If you are already thinking about purchasing a brake press to extend the capabilities of your business, you may have some idea of what you want from such a machine, but still not be quite clear on your selection criteria.
Let us take a moment and expand your thought process a bit on that subject.
Ready?

If you have previously used a manual sheet metal brake in your daily work that you bought yourself originally, then you might recall the selection process as quite simple. You just had to figure out what capacity you needed, what size you had room for, and how much you could afford. Simple – because sheet metal brakes are simple machines.
Press brakes are slightly less so: There are hydraulic systems, electrical systems, tonnage, back gages and much more to think about. A modern hydraulic press brake can do almost anything, short of getting coffee for you, but don’t let yourself be confused by features and specifications. As with any substantial investment in technology, figure out what you need and can afford, then look at what is available that fits your need and your wallet.

First, what are your reasons for wanting to upgrade to a press brake?
Do you want to increase production volume beyond what can be done with manual tools? Need to tackle production of more complex parts, or work to tighter tolerances? Want to handle heavier materials than is possible with a sheet metal brake? Do all of the above and free up personnel for other tasks at the same time? These are all completely achieveable goals, but to get even closer to being able to make a decision, you should write a list of need-to-have and nice-to-have. Consider what you are currently producing: How can your products be described?

  • Very large, long or deep – or very small and delicate?
  • Simple, with few bends, or complex with many bends, requiring lots of planning and setup?
  • Light or heavy gauge materials?
  • One product, or many different, for different clients?

What would you need to improve upon your products or the production of them? Do you want to do what you do now – just easier, faster and better? You certainly can with a press brake, but consider this: You are not just getting a bigger, better, faster sheet metal bender, you are getting a tool that will take bending to a whole new level. If your current business is based on manual bending of sheet metal, you could easily expand drastically on it with a sheet metal press brake. Take orders on products you could never have manufactured with hand tools. Enter new fields of business! Of course you shouldn’t neglect or forget your core business – what you are good at right now. But if you go out and purchase the most simple,stripped-down, “hydraulic sheet metal brake” you can find, then you’re missing out on what a press brake machine can do, and be used for. Get what you need now, but also think ahead – to how you might expand your business beyond the near future.

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