educating the marketplace. Source: SMW Autoblok

Although Larry Robbins is no stranger to the machining industry or IMTS, the 2024 edition of the show was his first serving as SMW Autoblok’s new president and CEO.

Robbins, who has more than 35 years of experience in machine tool manufacturing, joined the company in May 2007 and was promoted to eastern regional sales manager less than a year later. As of 2019, he has occupied the position of president of SMW Autoblok’s commercial division, responsible for all strategic sales and marketing initiatives as well as overseeing the company’s North America sales team.

Over that time, he has seen changes in the company and the industry in general. When he started with SMW Autoblok, its sales were approximately 70% standard workholding devices and 30% custom. Those percentages have since reversed. As a result, the company’s engineering staff has grown to seven engineers with another soon to be added to meet the needs of customers looking for unique solutions for their challenging workholding applications.

Robbins notes that the company’s workholding offerings have greatly expanded and evolved, too. In addition to lathe chucks — devices with which many identify the company — its portfolio has grown to include static and rotational solutions for turning, milling, drilling and grinding operations.

He says SMW Autoblok’s digitalization and automation technologies are becoming more prominent assets as well thanks in part to the SMW Electronics division established in 2015. For example, the company had three robots in its West Building booth as means to introduce its new Motiact mechatronic gripper family and PRS Quick Changer Grippers. Motiact grippers are equipped with an incremental measuring system to guarantee adjusting gripping pressure, linear positioning and speed control as standard features. All models are available with a Profinet, Ethernet IP, digital IO or I/O link interface to help ensure seamless integration into existing systems. The PRS robotic toolchanger system includes pneumatic grippers and a C40 inductive coupler for contactless energy and signal transmission.

And in support of new technology such as these, Robbins wants SMW Autoblok to continue striving to build and maintain relationships with customers to understand their needs. A big part of that is understanding the value of educating the marketplace, especially the next generation of talent entering the industry, instead of focusing most intently on selling product.