PRODUCT REVIEWS
Next-generation bending intelligence
“ Consistently achieving precise bending results has traditionally depended heavily upon operator experience. Material behaviour, workpiece geometry and process parameters all influence the outcome. This requires operators to make adjustments based upon years of practical knowledge. As experienced operators become increasingly difficult to find, manufacturers face a growing challenge: how can expert-level results be maintained and reproduced independently of individual experience?” bending specialist, HAEUSLER, told ISMR.
“ We have addressed this challenge with Autonomous Bending, a technology concept that transfers decades of bending expertise into the machine and the bending process. Instead of relying upon manual calculations and adjustments, the CNCbased system calculates and controls key process parameters throughout the bending cycle. This reduces manual intervention and makes complex bending processes more predictable and repeatable,” it added.
The system can learn from deviations and adapt the bending process accordingly. Integrated bending optimisation is designed to further improve process efficiency and precision, while new capabilities enable the production of perfectly cylindrical workpieces, it explained.
“ Expertise is no longer dependent solely upon the person operating the machine. It is built into the process. This creates consistent, reproducible results while reducing the influence of individual experience. Operators remain in control, while the machine takes over complex calculations, process control and optimisation. For manufacturers, this means greater process reliability, less dependence on individual expertise and consistently high quality across different production requirements,” it highlighted.
A closed-loop process
“ With Autonomous Bending, the process becomes a closed loop. The intelligent BENDtronic ® control system uses information feedback from the bending process to assess the actual result and adjust the process accordingly. The machine therefore does not simply control its own movements, it also evaluates the bending result itself,” continued HAEUSLER, which has over ninety years of experience in bending.
“ This principle enables the system to respond to variations that would otherwise require operator intervention. Instead of relying solely upon predefined machine settings, the process can adapt to actual conditions. The consequence is a more predictable bending process with fewer manual corrections and less dependence upon individual process knowledge,” it explained.
Material variability is one of the fundamental challenges in plate bending. Even materials with the same nominal specification can behave differently during forming. Autonomous Bending is designed to compensate for these variations through intelligent process control. By incorporating feedback into the bending cycle, the system can adapt its process parameters to the actual behaviour of the workpiece.
“ This creates an important additional benefit: greater freedom in material and supplier selection. If material variations can be compensated for by the bending system, manufacturers are less dependent upon achieving identical material behaviour from a single supplier. The result is greater flexibility not only within the bending process, but also upstream in procurement and production planning,” stated HAEUSLER.
Intelligent bending tools
Autonomous Bending is part of a broader set of tools integrated into the BENDtronic ® control system. These functions support the operator from the preparation of a job through to the final bending process. With the Capacity Calculator, for example, operators can assess the feasibility of a bending task before production begins. It calculates machine utilisation, remaining
108 | ismr. net | ISMR October 2026