Press Brakes for Construction and Structural Fabrication
High-tonnage, long-bed press brakes and heavy shears for plate and structural sections.
Bending for construction and structural fabrication
Structural fabricators, pre-engineered building (PEB) suppliers and infrastructure contractors bend thicker material than most sheet metal shops: 3-12 mm mild steel and higher for purlins, cleats, base plates, gussets, cable trays, crash barrier parts, transmission line hardware and equipment structures. The parts are often long and heavy, and tonnage is the first question.
Typical parts
- C and Z purlins and girts
- Connection cleats, gussets and stiffeners
- Base plates and anchor plates with bent edges
- Cable tray and ladder sections
- Crash barrier and road furniture components
- Bent plate columns and box sections
Sizing the machine
Air bending mild steel with a V-die ten times the thickness needs approximately 52 T per metre for 8 mm, 65 T per metre for 10 mm and 78 T per metre for 12 mm. As a guide:
| Typical work | Suggested Devraj machine |
|---|---|
| 3-5 mm purlins and cleats up to 3 m | CNC 125T, 3200-4000 mm |
| 6-10 mm plates and sections up to 4 m | CNC 250T, 3200-4000 mm |
| 10-12 mm and above, or parts up to 6 m | Heavy Duty CNC 400T, 4000-6000 mm |
See the heavy duty press brake page for full specifications, and check your own parts with the tonnage calculator.
Cutting capacity
Structural shops also need a shear that keeps up with the press brake. Our DHSM hydraulic shears go up to 20 mm nominal and 25 mm maximum in mild steel, over 2000 to 4000 mm.
Frequently asked questions
What press brake do I need for 10 mm plate?
About 65 T per metre with a 100 mm V-die. For 3 m long parts, that is around 195 T, so a 250 T machine gives a working margin.
Can press brakes make purlins?
Yes. C and Z purlins in 2-4 mm are commonly bent on 125 T press brakes with 3200-4000 mm length, especially for shorter runs where a roll forming line is not justified.