Investing in a new folding machine is an important decision for any sheet metal company. The right machine should handle today’s work while providing the flexibility to accommodate new materials, larger projects, different profiles and growing demands for efficiency. The wrong choice, however, can create bottlenecks, increase manual work and restrict future growth, as Cidan Machinery sets out in this article. 

Material is a logical starting point. Steel, aluminium, zinc, copper, stainless steel and coated sheet all place different demands on machine capacity, precision and handling. Thickness, surface finish and sensitivity should also be considered, particularly when processing materials that can be easily marked or damaged. 

Folding length is another fundamental consideration. A machine that is too short can restrict the work a company is able to undertake, while greater capacity can open opportunities for larger projects. It is important to consider future requirements as well as current workloads. Longer folding lengths can reduce the number of joints required for applications such as roofing, façades, doors and gates. 

Opening height and working space are equally important when producing complex profiles, high edges and components requiring multiple folds. Generous working space makes larger or awkward components easier to position and handle. 

The machine should also be assessed as part of the entire production workflow, from material storage and cutting through to folding and delivery. Identifying existing bottlenecks can help ensure the investment improves overall productivity. 

Ease of use and ergonomics are additional considerations. An intuitive control system can reduce errors and training requirements, while good access and handling arrangements can minimise operator fatigue. 

Finally, consider the support available after installation. Training, servicing, spare parts and technical assistance all influence uptime and machine life. 

More information www.cidanmachinery.com 

LVD, a global supplier of press brakes and bending automation systems, has formed a strategic partnership with REA Robotics, an industrial automation and robotics specialist based in Veggiano, Italy. The companies will jointly develop customised, heavy-duty robotic bending cells for complex fabrication projects. 

The alliance expands LVD’s robotic bending offering and supports its ambition to provide metal fabricators with advanced, single-source bending automation solutions. For REA, the partnership opens access to new markets through LVD’s global sales network. 

The collaboration combines REA’s specialist automation and custom engineering capabilities with LVD’s extensive bending process expertise. REA has decades of experience developing robotised solutions for industries including sheet metal fabrication, with field-proven systems incorporating heavy-duty handling lines, multi-gripper robots and advanced tracking technology to synchronise robots with press brakes. 

“As automation continues to transform manufacturing and bending applications grow in complexity, we’re meeting critical industry challenges with specialised automated solutions,” says Carl Dewulf, CEO of LVD Group. “REA’s bending automation expertise alongside LVD’s high level of bending know-how will help us bring to market the customised automated bending systems that our customers want and need.” 

The two companies will also work closely on engineering and R&D, accelerating development through closer integration of press brakes and robots, control-interface synchronisation, software validation, and system compatibility. 

For fabricators, the partnership is intended to deliver faster deployment, greater production flexibility, a more efficient machinery footprint and shorter installation times. 

LVD will continue to engineer, develop and sell its robotic bending systems and LVD robotic solutions products, including the Ricobb cobot, alongside its specialised profile bending systems.  

More information www.lvdgroup.com

The coffee machine in the office, the snack vending machine at the train station or the bottle reverse vending system at the supermarket: Sielaff machines form part of everyday life more often than many people realise. 

Since 1886, Sielaff has been developing and manufacturing vending machines that have become an integral part of daily living. For the production of its precise enclosures, the company has relied on RAS machines for many years. With another RAS Multibend-Center, this successful partnership continues. 

Final acceptance of the latest Multibend-Center took place at the RAS facility in Sindelfingen. Together with the Sielaff team, demonstration parts were inspected and the machine was thoroughly tested. 

During final acceptance procedures at RAS, all important functions and processes are carefully checked. The aim is not only to ensure that the machine operates reliably. It is equally important that the manufactured components meet customer standards and can be safely integrated into existing production processes. 

This was not the first joint acceptance for Sielaff and RAS. The long-standing partnership between the two manufacturing companies stands for mutual trust, technical expertise and a shared commitment to quality. 

For RAS, final acceptance is more than a formality. It is an important part of the company’s commitment to quality. After all, when high-quality vending machines are built for everyday use, every detail matters. 

RAS thanks Sielaff for its long-standing trust and successful collaboration. The company now looks forward to the next projects involving Sielaff. 

More information www.ras-online.de/en

Claas is using automation not only in its state-of-the-art forage harvesters, but also in manufacturing, where two Trumpf bending machines are helping the company improve flexibility, ergonomics and productivity. 

At its Bad Saulgau site, Claas produces components for harvesting machinery and forage-harvester attachments in lot sizes of 50 to 200. Parts range from simple bends to complex components with up to 13 bends, often requiring tolerances of just ±0.25°. 

“Automation should not be an end in itself,” says Marco Schwab, head of sheet metal Processing at Claas in Bad Saulgau. “It has to be a good fit for our components, our lot sizes and, above all, our employees.” 

The company replaced an older press brake with a Trumpf TruBend 5000 featuring the ToolMaster automatic tool changer. This technology eliminates the physical strain associated with repeatedly handling tools up to 3 m long, while also removing a previous production bottleneck. Claas can now manufacture large components in parallel on two machines, improving planning flexibility. 

The bigger step towards automation came with a TruBend 7050 equipped with Trumpf’s FlexCell. The flexible, retrofittable system can be connected or disconnected in just a few steps, allowing the machine to operate as either an automated bending cell or manual press brake. 

This flexibility enables Claas to process larger batches automatically, including unattended production during off-peak and night shifts, while retaining manual operation for complex parts or short-notice capacity requirements. 

The investment has also delivered financial benefits. With the TruBend 5000, Claas has reduced production from three shifts to two. Further automation projects are already being evaluated, demonstrating the company’s pragmatic approach to adopting technology where it improves productivity, quality and working conditions. 

More information www.trumpf.com