Trumpf TruBend Center 7000

The Trumpf TruBend Center Series 7000 is a fully automated panel bender -- a fundamentally different machine from a conventional press brake. Where a standard press brake uses a ram-and-die setup that requires an operator to position and hold the workpiece, the TruBend Center grips the sheet, positions it automatically, and bends it using articulated bending blades from above and below. The result is a machine that produces complex multi-bend parts with zero operator handling during the bending cycle. For high-volume production of sheet metal panels, enclosures, and cabinets, this technology category delivers throughput and consistency that no manual press brake can match.

The series includes two models: the TruBend Center 7020 with a maximum bending length of 2,163 mm and the larger 7030 with 3,123 mm. Both handle minimum bending lengths down to 200 mm. The 7020 produces box parts up to 350 mm tall, while the 7030 reaches 220 mm box height. Material capacity covers mild steel up to 3 mm (400 MPa), stainless steel up to 2.2 mm (700 MPa), and aluminum up to 4 mm (265 MPa), with a minimum material thickness of 0.4 mm.

The bending process is fully automatic once the blank is loaded. The manipulator grips the sheet, positions it against the bending tools, and the upper and lower bending blades form each bend in sequence. The manipulator repositions the sheet between bends without operator intervention. This eliminates the operator skill variable that affects quality on conventional press brakes -- every part comes out the same regardless of who loaded the blank.

Angle accuracy is managed through the ACB Laser angle sensor, which measures the actual bend angle and corrects in real time. Mark-free bending capability is available for parts where surface cosmetics matter -- no die marks or pressure marks on visible surfaces. That's a significant advantage for architectural panels, consumer appliance enclosures, and any application where the bent surface is the finished visible surface.

The TruBend Center 7020 fits in a 5,200 x 4,855 mm footprint at 21,500 kg, while the 7030 needs 6,490 x 5,327 mm at 31,600 kg. Average power consumption is 10 kW for the 7020 and 15 kW for the 7030. The control runs on Windows Embedded Standard with Trumpf's panel bending software that handles flat-pattern import, bend sequence optimization, and collision simulation.

New TruBend Center 7000 machines typically run $500,000 to $900,000 depending on model and options. The 7020 sits at the lower end, while a fully configured 7030 with loading/unloading automation approaches the upper range. Panel benders are a different capital equipment category than press brakes -- they justify the investment through labor elimination, consistent quality, and throughput on the right part profiles.