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Motion Control Engineering & Manufacturing Resources

Weber Knapp Blog

International Builders’ Show 2026 Preview: What’s New?

Posted by Weber Knapp on Jan 22, 2026 2:19:59 PM



If you’ve ever walked a trade show floor thinking, “I have two hours and a long list of booths,” you’re not alone. The International Builders’ Show is big, busy, and easy to feel overwhelmed by.

IBS 2026 is coming up February 17–19 in Orlando as part of Design & Construction Week. The show runs alongside KBIS, bringing builders, manufacturers, and product teams together in one place.

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Topics: Hinges, Manufacturing, heavy duty hinge, drop gate, IBS

Anatomy of a Heavy-Duty Hinge 101

Posted by Weber Knapp on Jan 7, 2026 12:09:24 PM

Hinges look simple… until you’re the one responsible for choosing one. If you’re early in your engineering career or new to sourcing mechanical components, it’s not always obvious how hinges actually work or what makes one design stronger than another.

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Topics: Design, Counterbalance Hinge, Hinge, Hinges, Durability, Hidden Hinges, heavy duty hinge

Light vs. Heavy-Duty Hinges: Which One Does Your Design Really Need?

Posted by Weber Knapp on Oct 30, 2025 10:41:05 AM

When you’re working through the details of a new product design, it’s easy to think, “A hinge is a hinge.” But if you’ve ever seen a lid sag, a door bind, or an access panel fail under load, you know hinge selection can make or break a design.

The temptation to save a few dollars with a lighter, cheaper hinge is real, especially when budgets are tight. Yet choosing the wrong hinge can lead to damaged equipment, unsafe operation, and costly redesigns down the line. 

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Topics: Ergonomics, Motion Control, Counterbalance Hinge, Hinge, Hinges, Durability, Hidden Hinges, heavy duty hinge

Drop Gate Mechanism Design: What Works, What Breaks

Posted by Weber Knapp on Jun 9, 2025 9:14:11 AM

When drop gate hardware fails, it’s rarely just one issue. The lid doesn’t close cleanly. Movement becomes unpredictable. Hardware starts to loosen under repeated use. Over time, the entire system becomes harder to rely on.

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Topics: Applications, heavy duty hinge, drop gate

Heavy-Duty Hinge Cost: What You’re Really Paying For

Posted by Weber Knapp on May 27, 2025 12:51:42 PM

You’re pricing out a heavy-duty hinge for your product or project, and the number catches you off guard. It’s a hinge. Why does it cost that much?

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Topics: Design, Hinges, Cost, heavy duty hinge