Bystronic Xpert 320

The Bystronic Xpert 320 is a heavy-duty CNC press brake delivering 3,200 kN (320 metric tons / 352 US tons) of press force across a 4,250 mm (167.3 in) bending length. It represents the top of Bystronic's standard Xpert line before stepping into custom heavy fabrication territory — built for structural steel work, thick-plate bending, heavy equipment panels, and the kind of large-format sheet metal fabrication found in shipbuilding, energy, heavy machinery, and construction equipment manufacturing.

At 320 tons, the Xpert 320 operates in a different world from mid-range press brakes. The synchronized dual-cylinder electro-hydraulic drive handles material thicknesses that would overload smaller machines: 15–20 mm mild steel across partial bending lengths, heavy stainless for pressure vessel components, thick aluminum plate for structural panels. The machine maintains +/- 0.01 mm Y-axis accuracy and +/- 0.1 degree angle repeatability even at these loads, which is the critical performance requirement in structural fabrication where rework on a large part is extremely costly.

Bystronic's CNC-controlled crowning system is standard on the Xpert 320 — essential at this tonnage class. At 320 tons across 4,250 mm, beam deflection is significant and varies with part placement, material thickness, and die selection. The automatic crowning compensation adjusts the bed profile in real time to maintain consistent angle across the full bending length without manual measurement or shimming between parts.

The ByVision Bending control on the Xpert 320 runs the same 21-inch touchscreen interface found across the Xpert line, with 3D part programming, automatic bend sequence calculation, and collision detection. For large structural parts that require careful sequence planning to avoid tooling collision — parts with multiple complex flanges, deep boxes, or asymmetric profiles — the 3D simulation capability directly reduces setup time and scrap on expensive thick-gauge material. Offline programming via ByOptimizer or ByBend software connects the press brake into a shop's broader fabrication software chain.

Back gauge configuration on the Xpert 320 typically starts at 4-axis (X, R, Z1, Z2) with options to configure 6 or more axes for complex part geometries. Back gauge depth reaches 800 mm with travel speeds up to 800 mm/s. The back gauge arms on heavy machines like the 320 are built substantially to resist flex when pushing large, heavy parts against the gauge fingers — a detail that matters when you're positioning 50-kg blanks precisely.

New Xpert 320 machines typically run $350,000–$550,000 depending on configuration, tooling packages, and regional pricing. Used machines in the 200–320 ton range from 2008–2018 trade between $120,000 and $280,000 depending on hours and condition. The Xpert 320 competes directly with the TRUMPF TruBend 5320, Amada HG-2204 (at the lower end of this range), and LVD Dyna-Press Pro in the heavy-tonnage European press brake market. Selection often comes down to dealer proximity, software ecosystem, and which brand's service network is stronger in the buyer's region. Specs are drawn from Bystronic published technical data, dealer listings, and equipment resellers.