Minneapolis-based Kurt Manufacturing today announced the acquisition Bellatex Ind. LLC, Owner of CARVESMART™—the original dovetailed quick-change vise jaw system. In an asset acquisition, Kurt has acquired all CARVESMART patents and inventory.
Kurt Workholding will carry a full inventory of current CARVESMART products along with the new Kurt TriLock Vise with CARVESMART jaws (at right). Precut machinable jaws and jaw extrusions will still be available to new and existing CARVESMART customers. Kurt is in the process of transitioning all CARVESMART website assets to kurtworkholding.com to maintain continuity for all customers.
“This is a really exciting addition to the Kurt Workholding product lineup,” said Ted Kuhlmann, President and CEO of Kurt Manufacturing. “Carvesmart’s innovative design and Kurt’s scale are a perfect match to bring the quick-change system to a wider customer base and a complete product lineup including machine-ready vises.”
CARVESMART founder, Bill Ehnstrom, will join Kurt Workholding’s sales and product teams to ensure a seamless transition and continue developing products that meet the needs of an automation-focused marketplace.
“The CARVESMART dovetailed jaw system was created to help shops manage high-variability jobs with multiple parts running on a handful of machines,” said Bill Ehnstrom, CARVESMART founder. “The dream was always to produce not only great accessory jaw plates, but to bring a complete CARVESMART vise to market. The new Kurt TriLock with CARVESMART is the realization of that dream.”
Kurt Workholding plans to sell the CARVESMART system directly on kurtworkholding.com and through their existing distribution network. New and existing CARVESMART customers will receive the same outstanding customer service they expect from Kurt. CARVESMART products will also remain available for purchase at carvesmart.com during the changeover to ensure a seamless transition for current customers.
“CARVESMART is an incredible addition to the Kurt Workholding product lineup,” said Jeff Lenz, Executive Vice President, Proprietary Products, Kurt Manufacturing. “Already a successful business on its own, CARVESMART will flourish with new products, and wider distribution. Kurt’s production and warehousing scale will facilitate fast delivery times and greater on-hand inventory for CARVESMART customers.”
Kurt Workholding’s new TriLock Vise with CARVESMART features a 3-in-1 vise design that can be a traditional 6-inch double-station vise, a single station vise or a large single station vise. The vise comes equipped with CARVESMART jaws with standard hard jaw plates installed and a second set of machinable aluminum jaw plates.
Kurt TriLock Vises will be available in May through distributors and at kurtworkholding.com. CARVESMART jaws, jaw plates and accessories are still available at carvesmart.com.Kurt TriLock Vises will be available in May through distributors and at kurtworkholding.com. CARVESMART jaws, jaw plates and accessories are still available at carvesmart.com.
About Kurt Workholding
Kurt Workholding has set the standard for quality and reliability with machine vises and workholding technology for over 60 years. Designed, manufactured and assembled in the USA, Kurt manufactures and sells a complete line of workholding products for the machining industry. The innovative angle-lock design vises have built our reputation and allowed expansion into a variety of other manufacturing sectors including 5-axis vises, workholding towers, automation and quality control. Kurt Workholding also provides manufacturers custom engineered solutions to help them maximize efficiency and quality.
100% employee-owned Kurt Workholding is a division of Kurt Manufacturing based near Minneapolis, MN. Operating in a state-of-the-art facility with multiple workstations, production lines and integrated automation with in-house design, engineering, production, assembly and shipping. Kurt employees own the manufacturing process from start to finish.
