Trumpf TruBend Cell 5000

The Trumpf TruBend Cell 5000 is Trumpf's flagship automated bending cell, combining a TruBend Series 5000 press brake with a BendMaster robot and ToolMaster automatic tool changer into a fully integrated production system. This isn't a press brake with a robot bolted on as an afterthought -- it's a ground-up engineered bending cell that handles loading, tool changing, bending, and unloading with minimal operator intervention. For shops with the volume and part mix to justify it, the Cell 5000 is the most productive bending platform you can buy from a single manufacturer.

The press brake at the heart of the cell delivers 1,300 to 3,200 kN (130 to 320 metric tons) of press force with bending lengths from 3,230 to 4,420 mm. All the Series 5000 technology comes along -- On-Demand Servo Drive, 6-axis backgauge, ACB Wireless and ACB Laser angle measurement, CNC-controlled crowning, and the Touchpoint TruBend control. The cell adds the automation layer on top of a machine that's already best-in-class as a standalone brake.

The BendMaster robot comes in two versions: the BendMaster 60 with 60 kg carrying capacity handling parts up to 2,000 x 1,000 mm, and the BendMaster 150 with 150 kg capacity for parts up to 3,000 x 1,500 mm. The robot uses vacuum gripper technology with adjustable multigrippers that can be reconfigured in minutes for different part geometries. Image recognition automatically identifies parts for correct handling sequences, and the gripper system supports parts weighing up to 100 kg (220 lb).

The ToolMaster automatic tool changer is the other key automation component. It swaps upper and lower tooling between jobs without operator intervention, which is critical for high-mix production. Without automatic tool changing, a robotic bending cell still needs an operator standing by to change dies between part numbers -- ToolMaster eliminates that bottleneck entirely.

Optional conveyor systems or pallet conveyors handle loading blanks and unloading finished parts without interrupting bending operations. The cell can produce up to four different components per work cycle, making it viable for high-mix, mid-volume production rather than just dedicated long-run parts.

New TruBend Cell 5000 configurations typically run $600,000 to $1,200,000+ depending on press brake model, BendMaster version, ToolMaster capacity, conveyor systems, and tooling packages. That's a substantial investment, but shops running two or three shifts on manual press brakes often find the cell pays back through labor savings, consistency, and the ability to run lights-out. The cell footprint requires dedicated floor space for the robot track, tool magazine, and material handling zones.