Peddinghaus FPB 1500/1

$350,000 – $700,000 Updated 2026-03-17

Key Specifications

Cutting Area (Beam Height)

Up to 1,500 mm

Plasma Power Source

Hypertherm HPR/XPR or Lincoln Electric compatible

Max Cutting Thickness

Up to 100 mm (plasma source dependent)

Positioning Speed

Up to 15,000 mm/min

Cutting Speed

Material and thickness dependent (up to 3,000 mm/min on structural sections)

Control System

Peddinghaus FPCONTROL CNC

Overview

The Peddinghaus FPB 1500/1 is a CNC beam plasma cutting system purpose-built for structural steel fabrication, combining plasma cutting, scribing, and center-punching capabilities in a single automated processing line. Unlike flat-bed plasma tables, the FPB 1500/1 is designed to process wide-flange beams, channels, angles, and structural sections up to 1,500 mm in beam height — making it an essential system for structural steel fabricators, bridge builders, and construction steel processors who require precise coping, notching, and hole marking on large structural members.

The FPB 1500/1 integrates plasma cutting torches positioned on multiple axes to cut cope profiles, slots, weld access holes, and complex notches in structural steel sections. The system's CNC control reads directly from structural steel design software — including Tekla Structures, Advance Steel, and SDS/2 — enabling lights-out processing of complete beam lists without manual programming. Automated material conveyor systems feed beams through the machine, with the CNC controller managing torch positioning, plasma firing, and scribing in a single pass.

Peddinghaus engineers the FPB 1500/1 with their proprietary FPCONTROL CNC system, which manages the full process workflow from design file import to finished part routing. The system includes automatic torch height control with arc voltage feedback and supports Hypertherm and Lincoln Electric high-definition plasma sources for weld-quality cut edges on structural profiles. Optional scribing and center-punch units add layout marking capability without additional handling or secondary operations.

The FPB 1500/1 is deployed at major structural steel fabricators, steel service centers, and bridge construction companies across North America and Europe. Its ability to replace manual layout, plasma cutting, and drilling prep in structural beam processing makes it a productivity multiplier in high-volume structural steel environments where labor costs and throughput are primary competitive differentiators.

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
Cutting Area (Beam Height)	Up to 1,500 mm
Plasma Power Source	Hypertherm HPR/XPR or Lincoln Electric compatible
Max Cutting Thickness	Up to 100 mm (plasma source dependent)
Positioning Speed	Up to 15,000 mm/min
Cutting Speed	Material and thickness dependent (up to 3,000 mm/min on structural sections)
Control System	Peddinghaus FPCONTROL CNC
Processed Sections	Wide flange beams, channels, angles, HSS, plates
Table Size	Customer-configured conveyor length (typically 12–18 m)
CAD/CAM Integration	Tekla Structures, Advance Steel, SDS/2 direct import
Optional Accessories	Scribing unit, center-punch unit, material conveyor
Machine Weight	Approx. 12,000–18,000 kg (installation dependent)

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

Processes wide-flange beams up to 1,500 mm height — covers virtually all structural sections used in building and bridge construction
Direct CNC integration with Tekla Structures and Advance Steel eliminates manual programming in structural steel workflows
Combines plasma cutting, scribing, and center-punching in one pass, eliminating multiple manual operations and material handling steps
Hypertherm or Lincoln Electric plasma source options ensure access to best-in-class cut quality and global consumable support
Automated conveyor feeding enables lights-out batch processing of complete beam lists overnight or across shifts

Limitations

Very high capital investment — accessible primarily to larger structural fabricators with sufficient volume to justify ROI
Requires substantial floor space, structural foundation, and dedicated electrical and gas infrastructure for installation
Specialized system with limited applicability outside structural steel beam processing — not a general-purpose flat-bed plasma solution

Best For

High-volume structural steel fabricators processing large quantities of wide-flange beams requiring cope cuts and weld access holes Bridge and infrastructure construction steel processors needing precise CNC coping with direct model-based programming Steel service centers offering structural processing services that need to maximize throughput and minimize manual layout labor

Frequently Asked Questions

01 What structural steel sections can the Peddinghaus FPB 1500/1 process?

The FPB 1500/1 processes wide-flange beams (W-shapes), channels (C and MC), angles (L-shapes), hollow structural sections (HSS/RHS/SHS), and flat plate sections. Beam height capacity is up to 1,500 mm, covering virtually all sections used in commercial and industrial building construction. The system positions torches on multiple axes to reach all faces of a structural section in a single pass.

02 How does the FPB 1500/1 connect to structural steel design software?

The Peddinghaus FPCONTROL system imports NC (Numerical Control) data files exported directly from Tekla Structures, Advance Steel, SDS/2, and other structural steel detailing programs. The fabricator's detailer exports the beam list as an NC file, the FPB 1500/1 reads the file, and the machine automatically processes all beams in the list with correct cope geometry, hole positions, and scribe marks without manual CNC programming.

03 What plasma source does the FPB 1500/1 use?

The FPB 1500/1 is compatible with Hypertherm's HyPerformance Plasma (HPR) and XPR series as well as Lincoln Electric precision plasma systems. Peddinghaus recommends high-definition plasma sources to achieve weld-quality cut edges on structural sections. The plasma source is specified and purchased separately or as part of the complete system package.