Abstract: A multi-stage press includes support columns; a press stage including tools for deforming a workpiece; an empty stage adjoining the press stage in a direction of a length dimension of the multi-stage press and being situated in a zone of the support columns; a gripper rail being formed of a first gripper rail lenth portion situated in the press stage and a second gripper rail length portion situated in the empty stage; a plurality of workpiece gripper assemblies mounted on the gripper rail; and a tool table normally situated in the press stage and being removable therefrom in a direction transversely to the press length. The workpiece gripper assemblies are independently shiftable relative to one another along the gripper rail and the gripper rail assemblies normally supported on the second gripper rail length portion are shiftable onto the first gripper rail length portion.

Abstract: A releasable coupling for connecting a first and a second component to one another, includes a first sleeve-like hollow member affixed to an end of the first component and a second sleeve-like hollow member affixed to an end of the second component, an expander mandrel supported in the first hollow member and arranged for an axial motion with respect to the first hollow member to assume an advanced position in which it projects into the second hollow member to be surrounded simultaneously by the first and second hollow members. The expander mandrel includes an expander element and pressing elements operatively connected to the expander element for displacement generally radially outwardly by the expander element into an expanded position for a simultaneous engagement with the first and second hollow elements thereby clamping the first and second components to one another.