System 16 or System 28 — which welding table to choose in 2026?
Choosing between System 16 and System 28 is the most common question we get from welders moving from a traditional workshop bench to a modular welding table. Below we lay out the differences without marketing gloss — with a real workshop in mind.
What do "System 16" and "System 28" actually mean?
The number refers to the diameter of the mounting holes in the welding table top and to the diameter of the fixture bolts. System 16 uses Ø16 mm holes, System 28 — Ø28 mm. These are two independent fixturing ecosystems: squares, prisms, clamps and bolts from one system do not fit the other.
We offer System 16 in three grid variants: standard 100×100 mm, dense 50×50 mm, and HEX with an extra hole in the middle of each 100×100 mm cell. System 28 runs on a 100×100 mm grid — also available as HEX with an added central hole.
When System 16 is the better pick
- Thin-wall profiles, sheet metal, decorative parts, furniture — anywhere you weld smaller detail work.
- When you need a truly dense grid — the 50×50 mm grid in System 16 gives you twice as many reference points on the same top, which makes precise positioning of small parts far easier.
- Prototype shops, one-off production, MIG/MAG and TIG welding for light structures.
- Tight budget — a System 16 accessory set is noticeably cheaper than the System 28 equivalents.
When System 28 is worth it
- Steel structures, frames, machine parts — anywhere clamping force matters.
- The clamping force of Ø28 fixtures is genuinely much higher than in System 16 — thicker bolts transfer greater loads without loosening.
- Serial production where you need to repeat setups quickly and lock parts down with confidence.
- High temperatures and heavy mechanical loads — System 28 simply gives you more headroom in the fixturing.
Rigidity, flatness and tolerances
The hole diameter alone does not decide weld quality. The table top's flatness does. In our range, the BASE, OPTIMA and MASTER series hold flatness to 0.3 mm/m, while the plasma-nitrided ARMOR and TITAN — down to 0.2 mm/m. This is a value worth confirming on the supplier's data sheet before you buy: the difference between 0.3 and 1.0 mm/m is the difference between a frame that fits and one that doesn't once you lift it off the table.
Plain holes or HEX grid?
A 100×100 mm grid simply means four holes in every 100 × 100 mm cell — one in each corner. It's the most universal layout and a sensible default. The HEX grid adds a fifth hole in the middle of each such cell — giving you an extra reference point exactly where a standard grid has a "dead zone." The result: significantly more options for mounting clamps, squares and locating pins, particularly on parts with irregular geometry.
A practical decision in three questions
- What is the maximum thickness and weight of the parts you'll be welding? The rule is simple: the material thickness should not exceed the top thickness, and the part weight must fit the load capacity of the chosen series.
- How long are the parts you want to weld? Their length dictates the top size — and if they don't fit even in the largest one, you add extension blocks or welding jacks.
- Do you need dense detail positioning (System 16, grid 50×50 or HEX), or high clamping force for heavy structures (System 28)?
Our recommendation
If you are still unsure after this post, talk to our advisors. We're always open to a conversation — a short description of what you weld, the thickness and length of your parts and how your workshop is set up is enough for us to point to a specific series, hole system and grid variant that will genuinely work for you.