Boschert Combi 500

The Boschert Combi 500 is a CNC combination punch-and-notch machine from Boschert GmbH, representing the manufacturer's approach to combining two common sheet metal operations — punching and corner notching — in a single machine. Unlike a standard CNC punch press, the Combi 500 integrates a hydraulic punch head with a separate hydraulic notching station, allowing the same machine to punch hole patterns and then notch corners for box and pan fabrication without repositioning the sheet to a separate notching machine. This combination is particularly valuable for sheet metal shops producing enclosures, brackets, frames, and structural components where corner notching is a frequent operation alongside punching.

The punching section of the Combi 500 delivers 500 kN (56-ton) force — a significant step above the EKO 200 and Compact — handling material up to 8 mm mild steel and 6 mm stainless steel for blanking and forming operations. The notching section uses a dedicated hydraulic notching die with a fixed 90-degree notch angle and variable depth up to approximately 150 mm from the sheet edge. Maximum notching capacity in mild steel is typically 5-6 mm thickness, covering the range where manual corner notchers become impractical and CNC routing is too slow for production quantities. The working area is 2,500 x 1,250 mm (98 x 49 in), accommodating standard sheet sizes through both the punching and notching stations.

Boschert's Combi series reflects a design philosophy focused on practical shop utility over headline performance metrics. The 500 kN punching force handles the heavy forming operations — large-diameter embosses, heavy-gauge louvers, deep draws — that justify the Combi 500's heavier-duty punch head compared to the EKO 200. The integrated notching station eliminates the purchase, maintenance, and floor space of a separate corner notcher. For small-to-medium fabrication shops producing enclosures, electrical panels, and structural brackets, this workflow simplification can be as valuable as raw throughput improvements. The hydraulic drive on both stations is straightforward to maintain and is familiar to shops that already work with hydraulic press brakes and ironworkers.

New Combi 500 systems are priced in the $180,000 to $280,000 range, which is higher than a standalone punch of equivalent force but lower than purchasing separate punch and notching machines. The combined machine occupies less floor space than two separate machines and eliminates the material handling between operations. For shops where corner notching represents 20-40% of their sheet metal operations, the Combi 500's workflow integration provides both cost and productivity advantages that a standalone punch press cannot deliver.