Award-winning: SPANNFIX Vice Pro wins the Red Dot Award 2026
The SPANNFIX Vice Pro ball joint vice by BERNSTEIN from Remscheid has won the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2026. According to BERNSTEIN, it is the second award after the EISEN Innovation Award. We show what the jury highlights, what the vice does technically and which SPANNFIX versions you can get from us.
View SPANNFIX PRO 9-290Red Dot Award 2026 for the SPANNFIX Vice Pro
The SPANNFIX Vice Pro has received the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2026. After the EISEN Innovation Award, BERNSTEIN reports another award for its ball joint vice.
According to BERNSTEIN, the vice was developed for demanding, professional applications: workpieces are held securely and can at the same time be moved quickly and flexibly into the desired position. High clamping force, comfortable operation and an ergonomic design are meant to enable precise and efficient work.
Back in 2020, BERNSTEIN received the EISEN Innovation Award of the International Hardware Fair for the SPANNFIX 4.0 ball joint vice, in the category industrial supplies, workshop and plant equipment, occupational safety.
What the Red Dot jury highlights
The jury praises the striking joint mechanics, the robust craftsmanship and a functional retro touch.
According to the Red Dot project description, the SPANNFIX Vice Pro was developed for flexible clamping work in electronics, laboratories and precision mechanics. It mentions a compact head section, clear contours and a robust, functional build. The ball joint enables a freely adjustable working position, while the quick-clamping mechanism, centring eye and measuring scale support precise guidance of the workpiece.
The easy-to-reach clamping lever and the position close to the body are meant to support ergonomic handling, even during long periods of work. The vice was designed in-house by Hartmut Blombach, Peter Steinrücke and Tino Müller.
How the ball joint vice clamps
A small push on the lever releases the vice head in its conical seat, then it is aligned and clamped again. The ball clamping holds without any additional locking.
- Ball joint: rotatable 360°, tiltable ±45° and steplessly lockable
- Clamping range: clamping width 100 mm, clamping depth 50 mm, clamping force 12,000 N
- Jaws: replaceable 100 mm steel jaws, dowel pins included
- Mounting (9-290): clamp foot for workbenches up to 80 mm table thickness, no drilling
- Material: cast aluminium, powder-coated in dark grey metallic, chrome-plated steel parts
An adjusting screw at the lower seat of the ball sets the joint from loose to very firm. This adapts the vice to the way you work, for example when drilling, sawing, grinding, milling or cutting while standing.
Clamp-on or screw-on: the versions in our shop
We stock the large SPANNFIX vice with 100 mm steel jaws with a clamp foot and with a screw-on plate.
| Version | Features |
|---|---|
| SPANNFIX PRO 9-290 | for clamping on, table thickness max. 80 mm, approx. 400 x 220 x 200 mm, 5500 g. View product |
| SPANNFIX 4.0 9-292 | for screwing on, plate size 152 x 151 mm, approx. 290 x 160 x 190 mm, 4720 g. View product |
According to the manufacturer, both versions share the same clamping data: 100 mm clamping width, 50 mm clamping depth and 12,000 N clamping force. Both are quality products made in Germany. For scratch-sensitive workpieces, BERNSTEIN offers protective jaws with felt, leather, cork or rubber linings, and aluminium prism jaws are suitable for pipes.
SPANNFIX at the ESD workstation
The SPANNFIX Vice Pro 9-290 is not marked as an ESD version in its data sheet. For the EPA, there are dissipative SPANNFIX holders with a grounding cord.
The ESD ball joint set 9-251-ESD-SET1 combines a dissipative SPANNFIX base with a grounding plug and a 1.8 m grounding cord to the earth bonding point. For circuit boards, the ESD PCB holder SPANNFIX Vario 9-240-ESD takes boards from 25 to 270 mm in length. According to the manufacturer, both are suitable for electrostatic protected areas per DIN EN 61340-5-1.
You can find all SPANNFIX holders and vices in the category BERNSTEIN clamping tools.
Frequently asked questions
Which awards has the SPANNFIX Vice Pro received?
The Red Dot Award: Product Design 2026. According to BERNSTEIN, this is the second award after the EISEN Innovation Award. The EISEN Innovation Award went to the SPANNFIX 4.0 ball joint vice in 2020.
What is the clamping force of the SPANNFIX Vice Pro?
The SPANNFIX PRO 9-290 clamps with up to 12,000 N at 100 mm clamping width and 50 mm clamping depth between replaceable 100 mm steel jaws.
Do I need to drill into the workbench for the SPANNFIX PRO 9-290?
No. The 9-290 is fixed with a clamp foot to workbenches up to 80 mm table thickness. For permanent mounting, there is the SPANNFIX 4.0 9-292 with a 152 x 151 mm screw-on plate.
Is the SPANNFIX Vice Pro suitable for ESD workstations?
The 9-290 is not marked as an ESD version. For the EPA, there are dissipative SPANNFIX holders such as the set 9-251-ESD-SET1 with a grounding cord or the PCB holder 9-240-ESD.
Can I clamp scratch-sensitive workpieces?
Yes, with protective jaws. BERNSTEIN offers felt, leather, cork and rubber linings as well as aluminium prism jaws for pipes. Matching jaws are listed under BERNSTEIN clamping tools.
Request the SPANNFIX Vice Pro
Would you like the award-winning ball joint vice or SPANNFIX holders for your workstations? Write to us and we will send you a quote.
BERNSTEIN in our range
Quote and delivery from one source.
Made in Germany
Developed and manufactured in Remscheid.
Matching accessories
Protective and replacement jaws for SPANNFIX.
Also for the EPA
Dissipative SPANNFIX holders with grounding.