Morton Machine Works is moving its manufacturing into a new facility beginning on April 5th.  We are working to minimize machine downtime throughout this process, however our lead times on non-stock items may be extended one to two weeks beyond their normal length.  Thank you for your patience.  Our sales offices, inventory, and shipping departments will move into the new 88,000 sq.ft. facility later this year.

Adjustable T-Handles

We’ve taken a great product and made it even better! Adjustable Handles, also known as Clamp Levers, have been on the market for a long time.  They are most commonly designed with a single handle extending from a hub with a tear-drop or ball style grip.  Adjustable Handles are widely used as a ratchet style handle for clamping on machinery in a variety of industries including packaging, processing, printing, and machine tool. This product has stood the test of time; however, Morton Machine Works has received feedback from its customers pertaining to the design and durability of the handle.  Depending on the application, customers have told us these handles sometimes break or “snap.”  This can happen for several reasons, but we found the most common cause to be over torque or “impact” tightening. To more adequately meet the needs of our customers, Morton Machine Works set out to design a new Adjustable Handle that would not only provide a more comfortable grip, but also improve durability.  We’ve developed the new line of Adjustable T-Handles to compliment our existing Adjustable Handle product lines.  By using the T-Handle design on adjustable handles, we’ve flattened the overall height of the product and reduced the radius, creating a smaller handle design that works better in confined spaces. Morton has also improved durability in two ways.  First, when you grip the Adjustable T-Handle, you are applying torque on both sides of the hub rather than at one single point.  This allows more uniform pressure on the handle.  Second, the shorter handle radius reduces the risk of snapping the handle because you are applying the torque closer to the hub instead of at the end of a longer handle.  More uniform clamping pressure applied closer to the hub, results in improved durability of the handle. Why switch to the Adjustable T-Handle? Simple answer:   It’s a more durable handle that is easier to grip.  We’ve taken a great product and made it better! 

Trade Show Update

The two remaining trade shows that Morton Machine Works was displaying at this year …the PACK EXPO in Chicago and the FABTECH Show in Las Vegas have been canceled.  Due to the Coronavirus outbreak and the subsequent need to reduce travel as much as possible, it would have been impossible to safely and effectively participate in any trade shows this year.  We anticipate and look forward to seeing everyone in 2021 at the AWFS Show July 20-23 and the PACK Expo Sept. 27-29 both in Las Vegas. Morton Machine Works has several new products to display including the brand new Adjustable T-Handle line of clamping handles.

Covid-19 Update

Morton Machine Works is part of the Defense Industrial Base (DIB), which is identified as a Critical Infrastucture Sector, as defined by the department of Homeland Security.  We have remained open during the Coronvirus outbreak while doing our best to operate under the strict CDC guidelines and Directives of the PA Governor’s task force.  The priority of Morton Machine Works is the safety of our employees, families, customers, and community. Unfortunately, many of the industrial trade shows have been negatively impacted by the outbreak.  IMTS2020 in Chicago and the International Fastener Expo in Las Vegas have been cancelled for this year.  We are hopeful that the two trade shows (Pack Expo & FABTECH) scheduled for November 2020 will go as planned.      

Trade Show Schedule

Morton Machine Works has product on display at several industrial tool shows throughout the year.  Come and visit with us at these upcoming shows…  
  • International Machine Tool Show IMTS 2020: Booth # 431249  McCormick Place Chicago, IL  September 14-19, 2020
  • International Fastener Expo:  Booth # 2810  Mandalay Bay Convention Center Las Vegas, NV  September 28-30, 2020
  • PACK EXPO:  Booth # LL-9609  McCormick Place Chicago, IL  November 8-11, 2020
  • FABTECH:  Booth # C7156  Las Vegas Convention Center  November 18-20, 2020

Adjustable T-Handles


Morton Machine Works is pleased to announce the introduction of a new line of ratchet style handles called “Adjustable T-Handles.” This new handle series was designed to work in tight space applications. It’s flat T-Handle design has a reduced angle which decreases the overall height of the handle. A shorter handle radius also helps to limit the horizontal space required to clamp in tight spaces. The contoured handle offers an extremely comfortable grip and allows uniform clamping pressure to be applied fully around the thread. The Adjustable T-Handles are available from stock in black and orange colors made from Die Cast, Plastic, and Stainless Steel. A full range of Inch and Metric sizes are available in both an internal thread and threaded stud design.

Spherical Washer Sets (Self-Aligning Washers)


Spherical Washer Sets, also known as Self-Aligning Washers or Equalizing Washers, are a great solution for fastening applications on an uneven surface.  The washer set consists of a “top” half that is convex and a “bottom” half that is concave.  The top washer has a slightly narrower ID than the bottom washer while both have the same radius.  This enables a bolt or screw to pass through both washers and “self-align” allowing for a flat clamping washer surface.  The spherical washer sets are designed for a 3-4 degree angle of correction.  Morton Machine Works manufactures the sets in case-hardened carbon steel with a black-oxide finish or in 303 stainless steel.  Variations in material or surface coatings are available upon request.  Morton offers spherical washer sets from stock in bolt sizes of 3/32″ to 2-3/4″ available for same day shipping.


Adjustable Handles

     


Adjustable Handles are widely used today by Original Equipment Manufacturers as a great way to fasten and secure multiple parts. Adjustable Handles have an internal ratchet system that allows you to “lift and rotate” the handle to any position after it has been tightened.  They are ideal for applications that have tight space requirements and are commonly found on medical equipment, processing and packaging equipment, machine tools, and fitness equipment.  Morton Machine Works offers adjustable handles in a wide variety of materials, styles, and colors available in all the common inch and metric sizes.   Other names for adjustable handles included adjustable clamping levers, clamping levers, ratchet handles, ratcheting handles, spring loaded levers, hand levers, adjustable tension levers, and clamp levers.