TDG Clamping Solutions S.L.

Headquartered in Guernica, northern Spain, TDG Clamping Solutions (TDG) was founded in 1916. Just one year later, in 1917, the company made its first sale of lathe chucks in France, marking the beginning of its international expansion. Today, over 60% of TDG’s products are exported to global markets.
The financial crisis of 2007 led to a strategic reassessment, led by Michel Clavier, former industrial director, to advocate for automation through a flexible manufacturing system (FMS). In 2017, TDG launched a company-wide transformation, focused on modernizing its production facilities with cutting-edge equipment.

A key part of this initiative was the introduction of a 5-axis machining center — a plan that had been under consideration consideration for 15 years. In 2022, driven by rising demand and business growth, TDG finally took the leap, investing in the VORTEX i-630V/6, equipped with a 12-pallet PALLETECH system and a 206-tool TOOLTECH magazine. This move was a significant step toward building a highly efficient and automated production system.

The VORTEX i-630V/6 is a 5-axis machining center designed for machining medium-sized parts with up to 1,050 mm (41.34”) in diameter, such as pallets, chucks, and chuck adapters. Clavier highlights the impact of this investment:
“The biggest advantage of this machine is its 12-pallet stocker, which allows for extended automatic operation — day and night. This means an additional 7 to 9 shifts per week, which, in a company with 25 operators, is equivalent to nearly two extra employees.”

Previously, machining a single component required multiple processes and setup changes at each stage. With 5-axis machining, multiple surfaces can now be processed in one setup, significantly reducing setup time, and increasing productivity. The machine’s high-precision capabilities also contributed consistent product quality. Hole positioning accuracy and surface finish uniformity have significantly improved, enabling TDG to meet tight tolerance requirements that were previously difficult to achieve.

Additionally, the capacity of large-scale machines has been freed up, thanks to a better distribution distribution of the workload on the medium-seized parts. This has improved the overall balance of the production process, increased overall production capacity, and enabled longer continuous operation, ensuring a stable supply chain.

With the introduction of the VORTEX i-630V/6, TDG is accelerating its efforts toward further automation and production efficiency. The company is now expanding unmanned operations using FMS and integrating various production processes for overall optimization.

Future initiatives include the automation of postprocessing steps, such as grinding and assembly, to create a smoother production process. Additionally, TDG is leveraging AI-driven machining data analysis to optimize production, improve precision, and reduce costs.

On the market side, TDG is strengthening its presence in growth industries such as aerospace and wind energy, while developing more advanced clamping systems to enhance competitiveness. The company is also committed to sustainable manufacturing, investing in energy-efficient technologies, and optimizing resource utilization.

By combining its deep expertise with a forwardthinking approach, TDG Clamping Solutions is set to evolve alongside the industry — continuing its journey of innovation and growth.