Press Brakes for Elevator and Lift Manufacturing

Why lift manufacturers need long, accurate bends

Elevator and lift components are long, visible and must fit precisely. Cabin wall panels, ceiling panels, landing doors, door frames and car doors are often 2000-3500 mm long, in 1.2-2 mm stainless steel (hairline or mirror finish) or CRCA. Any variation in angle along the length shows as a gap between panels or a door that does not run straight.

Typical parts

• Cabin wall and ceiling panels with stiffening returns
• Landing door and car door panels
• Door frames (architraves) and sills
• Car frame components and brackets
• Control panel faceplates

Machine recommendations

A CNC press brake of 125 T with 3200-4000 mm working length is the usual choice. It has the length for full panels and enough force for 2 mm stainless steel over the whole length. CNC control holds the angle along the length and between panels, and stored programmes make it quick to switch between cabin sizes.

Points to specify

• Crowning to keep the angle constant over long bends.
• Back gauge with enough travel for wide return flanges.
• Non-marking or film-protected bending for decorative stainless steel.
• Front sheet supports for handling long, thin panels.

Stainless steel force

Stainless steel needs roughly 1.5 times the force of mild steel. A 2 mm stainless panel 3000 mm long, bent on a 16 mm V-die, needs about 24 T per metre, or about 73 T in total. A 125 T machine gives a comfortable margin.