Nobody wakes up wanting to buy a grommet machine. Shops buy one when production outgrows the current setup, or when a new product line calls for equipment they don’t have. Join Mike from Stimpson at Booth 525 for a live demo of six ways to set a grommet, from a hand tool to a fully automatic machine, all running side by side.

What you’ll see:

Modular Hand Drive: Modular hand drives are tooling, not machinery. Inserts, a bolster, a hole punch, a cutting disk and a mallet are all you need to cut the hole and set the grommet and washer, with no air or power required. For repairs, samples and occasional production, a hand drive is often the right answer for years.

Stimpson 405 Bench Press: The legendary 405 is the step many shops take before they need automatic feeding. Its adjustable stop controls the stroke distance, so settings stay consistent and the work no longer depends on one experienced operator. With the right tooling, it sets grommets and washers, eyelets and snaps.

Jopevi J-21 and J-25: The operator still loads the parts, and each machine punches the hole and sets the grommet and washer in a single action, in under one second. Both run up to 900 settings per hour on standard 120 psi shop air. The J-21 covers #00 through #4, and the J-25 steps up to #6 for awnings, banners and marine canvas.

EP-900: This hand feed machine uses hands-free foot actuation and comes in electric or pneumatic models. Because it supplies the setting force, it’s a good fit for medium-sized jobs where operator fatigue is a concern.

Jopevi J-239: Two hoppers feed the grommet and washer automatically, so the operator keeps both hands on the material. It runs up to 2,500 settings per hour, and a washer detector prevents settings made without a washer.

Knowing when to automate. Automatic feeding is a labor decision, and job mix matters as much as volume. A shop running one fastener all day faces a different choice than a shop handling short runs across several sizes, and a published cycle rate alone won’t tell you what a shift will produce. Mike will walk through the signals worth watching: routine overtime, rework that climbs late in the day, work you’ve had to turn down, and jobs queuing at the setting station.

Bring your questions (and your material). Ask about sizing, setting techniques, and which machine fits the work you actually run. Then test the setup on your own material. Send us a sample and we’ll install Stimpson grommets and washers at no charge.

The right machine is the one that fits your shop. Come see all six in action and find yours.

Booth: 525
Company: Stimpson