Press Brakes for Stainless Steel Kitchen Equipment
Clean, consistent bends and hems in stainless steel for commercial kitchen products.
Stainless steel fabrication for commercial kitchens
Commercial kitchen equipment makers bend stainless steel (usually grade 304 or 202) in 0.8-2 mm thickness for work tables, sinks, racks, hoods, counters, trolleys and food display units. The finished parts are seen by the customer, so bends must be clean and consistent, and edges are often hemmed for safety and stiffness.
Typical parts
- Work table tops with front and back upstands
- Sink surrounds and drain boards
- Exhaust hood panels and filter frames
- Undershelves, rack shelves and trolley bodies
- Counter fronts, display unit panels and doors
Stainless steel bending challenges
Springback
Stainless steel springs back more than mild steel after bending, so the punch has to over-bend slightly. A CNC press brake with material data in its controller compensates automatically; on a PLC press brake, the operator sets the depth by trial bend and stores it.
More force
Plan for about 1.5 times the force needed for mild steel. A 1.5 mm stainless table top 2500 mm long needs roughly 46 T on a 12 mm die.
Surface protection
Leave the protective film on during bending, keep tooling clean, and use non-marking dies on mirror and hairline finishes.
Recommended set-up
An 80 T press brake with 2500 mm working length, CNC or PLC controlled, covers most kitchen equipment work. Pair it with a hydraulic shear rated for stainless steel: a DHSM-320 or DHSM-420 cuts 3-4 mm SS maximum over 2000 mm.
Frequently asked questions
Which press brake is best for stainless steel kitchen equipment?
An 80 T, 2500 mm CNC or PLC press brake suits most kitchen equipment work in 0.8-2 mm stainless steel.
Why does stainless steel need more bending force?
It has higher tensile strength and work-hardens as it bends, so it needs about 1.5 times the force of mild steel of the same thickness.