UK manufacturer Inductaflex Limited reports extensive interest in its new AL-1 fully electric CNC aluminium bending machine during its debut at the recent Fabtech metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing exhibition in Chicago.
The event is the largest of its kind in North America and Inductaflex managing director Craig Barnshaw says that the machine attracted significant enquiries: “In an otherwise quiet show for new bending machine launches, it quickly became apparent that the market has been crying out for a flexible machine for bending a wide range of sections economically.
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e AL-1 is intended to provide automotive, aerospace, commercial vehicle and other customers with a cost effective, high precision, multiple bend solution. It can bend most materials and profiles, from complicated aluminium extrusions to polished stainless steel tubes.
During development, the machine quickly demonstrated its capabilities by successfully curving a 45mm wide x 65mm high extruded aluminium window section to a 165mm outside radius and 120mm inside radius – a task that has traditionally been considered to be beyond normal limits for such an extrusion.
The new unit is also capable of automatically curving up to 10 radii per bar and can operate with running costs reduced by 70%, in comparison with an equivalent hydraulic machine.
This year’s Fabtech show attracted 1700 exhibiting companies and 43,836 attendees from 90 countries. Visitors were able to interact with manufacturing companies, participate in competitions and networking events.