Weber Knapp Blog

Off-the-shelf solutions don’t always cut it – especially when your application requires safety or ergonomic motion and performance beyond a standard hinge. If you’re trying to support a heavy lid, conveyor drawbridge or enclosure cover, a custom hinge built with motion control in mind is the best fit.

A properly engineered counterbalance hinge can make an 80-pound lid feel like a light 2-pounds when lifting. It’s not magic though – it's precision mechanical engineering using counterbalance spring design principles.

Imagine lifting a heavy lid or panel with ease – no sudden drops, no awkward resistance, just smooth, controlled motion. Heavy-duty hinges make that possible, but designing them to handle weight, movement, and durability requires precision.

Vectis adjustable hinges are designed for precision, meaning adjusting soft-close hinges isn’t something to worry about. 

Each hinge is built to match your specifications, providing smooth performance from the start.

Weight, size, and center of gravity are factored into the design, so these hinges work reliably without frequent adjustments.

Your project is unusual. 

You aim to solve a unique problem that requires a custom solution. Adding mechanical motion control would perfect your design. 

But is it possible?

In the world of motion control solutions, there's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach.

Despite the advent of electric motion controls, the relevance of mechanical motion control in today's technologically advanced world cannot be understated. 

We manufacturers would love it if we could design your component first and have you build your product around it. Of course, that’s usually not possible -- you have certain specs you want to meet, and we understand our design has to fit those parameters.

Today “motion control” implies automation, robotics, and electronics. But you’d be amazed at what you can achieve when you combine old-fashioned mechanical engineering with a creativity-minded manufacturer.

At first glance, you might suspect that the only place you’re going to see a Vectis™ Counterbalance is in an industrial setting, perhaps mounted on an enormous machine shield, or maybe some type of oversize industrial tank lid. 

Choosing the right motion control solution can involve some tricky elements. When it’s time to understand the type of counterbalance or spring-assist hinge you need and the best way to move forward with the installation, it helps to have a visual guide as a resource. The Vectis pages provide both written content and videos that do everything from explaining how a Vectis hinge can be a better choice than a gas hinge to how to install and adjust the hinge solution you choose. 

Ever wonder how cryogenic freezers, tanning beds, and other heavy-duty lids open safely despite weighing 50 to 100+ lbs.? The answer: spring-assisted or spring-loaded hinges.