PRODUCT REVIEWS
The CMAlifts team, with Giulio Caputo in the centre.
Salvagnini Maschinenbau’ s 4,000th panel bender is a P4-3220.
Salvagnini celebrates 4,000th panel bender
Salvagnini Maschinenbau produced its 4,000th panel bender for CMAlifts, the Italian manufacturer of elevators and lifting platforms. The milestone, celebrated at the Ennsdorf( Austria) plant, is an important step for sheet metal specialist, Salvagnini.
With over 4,000 installations in 80 countries, Europe’ s largest plant entirely dedicated to panel bender manufacturing, over 600 specialists across engineering and shopfloor and more than 40 years of experience, Salvagnini is a specialist in panelbending technology. Since 1977, when Eng. Guido Salvagnini designed and built the first P4, the company’ s panel bender today is a fully automatic solution that is suitable for the modern smart factory.
Salvagnini Maschinenbau’ s 4,000th panel bender is part of an industrial journey marked by significant milestones: number
1,000( installed in Germany, 2006), number 1,500( USA, 2011), number 2,000( Korea, 2016) and number 3,000( China, 2020). It is a Generation 4 P4-3220 with a maximum bending length of 3,200mm and a maximum bending height of 203mm. The panel bender is configured with CUT, CLA, CLA / N, P, PSE and DPM options, broadening its application range.
The machine will be integrated into an FSL Flexible Smart Line that also includes an S4 punching machine and multiple automation devices, to be installed in the new fully automated factory that CMAlifts is building in Corato( Italy).
“ Being part of the Salvagnini Group’ s history is a source of pride for the whole CMAlifts’ team. This P4 reflects our culture of continuous growth and innovation,” said Giulio Caputo, CMAlifts’ Co-CEO.“ With the new P4 we will manufacture, fully automatically, many panels( even our most complex profiles) with consistent quality and shorter lead times.”
Wolfgang Kunze, Technical Director, Salvagnini Maschinenbau, added:“ Panel bending is gaining momentum because it addresses structural trends, from labour shortages to demographic shifts, reducing operational dependencies and variability. Where sustainability is an increasingly decisive competitive factor, Salvagnini technology is ready to support process efficiency and lower consumption.” n
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. salvagninigroup. com
www. cmalifts. com
Thin organic coil coating strikes gold
Henkel is expanding its portfolio in thin organic coating( TOC) with a new colour variant. It combines the properties of the technology with aesthetic benefits and is aimed at applications where both functionality and design are important— in the case of the pilot project, through a golden finish.
“ Thin Organic Coating is a hybrid coating system that combines passivation with organic polymers and is particularly used in the coilcoating process. It provides excellent adhesion, built-in corrosion protection, anti-fingerprint properties and lubricity for metal strips coated with zinc, aluminium-zinc or zinc-magnesiumaluminium. Compared to traditional passivation or primer systems, TOC allows a thinner film of 1 to 2 microns without compromising performance. This technology protects metal surfaces efficiently while optimising material use and supporting sustainability,” said Henkel.
“ Color TOC extends the capabilities of traditional TOC technologies by enabling specific colours on coil surfaces. In the pilot project, a golden variant was developed to meet the requirements of a key customer in the construction industry. This colour helps differentiate and identify products, as conventional TOC coatings are clear and transparent, making brand recognition difficult. The golden-yellow shade enhances visual distinction, supports product authentication and helps prevent counterfeiting,” it added.
The technology is designed for corrosion protection, for long-lasting performance even under extreme conditions. Its thin film enables efficient resource use, and the coating can be seamlessly integrated into existing production
lines without extensive modifications. It can be applied with standard coating technologies, offering high flexibility and adaptability.
“ Its outstanding resistance to humidity and water offers long-term protection. The uniform coating not only enhances the visual appearance but also maintains consistent gloss and colour stability. Unlike conventional clear TOC, Color TOC delivers consistent gloss and shade, optimising the visual impact of the coated coils,” explained Henkel.
“ Alongside the customer-specific golden shimmer variant, we have also developed prototypes in additional colours including bright green, red, blue and brown, based on our Color TOC product. These colours can be further customised to meet the specific requirements of our customers,” concluded Dipak Chaudhari, Product Development Manager IMEA for Industrials, Henkel. n
www. henkel. com
56 | ismr. net | ISMR December 2025 / January 2026