Amada launches EGBe series electric press brake

Amada has introduced the EGBe series, a fully electric, intelligent, functional and high-performance bending machine that aims to transform manual bending. Cited as the easiest machine to operate on the market, the EGB-ATCe evolves upon the existing automated tool changer employed by the HG-ATC and HRB-ATC. According to Amada, the machine is extremely productive with high part output, even by less experienced operators.

The EGB-ATCe is packed with the latest technology to aid operators, ensure accuracy and protect the environment. This includes a new servo-drive and electric crowning system, a new triple back-gauge with AR technology, voice control, and an evolution of Amada’s bending indicator technology.

Amada’s latest AMNC 4ie numerical control centralises and integrates the management of all the new features to achieve high productivity and the highest performance available on the market, reports the company. Additionally, services such as tablet HMI and fully automatic offline programming are all integrated, reducing unproductive times and supporting the operator, who just has to manipulate the part to bend.

Amada developed the VPSS 4ie BEND offline programming suite to create the bending program automatically based on the correct unfolded part. This capability allows the operator to process it without the need for any manual adjustment, which is autonomously managed by the machine itself through the new and faster Bi-SII bending indicator.

The bending indicator takes care to compensate for the position of the upper and lower beams, achieving high bending linearity. The resulting angle is displayed on the tablet HMI, which is always positioned in front of the operator, enabling them to immediately confirm the accuracy of the part without wasting time with the manual inspection.

More information www.amada.eu

RAS to showcase premiere at Blechexpo 2025

RAS Reinhardt Maschinenbau says visitors toBlechexpo 2025 in Stuttgart next month (21-24 October) will be among the first to experience the new XLTbend-2, which the company describes as the next level in automated bending. The machine is available as a stand-alone high-performance machine or fully integrated with intelligent robot automation.

Key highlights of the new XLTbend-2 include extended manipulator capabilities for production flexibility, modern safety features to ensure secure operation, energy-efficient IE5 servo drives, increased bending stroke, and seamless integration into existing production environments thanks to clearly defined interfaces and the RAS LUNA automation solution.

According to RAS, the XLTbend-2 sets new benchmarks when producing production parts like boxes, panels and complex precision components. Visitors to Blechexpo 2025 will find the machine on Booth 1604 in Hall 1.

In other developments from RAS, the company says its established TURBO2plus now has a compact successor. The new TURBO2plus Compact replaces the previous standard model. It offers the same technical performance in a significantly smaller footprint, making suitable for use by small businesses, sheet metal shops and space-constrained workshops.

Whether for roof and façade profiles, advertising panels or enclosures, RAS says the new machine takes bending to the next level. The intelligent Bendex software automatically programs parts, evaluates alternative bending strategies and visualises the entire bending sequence in 3D.

Thanks to its reduced overall height, the TURBO2plus Compact can be integrated flexibly into a wide range of production environments. It is especially suited to workshops that need to operate efficiently and powerfully despite limited space.

More information www.ras-online.de/en

RK and Haco launch OptiForm CNC press brake

RK International Machine Tools is continuing its partnership with Belgian sheet metal machinery manufacturer Haco by introducing the Haco OptiForm 30150 CNC press brake to the UK market. The company says this collaboration brings a new generation of high-performance, cost-effective bending technology to British manufacturers, combining European engineering with local support and service.

The OptiForm Series (OPF), launched in 2025, is Haco’s reimagining of the entry-level CNC press brake. Designed for efficiency, ergonomics and fast delivery, the OptiForm 30150 (3 m, 150 T) is suitable for workshops upgrading from manual brakes or expanding capacity. It offers a compact footprint with a rigid frame, as well as the Haco EasyBEND multi-touch CNC – a PC-based 2D graphical control for intuitive operation.

Two configurations are available: a standard version with a two-axis back-gauge featuring manual crowning; and a ‘+’ version with four-axis back-gauge (X, R, Z1, Z2) featuring CNC crowning.

The Haco OptiForm is manufactured in the EU, which means UK manufacturers benefit from shorter lead times, budget-friendly pricing and full UK-based support from RK International, including installation, training and aftersales service.

“The OptiForm is a smart, future-ready solution for fabricators who want to modernise without overinvesting,” says Bart Huys, global sales manager at Haco. “We’ve combined the simplicity of our SynchroMaster with a modern design and intuitive control, making it perfect for the UK market where flexibility, reliability and value are key.”

More information www.rk-int.com

Marketing appointment

ModuleWorks, a provider of software components for the manufacturing industry, has appointed Clinton Perry as its new head of global marketing. He joins ModuleWorks with over 20 years of experience at Autodesk and Delcam, where he held senior roles in applications engineering and marketing. His appointment marks a significant step in ModuleWorks’ ongoing growth strategy and underscores the company’s ambition of accelerating innovation in manufacturing, helping the industry’s solution providers to bring smarter, more connected digital workflows to market faster. 

More information www.moduleworks.com

Seco digital tool will drive sustainability

In 2021, cutting tool manufacturer Seco proposed an idea: the Industrial Sustainability Assessment – a tool to help Seco’s production units assess their sustainability level, making it easier to prioritise and identify actions toward effective and impactful improvements.
Since 2024, the Sustainability Assessment Tool has provided support in tracking progress towards Seco’s global sustainability goals. The company has now initiated work to explore the potential for an externally adapted version of the tool for stakeholders and customers who may also find this approach relevant.

More information www.secotools.com