FOCUS ON PRESS BRAKES
ADIRA press brake at EuroBLECH 2024.
TRUMPF TruBend 3130 press brake.
AMADA EGB 6020 press brake.
Boschert / Gizelis robotised press brake.
21ST CENTURY BENDING
We outline the evolution of the press brake as well as the technological innovations that characterise modern systems for bending sheet metal.
A
press brake bends metal by lowering a punch onto sheet metal that has been positioned on top of a die. The workpiece is clamped between matching punch and die to form a pre-set bend. Versatile programming; speed; precision; sustainability and ease of operation are some of the characteristics of today’ s modern press brakes. They are widely used for the precision bending of sheet metals and form pre-programmed bends between the die and the punch.
There are several types of press brakes( such as pneumatic, servo-electric, hydraulic and mechanical). The bending length of a pressbrake is the maximum possible length of a metal sheet which can be bent. The pressbrake’ s bending force, known as tonnage, determines how much pressure can be applied by the punch during a bend. Higher tonnage allows for bending thicker and harder metals, and lower tonnage is most appropriate for thinner metals.
Tandem( two) or tridem( three) connected press brake solutions enable
Left: Bystronic Mobile Bending Cell. Above: Bystronic ByVision control( now BySoft). manufacturers to bend long metal sheets into poles, posts etc. Large
“ Flexibility; energy efficiency; advanced automation; customisation; ecosustainability and Industry-4.0 networking are key elements in today’ s press brake designs.”
CoastOne small press brake.
press brakes are suitable for high-tonnage applications, including big construction and agricultural equipment; large custom structural steel products; shipbuilding and power pole manufacturing. Mini press brakes are increasingly being used to bend small or very small parts.
Flexibility; energy efficiency; advanced automation; customisation; eco-sustainability and Industry-4.0 networking are key elements in today’ s press brake designs. More manufacturers are looking at electric as well as automated press brakes and cobots for their operations. Automated bending cells are also becoming more popular. Customisation has now become a key requirement for pressbrake customers to produce components with different shapes, sizes and features with no need for redesign and set-up time.
66 | ismr. net | ISMR October 2025