What’s sitting on the shelf in the back of your shop? Most manufacturers have a collection of “just in case” ideas such as fixtures, prototypes, or one-off solutions built for a specific job and then set aside. In Season 3, Episode 2 of the IMTS+ Original Series “Smart(er) Shop,” one custom automation provider shares how a shelved solution became the foundation for an entirely new business. Brought to you by Toolpath (IMTS booth #338248), “Smart(er) Shop” explores the real-world technologies and strategies helping small and midsize manufacturers compete and win in today’s fast-paced industry. From Shelf to Strategy Michael Gimbel, the president of Gimbel Automation (IMTS booth #236253) is no stranger to solving complex production challenges. For one particularly demanding job, he developed a custom solution to simplify part handling. When the job was completed, the solution ended up on a shelf. “Our first product was the FloLink spindle gripper,” Gimbel explains. “In simple terms, it turns the CNC spindle into a robot-like hand, using an air-actuated gripper mounted directly to the spindle. The machine can pick up parts, transfer them, and load or unload them during the machining cycle.” Building a Better Process The idea was born out of necessity. “I was tired of manually handling parts for a certain job,” Gimbel says. “I learned about spindle grippers and automated part handling, but nothing available worked with our Haas machines.” So he built his own system. The result was the FloLink System, which enables the gripper to open and close through a bypass block, effectively integrating part handling directly into the machining process. After the project wrapped, Gimbel and his team moved on. The solution didn’t. From One-Off to Product Line When Gimbel revisited the concept, he saw something bigger: a scalable approach to in-machine automation. That single solution evolved into a full lineup of CNC automation products that now define Gimbel Automation’s business. The system eliminates the need for robots or complex programming and delivers an average ROI in as little as seven weeks. In addition to spindle-based automation, Gimbel Automation developed pallet-tending systems that use shelving within the machine footprint to automate pallet exchanges, offering a compact, reliable alternative to traditional robotic setups. Knowing What To Keep, and What To Let Go Not every idea earns a second life. Gimbel is candid about the innovations that didn’t make it. One conveyor system, for example, was ultimately discontinued after proving impractical. “It takes discipline to leave things on the shelf and to know when to give up,” he says. That mindset is just as important as innovation itself. Recognizing when to move on creates space for better ideas to take shape. Innovation That Drives Growth Gimbel’s success came from a willingness to rethink how machines can work. “No one had created an integrated gripper automation ecosystem before,” he says. “There’s real value in disrupting the market in ways that can change business models.” Today, Gimbel Automation offers full turnkey and semi-turnkey CNC automation solutions, combining deep industry knowledge with a constant drive to innovate. And the next breakthrough? It might already be sitting on a shelf. Catch Episode 2 of “Smart(er) Shop,” and tune into Episode 1 to see how Gimbel’s solutions are making an impact on the shop floor. Explore the full lineup of IMTS+ Original Series to see how manufacturers are turning challenges into competitive advantage.
What’s on the shelf in your shop? One custom solution sat for years before becoming a high-demand product line, launching a new CNC automation business in Episode 2 of the IMTS+ Original Series Season 3, “Smart(er) Shop.”
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