China's workholding & fixture industry concentrates in Dongguan and Shenzhen, producing everything from manual toggle clamps to EROWA-compatible zero-point pallets for CNC users worldwide. PLS Precision sources from audited factories (Clamptek, Toptech, Jingzuan and others) and integrates Sinbo's own CNC machining to deliver custom jigs, vises, and pallets with ±0.005 mm repeatability. From a single replacement vise to 500 zero-point chucks, we consolidate sourcing, QC, documentation, and freight in a single order.
The global workholding market is valued at roughly $6–8 billion in 2024, dominated by European and Japanese brands — Schunk (Germany), Kitagawa (Japan), Lang Technik (Germany), EROWA (Switzerland), 5th Axis (USA), Fixtureworks (USA), and Carr Lane (USA). Chinese suppliers have closed the precision gap over the past decade: top Dongguan and Shenzhen manufacturers now deliver ±0.003–0.005 mm repeatability at 30–60% of Western list price.
Alibaba and Made-in-China list 3,000+ Chinese workholding manufacturers. Tier-1 suppliers already export to Germany, Switzerland, Japan, and the USA — meaning quality, certifications, and documentation meet international expectations.
A direct-from-factory EROWA-compatible 100×100 mm pallet costs FOB $300–$500 in China vs. Schunk/EROWA list price of $1,200–$2,000 — a 60–75% saving on the same interface standard.
Most Chinese fixture factories started as CNC job shops, so they understand the machining workflow. Custom jigs and fixtures for non-standard parts are normal — not exceptions. Lead time 4–8 weeks for one-offs.
Quick context for buyers:
• Established brands: Clamptek 嘉刚 (Dongguan, parent since 1974, toggle-clamps top 10 worldwide), Toptech Precision (Dongguan, since 2006, EROWA-compatible), Shenzhen Jingzuan (3R/3A/zero-point since 2000).
• Newer players: 500+ small precision fixture shops in Dongguan, Shenzhen, Suzhou, Wuxi, Shanghai, and Ningbo.
• MOQ trend: off-the-shelf vises start at 5–10 pcs; custom pallets at 1–5 pcs; private-label at 50–200 pcs.
China's fixture industry concentrates in three primary regions — each with a different specialization. Knowing which hub to source from saves weeks of qualification time:
| Hub | Region | Specialty | Notable Players |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dongguan | Guangdong | Toggle clamps, machine vises, EROWA-compatible workholding, 5-axis vises, custom jigs & fixtures | Clamptek 嘉刚 (since 1974 parent, top 10 worldwide), Toptech Precision (since 2006, EROWA-compatible), 200+ precision job shops |
| Shenzhen | Guangdong | Zero-point systems, 3R/3A EDM fixtures, electrode holders, EDM toolings | Shenzhen Jingzuan (3A-110091 zero-point, 3A electrode holders, EDM workholding since 2000) |
| Suzhou & Wuxi | Jiangsu | Modular welding tables, hydraulic vises, 4th/5th axis rotary tables, hydraulic cylinders | Wuxi Baiheng (rotary tables, welding positioners), 80+ hydraulic & pneumatic fixture makers |
| Shanghai | Shanghai | Higher-end EDM tooling, magnetic chucks, OEM/ODM for international brands | Shenzhen Jingzuan Shanghai office, German-Japanese JV fixture makers |
| Hebei (Botou) | Hebei | Welding tables (cast iron 3D), V-blocks, modular welding fixtures | Botou Tianjian, 100+ welding-table makers; cheapest pricing but lower precision |
| Taiwan capital + GD production | Cross-strait | Premium power vises, magnetic chucks, high-precision vises | Auto Well (1980, Taiwan), Lockwell vise series, well-regarded in EU/USA |
Pearl River Delta advantage: Dongguan is 1 hour from Shenzhen port for export, 1.5 hours from Hong Kong. Sinbo is located in Dongguan and runs 4–6 fixture-factory visits per month for new supplier qualification and production follow-up.
PLS sources the full workholding & fixture stack — from individual vises to automated pallet-changing systems:
Workholding & fixture compatibility is governed by a mix of international and proprietary standards. Match the exact interface your machine tool requires:
| Standard / Spec | Scope | Typical Tolerance |
|---|---|---|
| EROWA MTS / ITS / PowerGrip | 100×100, 116×116, 148×148 mm pallets; macro/micro zero-point | ±0.003 mm locating repeatability |
| 3R / 3A (System 3R) | EDM and WEDM zero-point, electrode holders | ±0.005 mm locating repeatability |
| ISO 9409-1 (Hirth coupling) | Robot tool flange; fixture pallets to robot interface | H7 hole / g6 shaft press fit |
| DIN 69882 (hydraulic vises) | Hydraulic expansion mandrels, hydraulic vises | ±0.01 mm clamping repeatability |
| JIS B6339 (BT taper) | Machine tool spindle tapers, BT30/40/50 | AT3 taper tolerance |
| GB/T 22591 (zero-point) | Chinese national standard for zero-point systems | ±0.005 mm locating |
| ANSI B11.19 (machine guarding) | Performance criteria for safeguarding | N/A (safety spec) |
| Schunk VERO-S compatible | Pallet and zero-point (Schunk pattern) | ±0.005 mm locating repeatability |
Typical precision grades from Chinese tier-1 suppliers (Dongguan, Shenzhen, Suzhou):
• Standard grade: ±0.02 mm locating, ±0.05 mm repeatability — fine for 80% of CNC milling work
• Precision grade: ±0.005 mm locating, ±0.01 mm repeatability — required for EDM, fine grinding, gauge making
• Ultra-precision: ±0.003 mm locating, ±0.005 mm repeatability — for optical and metrology fixtures
• General welding tables: ±0.1 mm flatness over 1 m² — adequate for jig welding (1,200 × 800 mm typical)
Pricing varies widely with material, repeatability class, and order volume. Typical FOB ranges for bulk orders:
| Product | Spec | FOB Range (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Manual precision vise 6″ jaw | Cast iron/steel, hardened jaws | $80–$220 / piece |
| Pneumatic vise | 6″ jaw, 8 bar air, ±0.02 mm | $350–$700 / piece |
| 5-axis slim vise | 125 mm jaw width, low-profile | $300–$650 / piece |
| EROWA-compatible pallet 100×100 mm | Hardened steel, ±0.003 mm | $300–$500 / piece |
| Zero-point chuck (pneumatic) | 6-station, 100×100 mm pattern | $1,500–$2,800 / set |
| 3A EDM electrode holder | Brass, prismatic 15×15 mm | $19–$45 / piece (12-pc MOQ) |
| a-One zero-point steel chuck | 3-side, 3A-110091 pattern | $870–$963 / piece |
| Tombstone (4-station, cast iron) | 300×400 mm, machined surfaces | $600–$1,500 / piece |
| Permanent magnetic chuck | 300×150 mm, fine-pole | $300–$700 / piece |
| 4th-axis rotary table (pneumatic) | 170 mm chuck, 0.001° index | $2,500–$4,500 / piece |
| Modular welding table 1,200×800 mm | 28 mm hole pattern, cast iron | $500–$900 / piece (set with clamps $1,200–$1,800) |
| Custom jig/fixture (one-off) | Drawing-based, machined steel/aluminum | $500–$5,000 / piece (depends on complexity) |
Cost drivers:
• Material: cast iron (cheapest) < aluminum (medium) < hardened tool steel (premium)
• Machining hours: EDM, jig grinding, and CMM verification add cost
• Repeatability class: ±0.003 mm costs 2–3× more than ±0.02 mm
• Volume: 50–100 pc lots are typical price breaks; 500+ pc gets 20–35% off
• Customization: drawing-based one-offs are quoted per engineering-hour ($25–$60/hr) plus material
Workholding & fixtures are classified under several HS codes depending on type:
Packing & lead time: Vises, chucks, and pallets ship in plywood cases or reinforced cartons (5–20 pcs/case). Standard 20ft container holds 8–14 tons of workholding. Standard lead time 3–6 weeks production + 25–40 days sea freight. Custom jigs add 1–2 weeks for engineering review and DFM.
PLS Precision is the trade subsidiary of Sinbo Precision Manufacturing Group — a 34,000 m² factory in Dongguan with 518 CNC machines. Workholding is in our DNA: Sinbo's own machine shop uses Chinese vises, zero-point systems, and custom jigs every day, so we know which factories actually deliver repeatable precision and which only advertise it.
Send us your part drawing, sample, or existing fixture. Sinbo designs and machines custom jigs, weldments, and inspection gauges in-house — then sources the matching commercial vise, pallet, or zero-point chuck from our partner factories. One PO, one QC report, one shipment.
Pre-shipment inspection includes CMM repeatability tests (≥50 clamp-unclamp cycles on zero-point systems), pull-force tests on magnetic chucks, hydraulic-pressure verification on vises, and flatness/gauge inspection on welding tables. We reject any product that drifts more than the published spec.
Combine vises, zero-point chucks, magnetic chucks, and custom jigs in one 20ft container. We consolidate QC, packing, documentation, and freight for a single delivered unit — no need to coordinate five suppliers yourself.
Dongguan is 1 hour from Shenzhen port for export logistics. We run 4–6 fixture-factory visits per month for new supplier qualification, quality audits, and production follow-up. Faster resolution of any quality or technical issue.
For off-the-shelf vises, clamps, and chucks, typical MOQ is 5–10 pieces per part number (sometimes 1 piece for sample orders at slightly higher unit price). For custom pallets, jigs, and weldments, MOQ is 1 piece (one-off engineering). For OEM/private-label workholding, MOQ is 50–200 pieces per model to justify tooling and packaging setup. We can consolidate smaller orders across multiple clients to reduce effective MOQ when needed.
State the interface pattern explicitly: EROWA MTS (100×100 mm), ITS (116×116 mm), or PowerGrip (148×148 mm), OR 3R/3A macro or micro pattern. Also specify: locating repeatability (e.g., ±0.003 mm), pull-stud thread (M8 / M10 / M12), centering height (typically 100 mm), material (through-hardened HRC 58–62 tool steel vs. mild steel), and pallet weight rating. Send your machine's tool-table footprint drawing if available — PLS will cross-check against the factory's standard pallet library.
Top-tier Dongguan and Shenzhen manufacturers (Clamptek, Toptech, Jingzuan-class) achieve ±0.003–0.005 mm locating repeatability on zero-point systems, ±0.01 mm flatness on precision sub-plates, and ±0.02 mm parallelism on precision vises. Welding tables typically deliver ±0.1 mm flatness over 1 m². For comparison, these tolerances match German Schunk and Swiss EROWA published specs. We always commission a CMM inspection report on first orders to verify repeatability in practice, not just on paper.
Yes — custom jigs and fixtures are core work. Send us: (1) the part 3D model (STEP/IGES) or 2D drawing with critical tolerances, (2) your machine tool model and table size, (3) clamping access and locating datum preference, (4) batch size and cycle-time target. Sinbo's engineering team in Dongguan designs the fixture (3–7 days), shares a DFM review, then machines a sample fixture (2–4 weeks). First-article inspection report is included. We also build inspection gauges, weldments, and hydrostatic test fixtures to drawing.
Chinese permanent-magnetic chucks (sintered NdFeB) and electro-permanent chucks (alnico + NdFeB dual-magnet) are widely available from Shanghai, Ningbo, and Wuxi. Typical pull-force: 80–120 N/cm² for fine-pole permanent chucks; electro-permanent chucks reach 120–160 N/cm². Quick-change systems (EROWA-style zero-point, Schunk VERO-S-style, 3R/3A) are sourced from Shenzhen Jingzuan and Dongguan precision shops. Repeatability is the critical spec — we always CMM-verify locating accuracy before shipment.
Yes. Pneumatic vises (6–8 bar shop air, ±0.02 mm repeatability) are standard from Suzhou and Wuxi makers; FOB $350–$700. Hydraulic vises (70–100 bar, ±0.01 mm repeatability) are stocked in Dongguan and Wuxi; FOB $700–$1,800. High-pressure clamping vises for aerospace work (up to 200 bar) are available from specialist makers; lead time 6–8 weeks. We always supply a pressure-test certificate and recommend a 6-month seal-replacement kit as a consumable spare.
Pre-shipment inspection includes: (1) CMM repeatability test — 50 clamp-unclamp cycles on zero-point systems, record actual deviation; (2) pull-force test on magnetic chucks at multiple contact points; (3) hydraulic-pressure test on vises at 1.5× rated pressure, 5 min hold; (4) flatness/gauge inspection on welding tables and sub-plates with surface plate and dial indicator; (5) surface roughness check on locating faces (Ra ≤0.8 µm for precision). Test report with photos, dimensions, and serial numbers is included in every shipment.
Standard terms: 30% T/T deposit on order, 70% balance against copy of Bill of Lading. First-time orders may require 40% deposit or full L/C. For orders above $50,000, we can arrange L/C at sight or 30/60-day deferred L/C. Custom jigs typically have a 50% deposit (covers engineering + materials) with balance on first-article approval. All proforma invoices include full cost breakdown (EXW, FOB, CIF, DDP) and a clear tooling/amortization schedule when private-label is involved.
Send us your BOM, fixture drawing, or sample part. We'll respond within 24 hours with FOB pricing, lead time, and a sourcing plan — covering catalog vises, EROWA/3R-compatible pallets, custom jigs, and matched magnetic or pneumatic systems.
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